The facts
The war in Iran has cost the U.S. at least $38 billion and depleted its defensive missile stockpile to a point where rebuilding it could take five years, according to a report from the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO). The economic report, released less than two months before midterm elections, follows a Pentagon inspector general review that stated the U.S. spent $22.3 billion on munitions alone through June 30, bringing total spending to $33.4 billion. The Pentagon's review found the fighting resulted in strategic inventory shortfalls and revealed industrial base bottlenecks for munitions resupply. The CBO's $38 billion estimate, requested by Democratic Congressman Brendan Boyle, also noted that Iranian strikes damaged or destroyed hundreds of buildings and structures at U.S. bases in several Middle Eastern countries. The cost is projected to increase by $3 billion for each additional month the conflict continues, depending on its intensity, and the war has contributed to inflation. The shortage of missile defense interceptors, such as Patriot and Thaad, is considered especially problematic for a potential conflict over Taiwan. The CBO based its estimates largely on public reporting, as the Pentagon did not fully respond to requests for information.
Our take
Well, here’s a fun way to spend $38 billion: buy absolutely nothing of lasting value and leave your cupboard bare for the next crisis. According to a new report, America’s little adventure in Iran has managed to burn through enough cash to fund a small moon base, while leaving our missile stockpile looking like the snack drawer after a stoner convention. The only thing we’ve stockpiled is regret and a five-year waiting list for more Patriots. Fancy that.
The Pentagon’s inspector general says we’ve already blown $33.4 billion, with $22.3 billion of that vanishing into the ‘munitions’ black hole alone. That’s a lot of money to turn into expensive confetti over the desert. The report mentions ‘strategic inventory shortfalls,’ which is budget-nerd speak for ‘we shot our wad and now the box is empty.’ Industrial base bottlenecks mean we can’t just run down to the Costco of Cruise Missiles for a quick restock. We’re talking years to refill the shelves. So if China gets any funny ideas about Taiwan, we’ll have to throw rocks.
And the meter is still running! The CBO estimates the cost grows by a cool $3 billion for each additional month of this shit-show. That’s the price of a new aircraft carrier, every month, pissed directly into the wind. All while contributing to inflation, because nothing says ‘robust economy’ like lighting a pile of money on fire and making everything else more expensive.
The real kicker? The CBO had to base its estimates on public reports because the Pentagon didn’t fully answer their questions. Even they don’t want to admit how deep this fiscal and strategic ass-fucking goes. We’ve achieved the holy trinity: it cost a fortune, it solved nothing, and it left us dangerously vulnerable for the next fight. Mission accomplished, you wasteful bastards.
