Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

US Pays $400 a Gallon for Gas in Afghanistan

Figure to become major talking point in Congress

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 16, 2009 11:06 AM CDT
Email

(Newser) – As debate over the Afghan war heats up, expect Congress to heavily quote a new statistic from the Pentagon: $400. That’s how much the US pays, on average, for every gallon of fuel put into its planes and combat vehicles in Afghanistan, military officials recently told the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. “It is a number that we were not aware of, and it is worrisome,” John Murtha tells The Hill.

The subcommittee had asked the Pentagon to break down why it spends about $1 billion for every 1,000 troops deployed. The fuel bill is so high because Afghanistan is both inaccessible and underdeveloped. Fuel has to be shipped in through Pakistan, and then, since roads are scarce, it often must be flown to remote forward operating bases. “These are fairly major problems for us,” one General told a Navy energy forum this week.

An Afghan driver walks among the fuel tankers at the U.S. military base in Bagram north of Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2008.
An Afghan driver walks among the fuel tankers at the U.S. military base in Bagram north of Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2008.   (AP Photo/Musadeq Sadeq)
An F/A-18C Hornet takes on fuel from a British Royal Air Force L-1011 tanker aircraft.
An F/A-18C Hornet takes on fuel from a British Royal Air Force L-1011 tanker aircraft.   (AP P)hoto/US Navy - Erik Etz)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 44 comments
Fondue
Oct 28, 2009 12:00 PM CDT
I know this is two weeks old, but I just had to comment on this. Nationalize Halliburton? I thought that's what Bush was going for. Halliburton is paid with US tax dollars. I would suggest they are nationalized.
godawgs
Oct 17, 2009 12:12 PM CDT
the reason we end up with $2000 toilet seats is that the Army or DoD will just take the total cost of everything put it at the bottom and make everything an equal line item. So if we spent 100 on 10 things on the receipt everything would cost $10 no matter what the actual cost.
zackmasson
Oct 17, 2009 5:24 AM CDT
OMG how can it continue to go along business as usual. This is INSANE. Government needs to change its diaper before it dies from toxic shock.
Politics • US • World

 
Afghanistan • John Murtha • fuel • gas prices • Afghanistan war • logistics

More Newser Stories

US, Afghanistan, Taliban: Secret Talks Under Way

Taliban: Prince Harry Shouldn't Kill

US Eyes Switch to Special Ops in Afghanistan

Afghan Civilian Deaths Hit New High

Panetta: US Combat Role in Afghanistan Over in 2013
NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne