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While an exact figure is impossible to determine, estimates thus far range from $80 billion to over $100 billion. The U.S. military spends roughly a billion dollars a week on the Iraq occupation. (In contrast, Afghanistan occupation costs about a billion dollars a month.) Of course, these figures fluctuate. A February 17, 2004, AP story states that, in 2003, the war cost $4 billion in September, $7 billion in October, and $3 billion in November. But these
are military costs, and do not include reconstruction efforts. According to USA Today, rebuilding Iraq could cost an estimated $180 billion to $245 billion for the next five years. You can find an estimated running total at the anti-war site Cost of War in the Iraq War Yahoo! Category. This figure also includes estimated interest costs -- the authors offer a lengthy explanation of how they calculate their figures. Both monetary and non-monetary costs of the war (including military and civilian deaths) are tracked with the Iraqometer. The occupation of Iraq is being paid for through Congressionally approved supplemental spending bills. Roughly $166 billion has been approved thus far. Congress expects another spending bill from the Bush administration in January 2005.
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