Is it all worth it?

                David Wessel writes in The Wall Street Journal “Osama bin Laden vowed to bleed America ‘to the point of bankruptcy.’” He goes on to contend “September 11 did not…trigger a wrenching recession.” I disagree with his assertion. He himself notes “The attacks led to Afghanistan and Iraq…wars.” It is because of this statement that I find myself with a contrasting view.            

                The United State’s wars in Iraq and Afghanistan contribute to rising oil prices, and these spiking oil prices increase inflation (Bateman, 2010). This is proven by evidence from the Washington Post; “Before the 2003 U.S. invasion of [Iraq], oil cost less and $25 per gallon… the war changed that equation.” Rising oil prices and subsequent inflation lessen amounts of disposable income, causing harm to aggregate demand.

                Diverting money from equally important endeavors to fighting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan has had an astounding opportunity cost according to Alternet News Orgainization.  Research conducted by Alternet found that “for every $1 billion spent on a combination of education, healthcare, energy conservation and infrastructure investments creates between 50 and 100 percent more jobs than the same money going to Iraq.”

                Though I disagree with Wessel’s contention that the wars have had a negligible effect of the economy, I agree with his views of war expenditures as excessive. A basic economic principal we’ve learned in class is that “Resources should be used as efficiently as possible to achieve society’s goals.” While I recognize the need to protect U.S. citizens, fighting against an elusive enemy in Afghanistan and implementing a democratic government in Iraq at the current time is unwise. This is especially true for the war in Afghanistan, where it is evidenced by Politifact that there are only 25-30 members of Al Qaeda left. Another article from Alternet concludes Al Qaeda has left Afghanistan, and is now based largely in Yemen.  Though some U.S. military presence is needed in Iraq and Afghanistan for the foreseeable future, a drawdown, in my opinion, is reasonable.  

                Like the individual, the government has unlimited wants, but limited resources. Resources are now being spent in a manner unwise and shortsighted. To conclude, I look towards the principal of marginal analysis. The impact of continued overspending in our foreign occupations has a negligible improvement on the safety of U.S. citizens, as Al Qaeda is very nearly absent from where troops are based in Afghanistan. Further, there never were WMDs in Iraq, according to a CIA assessment, and Saddam Hussein’s regime has been toppled. Funds are being diverted from healthcare, education, energy conservation and infrastructure, and inflation is rising, all contributing to a lack in economic growth. Because the costs of our spending in wars in Iraq and Afghanistan outweigh the benefits, I would answer Wessel’s final questions, “Was it all worth it? Are we really that much safer?” with a resounding ‘No.’