Pentagon: The War On Terror Has Cost $250 Million A Day For 16 Years

International Business Times: Defense Department: The War On Terror Has Cost $250 Million A Day For 16 Years

American taxpayers have spent $1.46 trillion on wars abroad since September 11, 2001.

The Department of Defense periodically releases a “cost of war” report. The newly released version, obtained by the Federation of American Scientists Secrecy News blog, covers the time from the September 11th terrorist attacks through mid-2017.

The Afghanistan War from 2001 to 2014 and Iraq War from 2003 to 2011 account for the bulk of expenses: more than $1.3 trillion. The continuing presence in Afghanistan and aerial anti-ISIS operations in Iraq and Syria since 2014 have cost a combined $120 billion.

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Update: The 'War On Terror' Has Cost American Taxpayers $250 Million A Day For 16 Years (Zero Hedge).

WNU Editor: My gut s telling me that this is a low-ball number.

These Unassuming Planes Are Playing A Key Role In The War AGainst Terror

USAF Special Operations PC-12 in Niger in 2012. Sputniktilt/wikicommons

The Drive: These Unassuming Planes Have Been Key Players in America's War on Terror

For years, the U.S. Air Force's 318th Special Operations Squadron's small PC-12 and C-145A aircraft supported secretive operations across five continents.

A key element that makes the U.S. military so potent is its ability to start rushing troops anywhere in the world on short notice. Massive cargo aircraft, such as the C-5 Galaxy and C-17 Globemaster III, depositing troops and equipment into or near war zones is a common image of American military deployments. But as the United States has expanded its often shadowy global fight against terrorism, a secretive fleet of small transport planes has become a vital tool in those operations.

Between 2011 and 2013, aircraft from the U.S. Air Force’s 318th Special Operations Squadron flew more than 3,000 hours across five continents. The sorties included everything from basic cargo deliveries to air dropping supplies onto remote combat outposts and even psychological warfare.

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WNU Editor: If you want an unassuming airplane to transport personnel .... this is it.

The First Casualty In The White House's War Against Terrorism

President Barack Obama speaks with White House Counsel Gregory Craig in the Oval Office, June 11. (Pete Souza/Rapport Press/Newscom/File)

Bauer To Be White House Counsel, Amid Snags On Terrorism Policy -- Christian Science Monitor

Robert Bauer, Obama’s personal lawyer, will replace Gregory Craig, who took flak for his work on terrorism issues like torture and Guantanamo prison closure.

The resignation announcement Friday of Gregory Craig, chief counsel at the White House, points to the larger challenges the Obama administration faces in carrying out its terrorism policies, including the promised closure of the Guantánamo Bay prison camp.

In particular, Mr. Craig had faced criticism for his handling of the politics around Guantánamo, which included legislation by Congress that bars the administration from moving detainees to the United States. Detainees can now come to the US only for prosecution, which is why the Justice Department is allowed to try alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and several other prisoners in New York City.

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My Comment: Am I surprised .... no. Gregory Craig did not have the resources nor sufficient time to fulfill the President's commitment in carrying out its terrorism policies, including the promised closure of the Guantánamo Bay prison camp.

Someone had to be the fall guy .... and it certainly was not going to be the President.

Is President Obama's War On Terror Policy the Same As President Bush's? -- A Commentary

Reality Sets In -- IBDeditorials

War On Terror: The Obama administration says it will employ some of the same harsh tactics George W. Bush used to fight terrorism. Has the president seen the light, or is this just window dressing?

During his confirmation hearings this month, Leon Panetta — the former Democratic California congressman who is President Obama's nominee for CIA director — made a statement that would have outraged the most devoted Obama supporters last year had it been expressed as a campaign position.

If he found that interrogation techniques weren't working at getting terrorist detainees to give up vital details of a plot to hit the U.S., Panetta as CIA head would ask for "additional authority," he said. Panetta added that the CIA's rendition program, in which captured suspects are taken to third countries for jailing and interrogation, might continue.

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My Comment: A blunt editorial from IBD. Bottom line .... President Bush and his administration were successful in preventing additional attacks on U.S. soil after 9/11. Their tactics worked. Why change something that works .... but hope and change is in the air with the new administration.

So be it .... if another attack occurs on U.S. soil in the months and years to come .... we will know who to blame.

Terrorism Watch -- May 27, 2008

Summary Of Terrorism Incidents And News Reports:

Al Qaeda Tape to Call for Use of WMD -- ABC News

CIA Planning For Al Qaeda 'Succession Crisis' -- CBS

CIA Preps for al-Qaeda Succession -- Time Magazine

New al-Qaeda video calls for nuclear strike -- ADN Kronos

Officials: Teens trained for suicide bombings in Iraq -- CNN

New Al Qaeda Cell A Growing Threat To U.S. -- CBS News

Swiss Journalist Suspected By U.S. of Financing Al Qaeda Dies -- FOX News

Head Of Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood Says Bin Laden’s Actions Are Wrong -- Strata-Sphere

Pakistan must 'strike back at terrorism', says US -- Canoe

The Rebellion Within, An Al Qaeda mastermind questions terrorism. -- New Yorker

Release of radical cleric Abu Qatada puts Britain in a spot -- L.A. Times

Al-qaida group warns of retaliation for U.S. crackdown in Iraq -- Yahoo News

Belgian woman wages war for Al Qaeda on the Web -- International Herald Tribune