By Hail Hamilton

I’m sick and tired of these diehard conservatives complaining about all the money the Obama Administration is spending to stimulate the economy. Not only did the Bush Administration ram through a $700 billion bailout package for its buddies on Wall Street, it spent billions of dollars on the War against Terror—a war still with no end in sight.

Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the United States has initiated three military operations:

• Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) covering Afghanistan and other Global War on Terror (GWOT) operations ranging from the Philippines to Djibouti that began immediately after the 9/11 attacks and continues;

• Operation Noble Eagle (ONE) providing enhanced security for U.S. military bases and other homeland security that was launched in response to the attacks and continues at a modest level; and

• Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) that began in the fall of 2002 with the buildup of troops for the March 2003 invasion of Iraq and continues with counter-insurgency and stability operations.

In the seventh year of operations since the 9/11 attacks, the cost of war is a major concern including the total amount appropriated, the amount for each operation, average monthly spending rates, and the scope and duration of future costs.

Total War Funding as of the FY2009 Bridge Fund

In the FY2008 Supplemental (H.R. 2642/P.L.110-252), Congress funded DOD’s war costs not only for the rest of FY2008 but also for the first part of FY2009 in order to give a new Administration breathing room to set its war policies.

As of enactment of H.R. 2642, the FY2008 Supplemental, the cumulative total for funds appropriated since the 9/11 attacks to DOD, State/USAID and VA for medical costs for the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and enhanced security total $864 billion. This total includes:

• $657 billion for Iraq;
• $173 billion for Afghanistan;
• $28 billion for enhanced security; and
• $5 billion unallocated

Of this total, 76% if for Iraq, 20% for Afghanistan, 3% for enhanced security and 1% unallocated. Almost all of the funding for Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) is for
Afghanistan.

Some 94% of this funding goes to the Department of Defense to cover incremental war-related costs, that is, costs that are in addition to normal peacetime activities. These costs include funds to deploy troops and their equipment to Iraq and Afghanistan, to conduct military operations, to provide in-country support at bases, to provide special pay for deployed personnel, and to repair, replace, and upgrade war-worn equipment.

DOD’s baseline or regular budget covers the costs of normal pay for all military personnel, training activities, running and building facilities on U.S. installations, buying new military equipment, and conducting research to enhance future military capabilities.

FY2009 Bridge Fund Finances War Costs through June 2009

When the Administration submitted its original request in January 2008, the Defense Department stated that its intent was for the bridge fund to last until after a new Administration was in-place. With the $66 billion provided for FY2009 in the bridge fund included with the latest supplemental, Congress ensured that war funding would last through June or July 2009 or until after a new Administration was in place.

Based on FY2008 spending rates for Army operations, the service with the largest war funding demands and by temporarily tapping both the FY2009 Bridge and tapping baseline funds, the Army could finance war costs until July 2009 assuming that troop levels remain at the post-surge level of 15 brigade combat teams in Iraq.

So the next time you hear a conservative complain about all the money the Obama Administration is spending tell them to do the math—that is if they know how to add and subtract.