Before the invasion of Iraq, the Bush administration told the American
people that it could be fought on the cheap. Deputy Secretary of
Defense Paul Wolfowitz said "We are dealing with a country that can really
finance its own reconstruction and relatively soon."[1] Budget Director
Mitch Daniels said Iraq will be "an affordable endeavor,"[2] "that will
not require sustained aid"[3] and cost "in the range of $50 billion to
$60 billion."[4] Defense Policy Board Member Richard Perle said, "Iraq
is a very wealthy country...They can finance, largely finance, the
reconstruction of their own country."[5] They were all wrong.

The Washington Post reports "the Bush administration intends to seek
about $70 billion in emergency funding for the wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan early next year, pushing total war costs close to $225 billion since
the invasion of Iraq early last year."[6]

Sources:

1. "Dems charge 'bait and switch' on Iraq," UPI, 10/03/03,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=1214970&l=65222.
2. Ibid, http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=1214970&l=65222.
3. "U.S. says oil in Iraq to pay for rebuilding," Washington Post,
3/28/04, http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=1214970&l=65223.
4. "Estimated cost of Iraq war reduced," New York Times, 12/31/02,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=1214970&l=65224.
5. "Saddam's Ultimate Solution," PBS, 07/11/02,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=1214970&l=65225.
6. "Increase in War Funding Sought," Washington Post, 10/26/04,
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=1214970&l=65226.

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