So when is the US getting out of Iraq?

Not for a l-o-o-o-o-ng while yet if we look at this Congresional Research Service report via the Federation of Scientists.


Look at the numbers in the bottom table. The Dept of Defence is looking at spending more than twice the amount (US$672 million) in Iraq in 2005 on construction, compared to the amount spent on construction in for the combined years 2001-2004 (US$304 million). This is a substantial investment and strengthening of military infrastructure which points to the US armed forces not getting out of Iraq for some time yet. They're there for the long haul folks despite the Iraqi's new found independence.

And this isn't counting the cost of civilian reconstruction and operational costs whilst over there, this is merely building stuff so the armed forces can stay.

Afghanistan seems to be the "forgotten about"" country of occupation.

The report states:

In the FY2005 Supplemental, DOD is requesting $1.0 billion for military construction to support Afghanistan and Iraq either in-country or in surrounding countries. That amount compares to the $912 million in funding for military construction for those purposes in previous supplementals since the 9/11 attacks.

Since that time, Congress has also provided DOD with additional flexibility to initiate
military construction projects – without advance authorization – in order for DOD to move more quickly to meet wartime needs. At the same time, the committees have voiced concerns about insufficient or lack of information from DOD about the use of funds for construction projects in Iraq and Afghanistan and the whether all projects rejected qualify as emergency spending.

Here is the table in rough form(take a look at the report with HTML blogger justification issues. can't cope.)

Table 1. Supplemental Funds for Military Construction By Mission,
FY2001-FY2005 Request
(in millions of dollars )

Mission..... ....FY01-FY04.... FY05.. Request Total
Afghanistan ......... 120.5................ 231.1........351.6
Iraq .......................304.6.................672.6........977.2
Both overseas ..... 284.5 ................. 67.4........351.9
Both in USA .........104.1............. .. 289.4........393.5
Other unspecified ..98.6...................68.6....... 167.2
Total: Afg. & Iraq 912.3 ............ 1,329.0 .. 2,241.3
Other US...............176.5................... 70.0 ..... 246.5
TOTAL ............. 1,088.8 ............ 1,399.0... 2,487.8