How much has bin laden's life cost us?

[Miramonti]

While we mourn the loss of lives in this tragedy, in the background lurks the actual financial toll that this terrorism has had and will have on our economy. This is not to disparage the lives that were lost because this is the real tragedy, particularly for those related or close to the victims.

But I'm just pondering what some of the financial cost estimates are going to look like when the smoke clears and we find out how much this has really cost us.

Pentagon - $1Bil? (I heard this somewhere)
WTC (all structures/infrastructures) - $50 Bil?
Lost airlines business already and to come - $30Bil (I heard this estimate on cnbc)
Congress' aid package - $40Bil
Future tourism from int'l visitors - $Bils!
Other industry productivity interuptions - $Bills!!
Military retaliation and prolonged action - $Bills!!
Stock Market down 500pts. - $500 Bil???


Its staggering. If anyone vetoes any future congressional bills for increased intelligence spending they should be instantly committed!

(note: this is not to say that all of this is lost though since the market can rally and some of these expenditures will hopefully lead to avoiding future tragedies like this one, and if we don't spend as much on tourism then its more money in our pockets etc.)

 

[Robert01]

It may have cost us a lot, but his life really is worth less than my dog's poop. You know the kind, it's when the dog starts kicking the ground backwards to cover it. Hehe, quite funny...uh, sorry.

 

[shifrbv]

In addtion, many companies have donated millions of dollars in cash to aid the disaster effort. This money could have been used for R&D or employee salaries. As well, thousands of people have already (airline employees) or will lose their jobs as we head towards recession.

No doubt, complacency has dealt us a severe blow. Hopefully, we will learn from this lesson and not risk anymore wealth of our nation.

The billions we are spending now will be on the backs of our generation and our children. We better do this right and not screw it up for them.

 

[rudder]

Freedom does not come cheap.