29 companies had more cash than the U.S. government as of July 13
[Source: Think Progress.]
In the first half of July alone, Treasury cash balances were depleted from $130 billion to just $39 billion.[1]
Lost and Reported Stolen - $6.6 billion of U.S. taxpayers' money earmarked for Iraq reconstruction, reported on June 14, 2011 by Special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction Stuart Bowen who called it "the largest theft of funds in national history." [2] Last known holder of the $6.6 billion lost: the U.S. government.
U.S. Annual Air-Conditioning Cost in Iraq and Afghanistan - $20.2 billion [3]
Spent on Iraq War FY 2003 - FY 2010 = $801.9 billion.[4]
2012 Budget Request & Mandatory Spending re: Department of Defense: $707.5 Billion[5]
The total dollar cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan so far exceeds $1.171 trillion.
All told, U.S. military spending in 2011 will exceed $700 billion — the most since World War II. That amounts to more than half of all government discretionary spending. It represents 35% of total military spending on the planet.[6]
A billion here
a trillion there
(. . . got some food
