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economically speaking, this war is a relatively low-cost war, thanks to the size of our GDP.
however, within the current budgetary and manpower constraints which we have on the military today, the strain is starting to grow. i fear the worst effect of the war is that it has weakened america's military deterrent in the short-medium term. even assuming we get out within a year or two, i believe it would take quite a while before the U.S. can rebuild its pre-positioned stocks and rest/train its soldiers. even more seriously, the difference between the way the war was sold and the reality today will prove to be a major hamstring- for any president- if and when we need to fight the next one.
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Never let the future disturb you. You will meet it, if you have to, with the same weapons of reason which today arm you against the present.
-Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
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