They Got Money For War But Can’t Feed The Poor

[Costanza]

Since Joe Biden took office in January 2021, the U.S. has provided Israel with significant financial and military assistance, primarily in line with a ten-year $38 billion aid package agreed upon in 2016. This translates to an annual $3.8 billion in military assistance.

Additionally, in response to the October 2023 Hamas attacks, Biden requested a special package of $14.3 billion in military aid as part of a broader $105 billion foreign aid package, which includes funding for other global security interests.

Thus, the total U.S. aid to Israel under Biden from 2021 through the proposed 2024 emergency package would exceed $26 billion, factoring in both annual commitments and additional emergency assistance.

 

[Costanza]

Ukraine is a little less clear cut IMO:

 

[Costanza]

Since the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, estimates suggest that the total cost of the war has exceeded $2 trillion. This includes military operations, reconstruction, and long-term veterans' care. Here’s a breakdown of some key expenses:

1. Direct Military Operations: Between 2003 and 2011, the Department of Defense spent over $815 billion on combat operations, known as Operation Iraqi Freedom. Later operations, like Operation New Dawn (2011) and U.S. involvement in counter-ISIS efforts, contributed to further military costs.
2. Reconstruction and Humanitarian Aid: The U.S. allocated over $60 billion for reconstruction and infrastructure projects, though significant portions of this were lost to inefficiency, corruption, or insurgent attacks.
3. Veteran healthcare and disability payments: Since 2003, the U.S. has spent over $250 billion on healthcare, disability payments, and other benefits for Iraq War veterans.
4. Interest on borrowed funds: Since the war was largely financed through borrowing, the U.S. has already spent significant amounts on interest payments, adding to the overall cost.
5. Long-Term Costs: This includes care for veterans and interest on debt incurred to finance the war, which will push the total cost to $3 to $6 trillion over time, depending on future expenditures on healthcare and benefits for veterans.

In short, the U.S. has already spent $2 trillion with projections estimating much higher long-term costs as veterans’ care and interest payments add up.