> According to CBO analysis the total cost of Afghan & Iraq wars is going to be something like $2.5 trillion for the US. Since the US just adds this to its nat

> According to CBO analysis the total cost of Afghan & Iraq wars is going to be something like $2.5 trillion for the US. Since the US just adds this to its national debt, there is no actual cost for the US. The cost is paid by holders of US government bonds (e.g. non-US central banks). The US is literally paying for its wars with bonds. That’s why the US is so powerful — no other country can pay for wars using paper with stuff written on it (i.e. a bond).