Withdrawal from Iraq Would Save Half a Trillion

Earlier, I posted that the Pentagon gived Bush's surge idea virtually no chance of success. Now, it turns out that the plan that many have put forward -- phased withdrawal -- is not only wiser, but cheaper -- by nearly half a trillion dollars.

In a letter (PDF) to Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-ND), the Congressional Budget office lays out both plans side by side and finds escalation to be one hell of an expensive way to fail.

First, under a "stay the course" scenario with a gradual drawdown that leaves 75,000 soldiers overseas in 2013 and each year thereafter, the cost would be $919 billion for the next ten years.

The second scenario proposes a faster drawdown, leaving only 30,000 military personnel overseas over the 2010–2017 period, although not necessarily in Iraq and Afghanistan. The cost of that plan would be $472 billion for the next ten years.

Like I've said before, Iraq is just one more rathole for Bush to pour tax dollars down.

(h/t Think Progress)

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