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National: Iraq and Afghanistan: The U.S. $6 trillion bill for America’s longest war is unpaid By LINDA J. BILMES, Harvard University -  On Memorial Day, we pay respects to the fallen from past wars – including the more than one million American soldiers killed in the Civil War, World Wars I and II, Korea and Vietnam.

Yet the nation’s longest and most expensive war is the one that is still going on. In addition to nearly 7,000 troops killed, the 16-year conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan will cost an estimated US$6 trillion due to its prolonged length, rapidly increasing veterans health care and disability costs and interest on war borrowing. On this Memorial Day, we should begin to confront the staggering cost and the challenge of paying for this war.

The enormous figure reflects not just the cost of fighting – like guns, trucks and fuel – but also the long-term cost of providing medical care and disability compensation for decades beyond the end of the conflict. Consider the fact that benefits for World War I veterans didn’t peak until 1969. For World War II veterans, the peak came in 1986. Payments for Vietnam-era vets are still climbing. 

The high rates of injuries and increased survival rates in Iraq and Afghanistan mean that over half the 2.5 million who served there suffered some degree of disability. Their health care and disability benefits alone will easily cost $1 trillion in coming decades.

But instead of facing up to these huge costs, we have charged them to the national credit card. This means that our children will be forced to pay the bill for the wars started by our generation. Unless we set aside money today, it is likely that young people now fighting in Afghanistan will be shortchanged in the future just when they most need medical care and benefits.

While most Americans are keen to “support our troops,” we aren’t currently shouldering the financial or the physical burden of our nation’s warfare. Except for a short period between the two world wars, the percentage of the general population now serving in the U.S. armed forces is at its lowest level ever. 

What’s more, the war in Afghanistan barely features on our front pages. During the past two years it has not even made it into the top 10 news stories.

There is not much pain in our pocketbooks either. In past wars, taxpayers were forced to cover some of the extra spending. During Vietnam, marginal tax rates for the top 1 percent of earners were hiked to 77 percent. President Harry Truman raised tax rates as high as 92 percent during the Korean War, telling the country that “this is a contribution to our national security that every one of us should stand ready to make.” In fact, taxes were raised during every American conflict since the Revolutionary War, especially for the wealthy. 

This time around we have borrowed the money instead. Thanks to the Bush-era tax cuts of 2001 and 2003, nearly all Americans now pay lower taxes than before the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. And unlike previous wars, Congress has paid for the post 9/11 conflicts using so-called “emergency” and “overseas contingency operations” spending bills, which bypass Congress’ own budget caps. This has allowed the government to avoid any uncomfortable national discussion on how to balance war spending against other domestic priorities. - More...
Tuesday PM - May 30, 2017

COLUMNS - COMMENTARY

BILL TATSUDA: KAYHI COMMENCEMENT SPEECH (Presented to Over 140 Graduates, Sunday, May 28, 2017) - Good afternoon everyone. I am honored to be speaking here today at Kayhi. To the Class of 2017 I only ask that you stay awake during my speech. There is going to be a test afterwards, which you will have to pass in order to get your diploma. It will not be a difficult test, but you will have to be awake to take it. Here is an example question: Who was the speaker at graduation? A. A short Asian looking man. B. An old guy. C. Mr. Tatsuda D. All of the above.

Now I am going to show you one of the many ways to get up in the world. (pull stool out from inside the podium and get up on it). I was worried that the class would not be able to see me.

The last time I spoke at a Kayhi graduation was in 1966, 51 years ago. It was when I graduated from Kayhi, and I was the Class Selected Speaker. I am not sure why the class of 1966 selected me. It might have been because I was Kayhi Student Body President that year, or because I had been in Jeanie Sande’s debate club. More than likely it was because no one else volunteered to get up in front of everyone and try to sound half-way coherent.

Paula Sampson Ziegler spoke as the Class Valedictorian, and Mary Jo Turek spoke as the Salutatorian. Mrs. Wengert, our Senior English teacher was our speech advisor, and all three of them were mad at me, because I would not show them my speech ahead of time. They did not know that I could not show them, because I did not have one. I had to stay up late the night before graduation writing my speech. - More....
Tuesday PM, May 30, 2017

JOE GUZZARDI: Remembering the Values Our Soldiers Died For - During my lifetime, the United States has been involved in 18 foreign wars, excursions and interventions. Beginning with World War II, and continuing in a nearly unbroken streak that leads up to today's Afghanistan Operation Enduring Freedom, blood has been shed. Except for the triumphant World War II, the conflicts have produced few positive consequences.

Afghanistan, America's longest war, is a prime example. In a battle that can't be won, more than 2,300 American men and women have died since the Afghanistan invasion began shortly after 9/11. Most of the casualties were age 30 or younger. While inconsequential compared to lives cut short, Afghanistan has been a bottomless money pit. The cost to date exceeds $1 trillion, and in fiscal year 2017, $500 billion will be squandered. In Afghanistan, the best thing to do would be to follow the advice then-Vermont Senator George Aiken gave President Johnson about Vietnam: "Declare victory and get out."

Foreign wars fought on insurgents' soil are hard to win. Afghanistan, which retired Central Intelligence Agency analyst Milton Bearden called "the graveyard of empires," proves the point. Afghanistan routed the British four times - 1839, 1879, 1919 and 2001 - and embarrassed the Russians when they withdrew in 1988. But, in Vietnam, Lyndon Johnson and Defense Secretary Robert McNamara foolishly carried on despite the overwhelming odds against them. - More...
Tuesday PM - May 30, 2017