Pentagon Reveals that Afghanistan Fuel Costs Average $400/Gallon

The Pentagon released new information that reveals the true cost of gasoline for military vehicles in Afghanistan to be as much as $400 per gallon. The "unburdened cost" represents the same burden created by fuel available on domestic pumps, but also factors in the cost of shipping fuel into the Middle East, trucking it through Pakistan, and distributing it at fueling posts across Afghanistan. In some cases, the fuel is carried over dangerous areas via helicopter, creating the exaggerated costs.

These figures were uncovered during a committee investigation into creating a breakdown of total war costs. As President Obama plans to commit additional troops to the war in Afghanistan, a senate committee is working with the Pentagon comptroller's office to discover why it takes 1 billion dollars to deploy 1,000 troops. Reportedly, general Stanley McChrystal as requested 40,000 additional troops to sustain efforts in the country. The landlocked nature of Afghanistan makes it especially difficult, and the occurrence of roadside attacks against convoys make extreme security measures a necessity.

Most remote bases are supplied by aired-in giant bladders dangled from transport helicopters. This is the most expensive method of transport, which the Pentagon claims can barely keep up with the needs of the outposts. The $400 per gallon average price tag created by this method is described as being "exponentially higher" than other methods. The Pentagon believes that the fully burdened costs could be as high as $1000 per gallon.

How Does this Translate to Domestic Life?

This discovery, in addition to giving Americans a better insight into the cost of the war, also gives citizens a chance to see what what the government is doing to save energy. According to Mark Iden, of the Defense Energy Support Center, it is recognized that every expense on fuel is wasted funds that could have been spent supplying and protecting troops. Sourcing locally, from countries like Jordan and Turkey, have dropped oil costs considerably. Using lightweight, unmanned drones to patrol the area have saved on fuel costs as well as minimizing troop exposure to ambushes. It is yet to be seen how the fully burdened cost of fuel in Afghanistan will affect President Obama's decision to deploy more troops.