There are approximately 294,000,000 Americans in the United States. As of today, we have spent approximately $175,000,000,000 in the Iraq war (www.costofwar.com is an excellent site). So, the immediate cost of the Iraq War currently stands at $595.24 for each of us. I have six people in my household, so the costs to my family currently stands at $3,571.42.
Of course, this "analysis" doesn't take into consideration that many Americans are not taxpayers; all of the interest costs for the war are not yet realized; the immediate costs will continue to accrue; the long term costs of medical care to veterans is uncertain; and, well, the non-economic costs are incalculable. Almost 1,700 dead Americans; more than 12,000 injured Americans, some who will never be as productive as they were before the war; tens of thousands of dead Iraqi's; loss of American credibility; deterioration of the quality of our Armed Forces; the opportunity costs of the money diverted to the Iraq War; and on and on and on.
What seems obvious every day is that as the costs of the war grow each day the potential benefits decline. The best that can be said today is that we ousted Saddam to be replaced by a theocracy or a dictatorship, and that's if we are lucky. If we aren't so lucky, then it's anarchy. What a horse** decision going to war with Iraq, and I'd like to hear someone start stating the obvious and pointing out the costs to each of use. If someone would start personalizing the costs of this blunder, perhaps we can get the decision making policy out of the right wing and into those who have some diplomatic skills. Clearly, the Bush Administration is in over their heads and has no clue. I'm not sure anyone else can fix the problem, but I do know that the Bush Administration can't.