U.S. Search For Missing Malaysia Airlines Jet Cost $2.5 Million So Far

[Tx4obama]

U.S. Search For Missing Malaysia Airlines Jet Cost $2.5 Million So Far

WASHINGTON, March 21 (Reuters) - The U.S. military's search for the missing Malaysian jetliner has cost $2.5 million so far, the Pentagon estimated on Friday, adding it has set aside about $4 million for the hunt so far, enough to cover operations through early April.

It was the first disclosure of costs for the U.S. ships and aircraft joining the search for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH-370, which went missing almost two weeks ago with 239 people aboard.

The United States initially dispatched the Navy's guided-missile destroyer USS Kidd, as well as the USS Pinckney, to comb the seas for any signs of wreckage. They have been withdrawn.

Two U.S. spy planes are now hunting for the jet, including an advanced P-8A Poseidon designed to spot submarines.

-snip-

Full article here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/21/us-search-malaysia-airlines-jet_n_5008601.html

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

1. So that's what, about the cost of one

'repeal Obamacare' vote in the House or so?

[bigwillq]

3. Hello.

Welcome to DU!

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

5. Thanks.

It's structured a bit differently from the blog I'm more used to, but seems pretty straightforward.

[bigwillq]

7. I actually like the format on DU

than on some of the other discussion forums I have posted on.

If you have any questions, don't be afraid to ask.

[Tx4obama]

8. "... CBS news found that each Obamacare repeal vote costs taxpayers $1.45 million ... "

From an article in 2013... back when they so far had had only 40 votes (and now we are at 50+)

-snip-

A report from CBS news found that each Obamacare repeal vote costs taxpayers $1.45 million. So all 40 Obamacare repeal votes have cost American taxpayers a grand total of $54 million. Texas's supposedly fiscally conservative congressmen are the epitome of hypocrisy--they claim to support fiscal restraint but eagerly support spending lots of time and money on a bill that will achieve absolutely nothing.

-snip-

http://www.democraticunderground.com/107811294

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

2. Yeah, I expected it would be outrageous...

that's why I'm not buying the argument that the US knows where it is but isn't saying because they don't want the world to learn of its technological "capability."

[Spider Jerusalem]

19. $2.5 million is not only not "outrageous", it's peanuts

when you consider the cost of fuel and such for planes and ships taking part in search operations, which includes pay for the crews, and such (and they'd have been getting paid anyway). The daily operating cost of a destroyer is around $100K; the operating cost of something like a P8 Poseidon is around $50k, and that's not including pay for the crews (which doesn't increase due to this since sea pay and aircrew pay already cover "hazardous duty&quot .

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

20. So will it be outrageous next week?

[malaise]

4. Everything is relative

The Malaysian government will be the opposition by the time this is finished and they'd better get ready for the IMF - they can't afford this but the de facto one party will be kicked to oblivion - this is their last act.

[FarCenter]

11. Malaysia could probably have a "color revolution", but it would be messier than the previous ones.

The incumbent party exists partly to maintain the system of racial preferences for the Malays. It could be bloody to overturn that.

It would probably be worse than Thailand if the situation breaks open in Malaysia.

[malaise]

15. Very true

[Jesus Malverde]

6. Interesting they are pricing this deployment.

They don't often seem to mention the price of most missions.

[joshcryer]

13. They tend to, whenever it is in the media, Operation Tomodachi comes to mind.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Tomodachi

Support logistics are the main thing I support the US military doing. $4 million put aside for this search (which will last until April) is worth it even if they don't find anything.

[ManiacJoe]

9. It was nice to see this said out loud:

Pentagon spokesman Colonel Steve Warren acknowledged that some of the costs of the hunt would have been money spent regardless.

It is mostly a matter of which fund the money comes out off. The ships are already at sea; the men are already getting paid. For the air-crews, this flight time means less money coming out of the "training" fund.

[UTUSN]

10. .. you're always so spot on nt

[theboss]

12. That doesn't seem outrageous considering all the people missing

N/T

[Rosa Luxemburg]

14. If the 'rogue plane' is still lurking somewhere...

and it's poised to attack......

[Earth_First]

16. No objections here...

There are many families eager to have closure one way or another on this event.

This is just as much a humanitarian effort as any traditional mission.

[rudolph the red]

17. It's worth it

We need to find out what happened.

[boston bean]

18. money well spent, imo. nt