U.S. Spends $20B On War-Zone Air Conditioning

We are supposed to be THE Prime Power. We are "The Super Power" -- at the same time, we cannot provide health care for our citizens -- because it's "too expensive" -- even though it would actually save money. Not only that, we cannot continue to provide Social Security, Medicare for our "senior citizens" (old folks, like me), AND we cannot provide health care for our CHILDREN -- the very kids our politicians carry on about as "our future".

I guess our future is pretty bleak.

YET, we CAN spend 20 BILLION a year to air condition TENTS in our "war zones" (if by "war zones" you mean places we have illegally invaded, and now occupy).

I thought you joined the Army to be "Army Strong" -- not to have AC you might never have had before.

Lets see -- no health care, 20 BILLION on AC in TENTS!!

Please follow link to original article.
------------------------------------------------------------

U.S. Spends $20B On War-Zone Air Conditioning

National Public Radio reports:

The amount the U.S. military spends annually on air conditioning in Iraq and Afghanistan: $20.2 billion.


That’s more than NASA’s budget. It’s more than BP has paid so far for damage during the Gulf oil spill. It’s what the G-8 has pledged to help foster new democracies in Egypt and Tunisia.


“When you consider the cost to deliver the fuel to some of the most isolated places in the world — escorting, command and control, medevac support — when you throw all that infrastructure in, we’re talking over $20 billion,” Steven Anderson tells weekends on All Things Considered guest host Rachel Martin. Anderson is a retired brigadier general who served as Gen. David Patreaus’ chief logistician in Iraq.


Why does it cost so much?


To power an air conditioner at a remote outpost in land-locked Afghanistan, a gallon of fuel has to be shipped into Karachi, Pakistan, then driven 800 miles over 18 days to Afghanistan on roads that are sometimes little more than “improved goat trails,” Anderson says. “And you’ve got risks that are associated with moving the fuel almost every mile of the way.”


Anderson calculates more than 1,000 troops have died in fuel convoys, which remain prime targets for attack. Free-standing tents equipped with air conditioners in 125 degree heat require a lot of fuel. Anderson says by making those structures more efficient, the military could save lives and dollars.