Cost of gas for troops in Afghanistan?: $400/gallon

[plastixxman]

AND  they drive hummers.  This is why even if you win a war in Afghanistan you lose.  Nothing you can possibly steal can pay for the cost of controlling it.  Theres evil powermad elites and then theres our stupid evil powermad elites.  They may possibly bankrupt the country and destroy the army before they are done actually really needing it for their wars of conquest.  Kind of like Napoleon and Hitler trying to invade russia in the winter.

Kings had always been involving and impoverishing their people in wars, pretending generally, if not always, that the good of the people was the object.
Abraham Lincoln

You can't say that civilization don't advance, however, for in every war they kill you in a new way.
Will Rogers


http://rawstory.com/2009/10/us-pays-400-per-gallon-for-gas-in-afghanistan/

[lynnie]

Theres evil powermad elites and then theres our stupid evil powermad elites.  They may possibly bankrupt the country and destroy the army before they are done actually really needing it for their wars of conquest.

Well put. Zimbabwe comes to mind as well.

But I doubt it really costs that much to get the gas there. Ever see one of those hospital bills where they charge 19 bucks for an asprin, 10 bucks for a pair of disposable vinyl gloves, and so forth?  I am sure the taxpayers are truly paying the 400 dollars per gallon, but you can be sure it does not really cost that. Somewhere along the line some other hands are in the cookie jar. And I am sure they don't want us ending their lucrative little cash flow war.
 

[ralfy]

Related:

"NATO forces turn to warlords"

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/KJ31Df01.html

[PeakARoo]

Yeah, the coalition of the willing should have invaded somewhere more interesting than Afghanistan.
Then we might have got some more bang for our buck (taxes).

Instead of piles of rocks, Toyota Hi-Lux Ute's with sagged arse ends, worn out donkeys and shell-shocked people,
we could have invaded France or the Netherlands or Monaco and looted them.

At least we would have some nice arty farty things, killer hydro buds and cool fast boats. 

(I guess there is always the opium but that stuff is too hardcore).

[BlueOwl]

This is why even if you win a war in Afghanistan you lose.  Nothing you can possibly steal can pay for the cost of controlling it.

Ah, but it does* pay.  Because those reaping the rewards (think Halliburton and its analogs, blackwater (and the like), the dozens and dozens of arms and weapons manufactures, etc.) are NOT the same as those paying the costs (taxpayers now and in the future). 

[Involuntary Simplicity]

China just inked a deal for a copper mine in Afghanistan http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/natural_resources/article2910583.ece.  Maybe we're becoming the "hired guns" for Chinese resource acquisitions....