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WSJ reports rebuilding our Middle East bases may cost $15 billion - Todor - 10-31-2026 10:52 PM
They also speculated that many will be abandoned and never rebuilt due to the cost.
“Naval Support Activity Bahrain serves as the headquarters of the U.S. Fifth Fleet and U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, making it one of the most important American military installations in the Gulf region.
Between late February and mid-June 2026, Iranian forces repeatedly targeted the base using waves of ballistic missiles and Shahed-136 loitering munitions.
According to procurement data and Department of Defense construction models cited in a recent Wall Street Journal report, the estimated $400 million rebuilding cost covers only the reconstruction of damaged buildings and infrastructure. The estimate does not include expenses related to debris removal, replacement of destroyed equipment, or future improvements to strengthen the base against similar attacks.”
https://www.thedefensenews.com/Damage-to-US-Navy-Base-in-Bahrain-From-Iranian-Strikes-Estimated-at-400-Million-Pentagon-Reviews-Regional-Force-Posture/
A $400 million estimate that doesn’t include most of the costs is probably a $4-5 billion estimate in government terms.
Including tax, title, dealer prep, undercoating, and interest, it will probably be a $10 billion rebuild by the time it gets done. Add in new upgrades so this doesn’t keep happening, and you probably get up to $15 billion.
Multiply that out across all the bases we decide to try to salvage and it’s a massive amount of damage Iran was able to inflect.
Not sure what all these bases are protecting if they aren’t even equipped to protect themselves.
As usual with government, when they quote a $50 billion total cost for the Iran war, it’s excluding replacing all the lost and destroyed equipment, lost bases, all the planes, or the cost of rebuilding our arsenal, or all of the bases destroyed.
Wouldn’t be surprised if we end up having to borrow half a trillion for this fiasco. A failed fiasco at that.
We lost our will almost immediately when Iran didn’t give in as soon as the first bombs fell like we were certain they would.
Now, were those predictions based on anything real? Or simply based on “intel” provided by weapons contractors who stand to get rich of it all?
RE: WSJ reports rebuilding our Middle East bases may cost $15 billion - banker - 11-01-2026 04:10 PM
I didn’t know Russia had Middle East bases.
RE: WSJ reports rebuilding our Middle East bases may cost $15 billion - BartlettTigerFan - 11-01-2026 04:27 PM
I don’t actually care if Russia has Middle Eastern bases.
RE: WSJ reports rebuilding our Middle East bases may cost $15 billion - VA49er - 11-02-2026 08:28 AM
(11-01-2026 04:10 PM)banker Wrote: I didn’t know Russia had Middle East bases.
lol, well played.
RE: WSJ reports rebuilding our Middle East bases may cost $15 billion - TigerBlue4Ever - 11-02-2026 09:53 AM
(10-31-2026 10:52 PM)Todor Wrote: They also speculated that many will be abandoned and never rebuilt due to the cost.
“Naval Support Activity Bahrain serves as the headquarters of the U.S. Fifth Fleet and U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, making it one of the most important American military installations in the Gulf region.
Between late February and mid-June 2026, Iranian forces repeatedly targeted the base using waves of ballistic missiles and Shahed-136 loitering munitions.
According to procurement data and Department of Defense construction models cited in a recent Wall Street Journal report, the estimated $400 million rebuilding cost covers only the reconstruction of damaged buildings and infrastructure. The estimate does not include expenses related to debris removal, replacement of destroyed equipment, or future improvements to strengthen the base against similar attacks.”
https://www.thedefensenews.com/Damage-to-US-Navy-Base-in-Bahrain-From-Iranian-Strikes-Estimated-at-400-Million-Pentagon-Reviews-Regional-Force-Posture/
A $400 million estimate that doesn’t include most of the costs is probably a $4-5 billion estimate in government terms.
Including tax, title, dealer prep, undercoating, and interest, it will probably be a $10 billion rebuild by the time it gets done. Add in new upgrades so this doesn’t keep happening, and you probably get up to $15 billion.
Multiply that out across all the bases we decide to try to salvage and it’s a massive amount of damage Iran was able to inflect.
Not sure what all these bases are protecting if they aren’t even equipped to protect themselves.
As usual with government, when they quote a $50 billion total cost for the Iran war, it’s excluding replacing all the lost and destroyed equipment, lost bases, all the planes, or the cost of rebuilding our arsenal, or all of the bases destroyed.
Wouldn’t be surprised if we end up having to borrow half a trillion for this fiasco. A failed fiasco at that.
