November 17, 1998

U.S. spends billions on buildups

"...Military buildups that have kept U.S. ships, planes, and troops within striking distance of Iraq since the 1991 Persian Gulf war have cost U.S. taxpayers about $6.8 billion, the Pentagon says.

Most of the money covers the cost of maintaining no-fly zones in northern and southern Iraq, and regular military exercises by ground troops in Kuwait.

Not included is the cost of aircraft carrier operations, since U.S. carriers deploy six months at a time, regardless of the situation in Iraq.

No estimate has been made of the cost of the current buildup, but Pentagon officials estimate it will be several hundred million dollars.

The $6.8 billion figure is in addition to the $50 billion some budget analysts estimate is spent annually on maintaining a strong military contingent in the Gulf.

The Pentagon does not release figures on the cost of day-to-day Gulf duties, though officials said that if those forces weren't deployed in the Gulf region, they would be operating elsewhere.

But by analysts' estimates, roughly one-sixth of the annual $270 billion in U.S. defense spending goes toward maintaining the Gulf deployment and keeping Iraqi President Saddam Hussein in line...."

CNN Military Affairs Correspondent Jamie McIntyre and The Associated Press contributed to this report.