Iraq war has cost US $320-bn – analysts Iraq war has cost US $320-bn - analysts
http://www.iol.co.za/
By Rupert Cornwell
Washington - The Iraq war has already cost the United States $320-billion, according to a new authoritative report here - and even if a troop withdrawal begins in 2006, the conflict is set to be more expensive than the Vietnam war, a generation ago.
The estimate, circulated this week by the non-partisan Congressional Research Service (CRS), can only increase unease over the US presence in Iraq, whose direct costs now run at some $6-billion a month, or $200-million a day, with no end in sight.
The Bush administration has refused to provide any specific overall figure for the war's cost. But the Senate is set to approve another emergency spending bill in May, meaning that Iraq will have consumed $101-billion in fiscal 2006 alone, almost double the $51-billion of in 2003, the year of the invasion itself - and all at a time when the federal budget deficit is running at near record levels.
Vietnam claimed 58 000 American lives, far more than the almost 2 400 lost in Iraq thus far
But these figures pale beside what lies in store, the CRS says in its analysis. The Bush administration is desperate to announce a significant reduction in the 130 000 strong US force before November's mid-term elections, where public disillusion with the war threatens disaster for the Republicans.
However even if everything goes relatively smoothly, costs until a phase-out is complete could top $370-billion (£206-billion). This would make the Iraq conflict, now into its fourth year, more expensive in financial terms than the Vietnam war, which lasted eight years.
Vietnam claimed 58 000 American lives, far more than the almost 2 400 lost in Iraq thus far. But in today's dollars it cost 'only' $549-billion, much less than the $690-billion for Iraq, and a projected combined $811-billion bill of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
It is a far cry from the weeks before the war, when a White House official was rapped on the knuckles for suggesting the cost might be between $100-billion and $200-billion, and Donald Rumsfeld, the Defense Secretary, was touting "a number that's somewhere under $50-billion."
Paul Wolfowitz, now president of the World Bank but then Rumsfeld's deputy at the Pentagon, even theorised before Congress that the post-invasion period might pay for itself as Iraq's oil revenues soared.
The US fought almost for free
But the CRS analysis is restrained compared to other non-official figures.
Scott Wallsten of the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank here, has estimated an overall cost of $500-billion thus, with as much again possible. Most, he says, will be paid for by the US (unlike the first Gulf War in 1990/1991 which the US fought almost for free, thanks to contributions from Saudi Arabia, Japan and other allies).
In January a study by Joseph Stiglitz, the Columbia University economist and former Nobel Prize winner, and the Harvard lecturer Linda Bilmes reckoned the conflict could ultimately cost $2-trillion (£1.1-trillion), if all factors are taken into account.
These include the long term healthcare costs for the 16 000 US soldiers already wounded in the conflict, and other indirect or hidden costs such as the rise in the price of oil, the need to finance larger budget deficits, higher recruiting costs and losses to the economy caused by the wounded.
The Pentagon has treated such outside estimates with disdain. But it resolutely refused to give a detailed picture of its own. The CRS report lists various "key war cost questions" and "major unknowns" such as future troop levels.
Some experts however suggest the Pentagon may have deliberately inflated its financial needs now, fearing that as the war becomes ever more unpopular, Congress will grow less willing to provide funds for them in the future.
new life Hello everyone,
Well i cant help myself, i have to tell the world what happened to me?
ON july 6 2005 at 1505 in homerton hospital i witnessed the birth
of my first child. trinity cassie daniela dirnberger was born weighing in
at 8 pounds 6 oz..
Well if you know me then watch out cause now it will be twice the trouble :cloud9: :cloud9:
Bosnian Pyramid http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4912040.stm
Archaeologists have begun digging for what they think might be a pyramid hidden beneath a hill in Bosnia.
Known as Visocica, the 650m (2,120ft) triangular mound, overlooking Visoko, has long been shrouded in local legend.
The Bosnian archaeologist leading the project says it resembles pyramid sites he has studied in Latin America.
Initial excavations have revealed a narrow entrance to what could be an underground network of tunnels.
On Friday, a team of rescue workers from a local coal mine, followed by archaeologists and geologists examined the tunnel, thought to be 2.4 miles (3.8km) long.
The team found two intersections with other tunnels leading off to the left and right.
Their conclusion was that it had to be man-made.
"This is definitely not a natural formation," said geologist Nadja Nukic.
Satellite photographs and thermal imaging revealed two other, smaller pyramid-shaped hills in the Visoko Valley, which archaeologists believe the tunnels could lead to.
Cashing in
Workers also discovered a paved entrance plateau and large stone blocks that could be part of a pyramid's outer surface.
Semir Osmanagic, the project leader, initially made the suggestion the Visocica hill could be a pyramid.
If he is correct, it would be the first pyramid discovered in Europe.
He has already named the three hills the pyramids of the Sun, Moon and Dragon.
Locals have begun to trade on the excitement, selling pyramid souvenirs to tourists and visitors.
The work will continue for around six months, with the first results expected in the next three weeks.