We lost our will almost immediately when Iran didn’t give in as soon as the first bombs fell like we were certain they would.
Now, were those predictions based on anything real? Or simply based on “intel” provided by weapons contractors who stand to get rich of it all?
SO, is it 400 million, 4-5 billion, 10 billion, or 15 billion?? I'm so confused...
RE: WSJ reports rebuilding our Middle East bases may cost $15 billion - Todor - 11-02-2026 12:37 PM
(11-02-2026 09:53 AM)TigerBlue4Ever Wrote:(10-31-2026 10:52 PM)Todor Wrote: They also speculated that many will be abandoned and never rebuilt due to the cost.
“Naval Support Activity Bahrain serves as the headquarters of the U.S. Fifth Fleet and U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, making it one of the most important American military installations in the Gulf region.
Between late February and mid-June 2026, Iranian forces repeatedly targeted the base using waves of ballistic missiles and Shahed-136 loitering munitions.
According to procurement data and Department of Defense construction models cited in a recent Wall Street Journal report, the estimated $400 million rebuilding cost covers only the reconstruction of damaged buildings and infrastructure. The estimate does not include expenses related to debris removal, replacement of destroyed equipment, or future improvements to strengthen the base against similar attacks.”
https://www.thedefensenews.com/Damage-to-US-Navy-Base-in-Bahrain-From-Iranian-Strikes-Estimated-at-400-Million-Pentagon-Reviews-Regional-Force-Posture/
A $400 million estimate that doesn’t include most of the costs is probably a $4-5 billion estimate in government terms.
Including tax, title, dealer prep, undercoating, and interest, it will probably be a $10 billion rebuild by the time it gets done. Add in new upgrades so this doesn’t keep happening, and you probably get up to $15 billion.
Multiply that out across all the bases we decide to try to salvage and it’s a massive amount of damage Iran was able to inflect.
Not sure what all these bases are protecting if they aren’t even equipped to protect themselves.
As usual with government, when they quote a $50 billion total cost for the Iran war, it’s excluding replacing all the lost and destroyed equipment, lost bases, all the planes, or the cost of rebuilding our arsenal, or all of the bases destroyed.
Wouldn’t be surprised if we end up having to borrow half a trillion for this fiasco. A failed fiasco at that.
We lost our will almost immediately when Iran didn’t give in as soon as the first bombs fell like we were certain they would.
Now, were those predictions based on anything real? Or simply based on “intel” provided by weapons contractors who stand to get rich of it all?
SO, is it 400 million, 4-5 billion, 10 billion, or 15 billion?? I'm so confused...
Just sign the IOU’s and stop asking questions.
The government will sort out all the details later. (And then never tell us the real amounts)
The only trace of what these vanity projects will cost will be the added zeros to our national disgrace debt.
I call these military bases vanity projects because that’s exactly what they were.
We want to project power by stationing troops at bases throughout the region. But the troops don’t fight and Iran knows it, the bases couldn’t even protect themselves, let alone be used to attack or defend anyone.
These are just very, very expensive off shore paper pushing stations.
RE: WSJ reports rebuilding our Middle East bases may cost $15 billion - Eagleaidaholic - 11-02-2026 12:39 PM
Still less than the amount of money stolen from tax payers through Democrat funded fraud. Build a big one in Greenland.
RE: WSJ reports rebuilding our Middle East bases may cost $15 billion - banker - 11-02-2026 02:28 PM
So, at most, it will cost 1% of our military budget. I think we can swing it.
RE: WSJ reports rebuilding our Middle East bases may cost $15 billion - Attackcoog - 11-02-2026 02:34 PM
(11-02-2026 09:53 AM)TigerBlue4Ever Wrote:(10-31-2026 10:52 PM)Todor Wrote: They also speculated that many will be abandoned and never rebuilt due to the cost.
“Naval Support Activity Bahrain serves as the headquarters of the U.S. Fifth Fleet and U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, making it one of the most important American military installations in the Gulf region.
Between late February and mid-June 2026, Iranian forces repeatedly targeted the base using waves of ballistic missiles and Shahed-136 loitering munitions.
According to procurement data and Department of Defense construction models cited in a recent Wall Street Journal report, the estimated $400 million rebuilding cost covers only the reconstruction of damaged buildings and infrastructure. The estimate does not include expenses related to debris removal, replacement of destroyed equipment, or future improvements to strengthen the base against similar attacks.”
https://www.thedefensenews.com/Damage-to-US-Navy-Base-in-Bahrain-From-Iranian-Strikes-Estimated-at-400-Million-Pentagon-Reviews-Regional-Force-Posture/
A $400 million estimate that doesn’t include most of the costs is probably a $4-5 billion estimate in government terms.
