It has been reported in the Time magazine of 07-12-2009 that the cost of war in Afghanistan for America would run in upwards of US$43 billion during 2010. This would mean one million US dollars would be spent per soldier per year. The cost of buying and shipping a gallon of fuel to the remote corners of Afghanistan would cost a $1,000 a day per soldier. Compare that to our total defence budget of US$ 3 billion per annum. The total money being offered us through the Kerry-Lugar Bill (US$ 1.5. billion per year) amounts to just two weeks of expense the US is making on its army in Afghanistan. Imagine how cheaply are our soldiers laying down their lives in the tribal belt. -DR M. YAQOOB BHATTI, Lahore, December 3.