Two experts from Egypt are also due to join the team in mid-May.
Medieval fortress
According to anthropologists there is evidence of 7,000-year-old human settlements in the valley.
German archaeologists also recently found 24,000 Neolithic artefacts one metre below ground.
Mr Osmanagic says the hill is a classic example of cultures building on the top of other cultures.
The town was Bosnia's capital during the Middle Ages, and a medieval fortress used by Bosnian kings sits atop Visocica.
The fortress was built over an old Roman Empire observation post, which in turn was constructed over the ruins of an ancient settlement.
22/04/06 12Hrs MESSMEDIA – West Midlands. 12Hrs of PsyTrance MessMedia stylee at a private venue in Shropshire.
2 Rooms of lurve and good vibes
Youth(Dragonfly Recordings) Tripswitch(Liquid Sound Design/Dragonfly)
Nanook(Srange Daze) Nick(Interchill)
Nigel Photon(Revolve) Natalie(Tranceculture)
Clare(Resident/Spacehopper) Red Earth(Eartheart)
Paul Didge(Live)
Throu 16K of perfection continously enginereed by the awesome Men@Work
3D U.V. Installations by Tombalina
Illuminations by NutCracker
Decor by themushyP's
8pm till 8am Unlike some clubs youll not be hearderd out on to unfriendly city streets in the early hours with only the company of the police and other low lifes **s - The music goes on till 8am.You can hang out,Chill out,or otherwise get your head together with a coffee and even have sunday lunch.
Mini-bus from Wolverhampton Station.
e-mail for tickets £10....YOU CANT PAY ON THE DOOR (Its not a club its a private party)
messmedia2003@hotmail.com
ppp at:
http://www.messmedia.co.uk/
TSUNAMI Presents: DEEDRAH
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The Digitally Imported Goa-Psy channel presents the latest show from our friends at Tsunami, streaming every 4th Friday of the month.
For this latest episode, prepare yourself for two hours featuring DEEDRAH! (GBU Records, Ibiza).
Dado was half of the legendary trance act TRANCEWAVE (France), and then continued solo on his trailblazing journey as DEEDRAH, without a doubt one of the most respected trance producers in the world.
Tsunami will be coming your way with a new guest every 4th Friday of the month. Catch the hottest Goa and Psy Trance right here on DI!
Start time: Friday 28th April - 2PM US Eastern / 7PM UK / 20:00 Central Europe, on the Goa-Psy channel.
[/FONT][FONT=Arial,]Tune in on any link below:
High-Speed MP3 stream
Windows Media 32k stream
Windows Media 24k stream
24k aacPlus stream[/FONT]
Crystal Yamantaka – 12 May @ WI Centre:. Shane Gobi, Edoardo, Kuba + more :horay: CRYSTAL YAMANTAKA :horay:
Full Moon Finale
Friday 12th May
Although this is not the end of the Yamantaka adventure, after two magical years at the West Indian Centre, Cash, Ash and I are moving on to pastures new. We therefore invite you to this special venue for our last regular event, with an extra spicy lineup!
Musical conductors
ROOM 1-Progressive and Psychedelic Trance
SHANE GOBI (Alchemy Recs.)
EDOARDO (Neurobiotic Recs.)
CHRIS N' SAM 'NTAKA (Crystal Yamantaka)
HAMISH (Crystal Yamantaka)
15k Crystal Sound provided by Fushion Sound
ROOM 2-Ambient Chill-out and Dub
KUBA (Liquid Sound Design)
FRANK (Synapse - Amphibian)
CRYSTAL OSCILLATOR (Crystal Yamantaka)
KHANDRAMA
5k mellowed mackie sound
Live VJ's
TranceVisuals.com
PistolPete
Amazing Immersive Decor by Crystal Yamantaka (Lou Malcolm and Friends)
Friendly Security ~ Tea Stall ~ Fluro Market ~ A bit o Gaz ~ Sweets ~ Treats ~ and plenty of surprises
plus a free compilation for the first 50 people featuring tunes from as many artists as possible who have graced the stage at our parties
10p.m till late @ WEST INDIAN CENTRE 10 Laycock Place LEEDS LS7
£8
Need Info and directions? Call 07753338919 or 07989606618 or e-mail us at crystal_yamantaka@hotmail.com
www.crystalyamantaka.com
Peace and Love to all and we'll see you on the dance floor!
Cash, Ash and Hamish
FRI 5TH MAY – Relief presents General Midi – Luton!.
CLUBBERS will be under strict orders to don their dancing shoes when one of the biggest names in breakbeat visits Luton next month, DJ and producer General Midi is the special guest at Relief on Friday, May 5, for a night which is hoped will be carried out with military precision!
His Album Midi Style is in all good stores now, and comes heartily recommended from the ATB crew.
Next month’s visit to Luton will be his first to the town.
As well as General Midi, the latest event promises the very finest underground dance music from MOFO magazine head honcho Camden’s Jimmy Mofo, Luton’s own Raindance residents Apply The Breaks on five decks and Radio One Extra DJ WKD.
