United States of America

Pentagon Raises Iran War Cost Estimate to $29B

Is Operation Epic Fury a worthwhile strike against Iranian threats or a reckless waste that will cost Americans dearly?

Published 3 days ago

Pentagon Raises Iran War Cost Estimate to $29B

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Above: Pete Hegseth, Jules Hurst and Dan Caine in the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C., on May 12. Image credit: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

The Spin

Pro-government narrative

Whatever the cost, it's a necessary price to pay to put an end to the Iranian regime's hostile ambitions. For decades, Iran has built a missile arsenal, funded terrorism and raced towards obtaining a nuclear weapon. Operation Epic Fury finally addresses this considerable threat to U.S. strategic interests, making the Middle East and the world safer in the long run.

Providence Tom Cotton's U.S. Senate Office

Government-critical narrative

The Pentagon's latest price tag for this unnecessary conflict is a lowball figure that purposefully ignores the considerable economic disruption this war has unleashed. The administration's reckless policy will waste precious treasure that could have improved the lives of ordinary Americans, who will instead shoulder the burden of a war that could cost trillions.

Paul Krugman The New York Times