Newsweek estimates that the second inauguration of President George W. Bush will cost $30 million. The New York Times says Bush's inaugural team is trying to raise $40 million.
Now back up a little... you remember the flak Donald Rumsfeld got when asked why there weren't enough armored vehicles (such as Humvees) in Iraq? Well, they cost a lot, right? (You already see where this is going.)
The most coveted Humvee among troops in Iraq is the M1114, which has protected glass windows and armament on its sides, front, rear, top and bottom. Almost 6,000 of them are in Iraq right now. They cost about $150,000 each. [Link]
Lt. Gen. John Sattler, commander of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, says the M1114 is the “best uparmored vehicle in the world.” It can stop AK-47 bullets, anti-personnel RPGs and most roadside bombs and mines.
So here's the math part (thanks to my wife for pointing this out to me): the inauguration costs $30 million... or we could send another 200 armored Humvees to Iraq. The choice should be obvious, and yet plans for the overpriced inauguration go on.
2 comments:
Wow, excellent point!! Talk about hypocrisy... we're in a war. "I'm a war President." You're right. They keep hammering on how we're at war and how that makes it OK to spend like drunken chimps. We've been sending our children to die, maybe we should cancel the parade!! I'll be on the phone to my Republican Congressman this morning. Holy crap.
Great comparison!
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