Including tax, title, dealer prep, undercoating, and interest, it will probably be a $10 billion rebuild by the time it gets done. Add in new upgrades so this doesn’t keep happening, and you probably get up to $15 billion.
Multiply that out across all the bases we decide to try to salvage and it’s a massive amount of damage Iran was able to inflect.
Not sure what all these bases are protecting if they aren’t even equipped to protect themselves.
As usual with government, when they quote a $50 billion total cost for the Iran war, it’s excluding replacing all the lost and destroyed equipment, lost bases, all the planes, or the cost of rebuilding our arsenal, or all of the bases destroyed.
Wouldn’t be surprised if we end up having to borrow half a trillion for this fiasco. A failed fiasco at that.
We lost our will almost immediately when Iran didn’t give in as soon as the first bombs fell like we were certain they would.
Now, were those predictions based on anything real? Or simply based on “intel” provided by weapons contractors who stand to get rich of it all?
SO, is it 400 million, 4-5 billion, 10 billion, or 15 billion?? I'm so confused...
Cuz he doesnt know. The reality there is its incredibly unlikely we would rebuild the exact same facilities in the exact same manner. More likely---when these bases are rebuilt---whatever replaces these facilities will be more minimalistic in terms of necessary above ground facilities (likely smaller and cheaper)---the assumption being they would probably be destroyed in any confict. On the other hand, some portions of the base will go from above ground buildings to underground bunker like structures that could persist in a modern conflict. The cost of those bunker facilities per square foot would likely be more than what was there before---so I expect the replacement facilities to be smaller and more basic to minimize costs. My guess is the total investment there will be far less given the learned realities of modern war. In other words, the type of bases we currently have in much of the Middle East are simply too easy to hit and too difficult to protect to the degree we'd need to protect them. Thus, what replaces these bases will likely reflect that reality---becoming a split between expendable facilities and combat resistant facitlities.
RE: WSJ reports rebuilding our Middle East bases may cost $15 billion - Todor - 11-02-2026 02:46 PM
Whatever we build (if anything) as part of our retreat, it will be outrageously expensive, ineffective, and all on borrowed money.
The Middle East saw what having US troops meant.
It made them a target. Then they watched the US evacuated all of their “office staff” at the first sign of trouble and the bases get blown to bits by Iran.
If any Gulf countries ever felt any sort of comfort from our troops presence, that is shattered. American troops on your soil marks you because those troops are there for show, not to fight or protect anyone.
They couldn’t even protect themselves.
RE: WSJ reports rebuilding our Middle East bases may cost $15 billion - banker - 11-02-2026 08:19 PM
Maybe we should ask Russia how they are protecting themselves and their assets so effectively against Ukraine.
RE: WSJ reports rebuilding our Middle East bases may cost $15 billion - BirdHawkEagle - 11-02-2026 08:20 PM
I don't give two s**** about Russia or the Middle East.
Nuke both areas and turn them into parking lots for all I care.
RE: WSJ reports rebuilding our Middle East bases may cost $15 billion - Attackcoog - 11-02-2026 08:26 PM
(11-02-2026 02:46 PM)Todor Wrote: Whatever we build (if anything) as part of our retreat, it will be outrageously expensive, ineffective, and all on borrowed money.
The Middle East saw what having US troops meant.
It made them a target. Then they watched the US evacuated all of their “office staff” at the first sign of trouble and the bases get blown to bits by Iran.
If any Gulf countries ever felt any sort of comfort from our troops presence, that is shattered. American troops on your soil marks you because those troops are there for show, not to fight or protect anyone.
They couldn’t even protect themselves.
I think you're going to see that the US could have protected those assets much better. One---by simply having more anti-aircraft batteries along with the missile magazine depth to handle a sustained engagement. I think both Iran and Ukraine have taught us that you now need far more anti-aircraft defense than we thought and magazines must be larger by several orders of magnitude. Two---I think we could have defended those bases better with more aggressive and persistent offensive attacks---which we have avoided--largely because we didn't want the people of Iran to suffer simply because the unelected IRGC leadership would not see reason. Unfortunately, the IRGC's incorrect assumption that they won the war will end up costing the people of Iran dearly as they have left the US no choice but to end Iran as a modern country.
This outcome could have been avoided had they acted reasonably (still could if they act quickly)----but then---the IRGC's lack of rational thinking is the exact reason it is imperative that they never get their hands on a nuclear weapon.