So how much does the war cost?

We cannot survive as a sovereign nation without defense.

I agree. However, there's a difference between defense and offense.

The first thing that should have been done after 9/11 was a boost to our national defense. Instead, we invaded Afghanistan, didn't accomplish anything, we've invaded Iraq, still haven't accomplished anything, and in the words of the VERY MAN WHO IS TRYING TO FIX THIS (BUSH) Our nation is no safer now than it was before.

Federal spending grew to $20,705 per household in 2004—the highest level since World War II and an increase of $3,000 per household over the aver­age spending during the 1990s. After passage of the omnibus spending bill, discretionary spending was projected to increase 8.7 percent in 2005.[1] This is worrisome enough, but it pales in com­parison to the fiscal nightmare of the Medicare prescription drug benefit, which increased the government's unfunded obligations by $8.1 trillion over the next 75 years.[2] Today's taxpayers are paying the cost of entitle­ment obligations entered into by lawmakers many years ago. Total "mandatory" spending now consti­tutes 54.3 percent of total federal spending.[3] Most of this spending is devoted to entitlement programs such as Medicare and Social Security, which already consume 6.8 percent of gross domestic product (GDP)—8.2 percent when net interest is included— and will require far more resources in the future.[4] By 2050, spending for Social Security and Medicare is expected to increase sharply to nearly 25 percent of federal spending as baby boomers begin to retire, and total federal spending could consume nearly one-third of the national econ­omy.[5] As David Walker, Comptroller General of the United States, has noted:

http://www.heritage.org/Research/Budget/bg1818.cfm
Fuck the military budget. We won't have shit if welfare spending doesn't halt.
These numbers will dwarf any military spending you could imagine.

We've spent at least 3 trillion on the war. If nothing else that's 3 trillion down the drain. This war is far more frivolous than welfare.

The bill for the efforts in Afghanistan is only around $1 Billion last time I heard, and that's considering we've been there for like 6 years?.. Much better number if you ask me.