The actual cost of the U.S. military involvement in the Iran conflict may have reached as high as $100 billion, but the Pentagon's reported figure of only $31 billion has raised congressional ske

On this war against Iran, $100 billion has been spent. But the Pentagon only dared to report $31 billion. This NBC report digs deep—internal Pentagon assessments show actual spending was between $80 billion and $100 billion. Where did the nearly $70 billion gap go?

First, reconstruction costs. Iran didn’t take it easy—the U.S. military bases took heavy hits. Just the damage to U.S. facilities within Bahrain amounts to nearly $1 billion. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg—rebuilding all the attacked bases could cost over $30 billion.

Second, replacing aircraft. More than 40 military planes were damaged. F-15E, F-35A, A-10, KC-135 refuelers—each one is worth tens of millions to hundreds of millions of dollars. Even more critical: these losses weren’t included at all in the official $31 billion estimate.

Third, personnel costs. Two carrier strike groups deployed long-term, tens of thousands of troops urgently mobilized, plus logistics, accommodations, and subsequent repatriation—all expensive, and none accounted for.

Simply put, the $31 billion the Pentagon publicly reported only covers “the cost of ammunition fired.” The ruined bases, destroyed aircraft, and full-scale troop redeployment across the Middle East? All labeled “to be settled later on the bill.”

Now Congress is fed up.

Senator Angus King directly confronted the Pentagon’s acting comptroller: “The American people cannot get a clear answer on how much this war has actually cost—this is deeply frustrating.”

Another senator, Reid, was even more direct—voting against the defense spending bill as protest against “the Pentagon’s refusal to disclose the true cost.”

Now the Pentagon wants Congress to approve an additional $68 billion in budget supplements—but lawmakers are clear: if you won’t even clarify how much you’ve already spent, why should I give you more money?

$100 billion versus $31 billion—not a margin of error, but deliberate blindness.

War is paid for by taxpayers. Now Congress is demanding accountability. How much longer can the Pentagon hide behind its messy books?

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1870863113420107/

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