Co$t of a $oldier?

[BLUEHAWK]

From LA TIMES newspaper:

"Every active-duty soldier costs taxpayers $99,000 in salary and benefits a year, for a total of $27 billion a year. The soaring cost of soldiers is one reason the Pentagon is resisting expanding the size of the armed forces; planners worry that the manpower costs will reduce the funds available for new fighter jets, ships, and other weapons systems."

t.f. THE WEEK magazine, 2.13.04, p. 18


Ahem, where shall we begin ladies and gentlemen?