Nubian Oracle

3-4-2006

To Bruce Beisner

Lets talk.

We quote, "The good news is that progress is being made to secure civil rights for gays and lesbians here in Cincinnati. For many months, a coalition of groups led by Equality Cincinnati has been working behind the scenes to move City Council closer to a vote on a new Human Rights Ordinance. How close are they to doing it? I’m not sure but I can tell you that a strong majority of our current Councilmembers have gone on the record as supporting the idea. And our new mayor, Mark Mallory, has an impressive record of advocacy for GLBT issues on both the state and local level. I’ve even heard one local pundit call Mallory the “most gay supportive mayor in this town’s history.” (Considering past mayors Bobbie Sterne and Roxanne Qualls, that is quite a compliment!) "

The Time for a Human Rights Ordinance supported by African Americans Is NOT NOW.

The Time is right for a alliance between the African American community and the GLBT community, if it wants such a ordinance, is now. From our perspective Mark Mallory doesn't need to use his policitcal capital on this issue till the leading issues in the black community are addressed.

The GLBT community must decide which side it is on. If you can look to ride on the struggle of African Americans in creating your "civil" rights then your communtiy must support the "civil economic" rights agenda of the African Americans in this community.

The repeal would not of happened without African American support.

Where is your support for us?

The Nubian Oracle

Last Revised: October 2005

The Cost of War calculator is set to reach $251 billion March 31, 2006. The Cost of Iraq War calculator is occasionally reset based on new information and new allocations of funding. Previously, the National Priorities Project estimated the cost of the Iraq War by analyzing the legislation for the appropriations made by Congress for the Iraq War. Through fiscal year 2005, this totaled about $205 billion. At the end of September 2005, Congress allocated more money for the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars as well as enhanced security abroad (in the continuing resolution).

In October 2005, a report published by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) concluded that $251 billion had been obligated or appropriated for the Iraq War. The research was based not just on Congressional appropriations, but on the Department of Defense's (DOD) DFAS monthly obligations reports. The researcher also concluded that as war-related expenses were higher than anticipated, the DOD transferred money from peacetime funds (which they were permitted to do under certain circumstances as outlined in appropriations legislation). The DOD also transferred funds appropriated for Afghanistan or general war to the Iraq War.

The Cost of Iraq War counter is now based on the $251 billion for the Iraq War as concluded in the CRS report. The numbers include military operations, reconstruction and other spending related to the Iraq invasion and occupation. Spending only includes "incremental" costs, additional funds that are expended due to the war. For example, soldiers' regular pay is not included, but combat pay is included.

Potential future costs, such as future health care for soldiers and veterans wounded in the war, are not included.

It is also not clear whether the current funding will cover all military wear and tear. It also does not account for the contribution of war spending to the deficits incurred in the federal budget. In other words, we have not included the cost of interest on the debt. The media sometimes cites a figure of $300 - $350 billion. However, this number if for the Iraq War, the Afghanistan War and for enhanced security abroad. Our figure is only covering the cost of the Iraq War as it relates to the U.S. federal budget (and does not include costs to others or other countries or any economic impact costs to Americans).

Also another source was Local Costs of the Iraq War which includes the total cost allocated to date for numerous towns and counties across the country. This list is also more regularly updated with new locations than the list of the Cost of War counter.