Cost of Libya war for US at $608 million: Pentagon

AFP/US Navy image

AFP

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The cost of the air war in Libya for the US military has reached $608 million, a US defense official said Monday.

The cost estimate covers the period from the start of international air strikes in Libya on March 19 to April 4, the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told reporters.

US officials previously had said the operation had cost $550 million through March 28.

The Pentagon has estimated the air campaign will cost the United States about $40 million a month, even after NATO allies took the lead in the UN-mandated operation designed to protect civilians against Moamer Kadhafi's forces.

For the US Air Force alone, the war costs about $4 million a day, the top civilian in the air force told reporters last week.

But Air Force Secretary Michael Donley said he expected that figure to come down with European allies carrying out bombing raids while US aircraft play a support role.

© AFP -- Published at Activist Post with license

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Libya war costs $4 million a day: US Air Force

The total cost of the operation for the entire US military was estimated at $500 million on March 28.

© AFP Mahmud Hams

AFP

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The war in Libya is costing the US Air Force $4 million a day but the cost likely will drop now that American fighter jets pulled out of the operation, the air force secretary said Tuesday.

As of Tuesday morning, "we're probably (at) about 75 million dollars for the cost of the operation thus far," said Air Force Secretary Michael Donley, the top civilian overseeing the service.

"And our best estimate was about four million dollars a day."

Libya's rag-tag rebels badly need training: US

Editor's Note: Translation: We need to dedicate more money and more time to this third war front.

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates (L) and Chairman
of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen testify
© AFP Saul Loeb

AFP

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Thursday Libya's rag-tag rebels needed training more than guns in their battle against Moamer Kadhafi's army but that other nations should do the job.

Facing lawmakers concerned that armed intervention in Libya could end in stalemate, Gates and top military officer Admiral Mike Mullen said a NATO-led air campaign had damaged Kadhafi's forces but not yet brought them to a breaking point.

Gates said the military mission did not call for deposing Kadhafi but he said economic and political pressure and Libya's people -- not air strikes -- would eventually drive Kadhafi from power.