Afghanistan conflict has cost Spain 100 lives and 3.5 billion euros

[xchrom]

http://elpais.com/elpais/2013/01/06/inenglish/1357474877_156066.html

After 10 years of humanitarian and security operations in Afghanistan, Spain has started to count the cost of its membership of the coalition. In military and aid spending the bill has risen to 3.5 billion euros, or the equivalent of 73.5 euros for every Spanish citizen.

The country's armed forces have also lost 100 personnel during the conflict, the most recent fatalities two civil guards and their Iranian interpreter who were shot at the Spanish base at Qala-i-Naw. A further 80 have been seriously wounded.

[cbrer]

1. How much of that came off of their GDP?

And how much of it was under-the-table "foreign aid" for agreeing to halt war crime investigations on GW Bush & Co.?

[Prometheus Bound]

2. Despite being flat-ass broke, they managed to scrape up $14 billion for arms in 2011.

Placing them 18th in global defense spending.

Priorities.

[malaise]

3. And now the people will pay for it as they privatize

health care