Gulf War Bills Top $32 Billion in the Latest U.S. Accounting
The latest installment of the U.S. bill for the Persian Gulf War is $32.2 billion, of which more than $3 billion will come from American taxpayers because the allies have not yet delivered all promised aid, the chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee said Thursday.
The price tag will grow by an unknown amount, probably tens of billions of dollars. The $32.2 billion is only part of what the war and its aftermath are expected to cost, according to Administration figures released by the chairman, Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D-W.Va.).
The numbers are the first cost update since Congress passed legislation last month requiring regular reports from the Administration on Gulf War expenses and foreign contributions.
Many members of Congress have been critical of America’s allies for being slow to deliver on promised aid. The war-costs bill included a ban on arms sales to nations that still owe money.
So far, six countries have paid just under $29 billion in cash.
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