Jumping Jack Flash- a gallon of oil costs $400 in Afghanistan

We all know war is brutal, bloody and expensive, but sometimes we need specific reminders. Today, The Hill reports that the cost of transporting gas to the military in Afghanistan runs at $400 per gallon.

"It is a number that we were not aware of and it is worrisome," responded Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.), the chairman of the House Appropriations Defense panel.

Wait, you mean the defense contractors who are your biggest campaign donors neglected to tell you the costs of war? Astonishing. Though not surprising to anyone who watched Robert Greenwald's outstanding new film, Rethink Afghanistan.

The numbers were released to Murtha's committee after they asked for the Obama administration to explain its claim that each thousand soldiers it plans on adding to combat operations will cost $1,000,000,000 per year. Incidentally, federal aid to rebuild New Orleans this year was pegged at $1,400,000,000.

The cost of delivering fuel in a mountainous, landlocked nation is simply staggering. Trucks deliver most of the fuel through Pakistan, but with the increased use of roadside bombs, this is a dangerous process. One report noted that in the month of June, 2008 alone, the U.S lost 44 trucks and 220,000 gallons of oil due to attacks and explosions on truck routes. The safer fueling option, helicopter delivery, can run as high as $1,000 per gallon.

To be clear, I'm not saying we shouldn't deliver fuel, or anything like that. But at a time when we apparently can't afford to provide healthcare for our citizens, rebuild our cities or fund our schools, it's worth asking- can we fund this intractable war?