Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Iraq war has cost UK over 4 billion pounds so far

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

London, July 11, IRNA
UK-Iraq war-Cost
The first three years of the Iraq war and the chaotic aftermath has cost British taxpayers over PND 4 billion (USD 7.3b) in additional military spending, Defence Secretary Des Browne said.

In a written parliamentary report published Tuesday, Browne said that the cost of military operations in Iraq for 2002-03, covering preparations and the initial invasion, was PND 847m, including PND 218m on capital equipment.

The cost, which is calculated on a net additional basis, rose to PND 1.3b in the following financial year ending March 4. This, he said, included just over PND 1b on operations and PND 260m spent on equipment.

In the second full year, there was a decline to PND 747m, including PND 163m on equipment, but the extra cost again rose last year.

Browne said that he did not have the figures for 2005-06, but told MPs that the Defence Ministry requested resources of PND 1.1b in the Spring Supplementary Estimates and that the final amount will be published later this year in his department's annual report.

Former defence secretary John Reid announced in January that Britain would be spending an addition PND 1b over the next three years in sending additional forces to Afghanistan, and this is expected to rise with Monday's announcement of more deployments.

The additional military expenditure in Iraq has been criticized by anti-war campaigners as being "misspent" when it could have been better used on schools and hospitals in the UK.

"It is a complete waste of money and resources -- and a waste of human life on an illegal, unpopular and immoral war," said Andrew Burgin of the `Stop The War' coalition.

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