In Charleston, West Virginia, Barack Obama has again tied the economy to the Iraq War as it passes its fifth year anniversary. He is going to attempt to dig into Hillary Clinton’s base of older-white voters and blue-collar workers. In tying the declining economy and the Iraq War, Obama cited the climbing debt and the prices of oil. Currently a barrel of oil costs at least $105 to $110.
“When you’re spending over $50 to fill up your car because the price of oil is four times what it was before Iraq, you’re paying a price for this war,” Obama explained in front of the crowd. He added: “When Iraq is costing each household about $100 a month, you’re paying a price for this war.”
In a recent study released by Nobel Prize-winning economist, Joseph E. Stiglitz, the Iraq War will cost at least $12 billion a month. He adds that the total cost could possibly be at least $3 trillion.
The Iraq reconstruction so far has been coming out of the pockets of US taxpayers. Recently, two US Senators have requested a congressional inquiry into Iraq’s oil revenues to see if the government can pay for the rest of its reconstruction. In a letter, the two senators cite that while Iraq has money in banks across the world, it has done little to improve the security situation and the reconstruction.
In a recent report released by the Pentagon, the main problem hurting Iraq’s reconstruction is government corruption.
In regards to Iraq, Obama said that GOP nominee Senator John McCain of Arizona’s policy was lacking. He also was quick to criticize Hillary for recently opposing the war when she started her presidential run.
“Her point would have been more compelling had she not joined Senator McCain in making the tragically ill-considered decision to vote for the Iraq war in the first place,” Obama said in attacking Clinton.
Obama’s trying to move on after feeling the sting after the controversy made by his pastor at least 20 years.
However, nothing is in concrete. There’s still a good few months left before the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado, this coming August. In that time, anything can happen.