NON STUDENTS WELCOME
DJS’s
General Midi
(Distinctive Records)
Apply the Breaks
(Mack, Smoove, Fingaz, Focuz, X Kon, KID) – 3rd B’day B2B Special)
Jimmy Mofo
(Head Honco of the Breakspoll award winning MOGO Magazine)
WKD
(1Xtra Winner)
SOUND
A whopping crystal clear 15k Cerwin Vega Sound System provided by TNT.
Tickets
£9 in advance or £7 for NUS card holders
Students’ Union - 01582 489366
Per Lui in Park Street – 01582 723921
Location
Luton University, Sub Club, Vicarage Street, Luton.
J10 M1 follow signs for town center.
There is a large floodlit car-park across the road from the student union under the flyover.
Multimap
http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?client=public&GridE=-0.40940&GridN=51.87752&lon=-0.40940&lat=51.87752&search_result=Vicarage%20Street%2C%20LU1%2C%20LUTON&GridN=51.87752&GridE=-0.40940&db=GB&cidr_client=none&lang=&keepicon=true&place=Vicarage+Street,+LU1,+LUTON&pc=&advanced=&client=public&addr2=vicarage+street&quicksearch=vicarage+street+luton&addr3=+luton&scale=5000&addr1=
Info
07767753456
www.applythebreaks.com
www.mofomag.com
GENERAL MIDI PROFILE
Paul Crossman a.k.a General Midi has always managed to master a more ‘level crunching, dub flavoured and bass fuelled musical ride’ than his peers and it is this that has earned him his fast growing reputation as the source of a great night out when he’s at the controls and as "the producer’s producer".
Emerging from the backrooms of the Bristol Club scene his slick DJ ability and an ear for a great tune have given him regular appearances at breaks hotspots across the planet such as Fabric, Chew The Fat, Blow Pop, Sounds On Sundays (Sydney), Two Tribes (Australia), Zouk Singapore, Budapest, all across the USA, Hungary, Spain, Serbia, China, Hong Kong…and teaming up with production partner Eelz, General Midi has been responsible for some of the most genre defining tunes in ‘The Westoner’(99) ‘Daft Funk’ (01) ‘Further’ (03) & ‘You will Be Under’ (03), ‘Entertainer’ (04), ‘Bass Rockerz’ (04) & House of Funk (05).
Over the last few years General Midi’s singles have been released on some of the most respected breaks labels including TCR (Rennie Pilgrims label) & Kilowatt (Hyper’s label). All of this has led to his debut album ‘Midi Style’ released by Distinct’ive in October 2005. Support has come from right across the board at Club (Timo Maas, Fergie, Plump DJs, Hyper) and Radio (Zane Lowe, Annie Nightingale)
hiva Space Technology and Life this friday 28th April Party at TempleBar Muisc Centre
Neutronyx - Shiva Space Technology and LIFE festival present
FUTURE SOUL PARTY
Friday 28th April @ TEMPLE BAR MUSIC CENTRE ( Dublin 2 ).
Mental Displacement Cd Launch presented by CHRISTER ( Shiva Space Technology -Norway)
The compilation 'Mental Displacement' has been put together with one honest intention, to make people dance like raving lunatics.
The compilation wanders the landscape where the full-on night meets pure psychedelic trance with a small amount of funk to it. Prepare your body to the latest tracks of Hyperfrequencies, Mechanix, Shift, Neuromotor, Lemurians and more of the best artists from the international psytrance scene and was prooved on dancefloors worldwide already.
Main arena:
CHRISTER ( Shiva Space Technology) Norway
ANDY DE LAHUNT (Trigger) Ireland
ZEFER ( Neutronyx resident Dj ) Spain
Progressive front room:
Dj Chai ( Spain )
Psy-Am ( Ireland )
ZIni ( Ireland )
Deco By ATOM GLOW
Visuals by MANGALUNA
Tickets in advance 10euro at RED EYE shop (4 crow street TempleBar) 12e with Flyer, 15e full door
Get Ready for LIFE
more info at www.neutronyx.com
STAND FOR LIFE:
Info point at Temple Bar Music Centre for all your questions about life and you can get your tickets to LIFE Festival at €75 .
Kompakt Records with The Institute 20th May 2006 Mind the Gap present Kompakt Records night with support from The Institute for Electronic Artists
The Centre for Contemporary Arts,
Sauchiehall Street
Glasgow
Saturday 20th May 2006
9pm - 3am
£12adv - £15door
Kompakt Flyer:
Institute flyer to follow
Full line-up (clickable links)
Room1:
Engine 7 (Palooka)
VENT (Avionix Records)
Scopeboy (Tronic)
Seventh Redmoon
Le Petit Orb (Alex Paterson & Thomas Fehlmann) (Kompakt)
Room2:
Operator (Scandanavia)
Sean Kerwin (The Institute for Electronic Artists)
Brian D'Souza (Pogo Vogue)
Morph (Audiodacity)
Jennifer Cardini (Output Recordings)
Jonas Bering (Kompakt)
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