Cost of the Iraq War.

To date (late summer, 2004), the Iraq war has cost $144.4 billion -- all in the name of making us safer. That's a lot of money -- even by government spending standards.

How much is it? Look at what other safety-ensuring things it could buy. And then there's this question to consider: Which spending actually makes us safer?

Incidentally, $144.4 billion is just what we've spent so far. Most respected military analysts expect the war to cost at least $100 to $200 billion more.

Which Spending Makes Us Safer?

A
 $30.5 billion Safeguard nuclear material, the vast majority of which is in the former Soviet Union.
B
 $24 billion Add 40,000 Army personnel (two divisions) over the next five years at $4.8 billion a year.
C
 $15.5 billion Double the 25,000 active-duty troops in the Special Operations Forces. These elite forces have been highly effective in tracking down terrorists.
D
 $11 billion Finance crop conversion in Afghanistan for five years. The country's opium trade brings in $2.3 billion a year.
E
 $10 billion To arm U.S. commercial airliners with self-defense systems from shoulder-fired missiles, an estimated 100,000 of which are on the world's black markets.
F
 $10 billion Increase U.S. aid to neediest countries for five years. Of the $13 billion we spend on aid, more than half goes to Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan and Indonesia. This nonmilitary aid would nearly triple U.S. assistance to the rest of the world.
G
 $8.6 billion To rebuild Afghanistan and deter terrorists from reestablishing themselves there. This amount covers the shortfall between the $27.6 billion the country says it needs and that which the International community has pledged.
H
 $7.5 billion Coast Guard's estimate to safeguard U.S. ports for 10 years. The administration has currently allocated $500 million.
I
 $7 billion Put 100,000 additional police officers on the street for five years. The administration has allocated $97 million in next year's budget.
J
 $5 billion Install state-of-the-art baggage-screening machines at nation's 440 airports. Only eight have them now. The administration has requested $250 million for this year.
K
 $4 billion Cut in half the 20-year timetable for replacing and upgrading U.S. Coast Guard cutters, patrol craft and communications.
L
 $3 billion Secure major roads and railways by improving surveillance, training workers and developing explosive-detection equipment in the largest cities. The administration allocated $200 million last year.
M
 $2.5 billion Double the size of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (trucks, fireproof clothing, hoses etc.) for the next five years.
N
 $2.25 billion Double budget for the next five years for the Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction Program, which has already deactivated more than 6,000 nuclear warheads.
O
 $2 billion To help cover costs of the Container Security Initiative, which sends customs agents around the world to inspect U.S.-bound cargo.
P
 $775 million For public diplomacy efforts in the Arab and Muslim world. This would quadruple current efforts --and finance the National Endowment for Democracy --for the next five years.
Q
 $350 million Update and integrate emergency radio systems for police, fire and other public radio systems.
R
 $240 million Equip airports with walk-through explosives detectors. The 9/11 commission highlighted this need.

Source: New York Times, August 8, 2004

Note: This condensed data comes from the Aug. 8 New York Times, where you can see further details. It was compiled by Michael Pan, Amanda Terkel, Robert Boorstin and P.J. Crowley who study national security for the Center for American Progress.