FACTBOX-US military fuel spending

U.S. military fuel consumption dwarfs energy demand in many countries around the world, adding up to nearly double the fuel use in Ireland and 20 times more than that of Iceland, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

From the start of the Iraq war in 2003 up till 2007, U.S. military fuel consumption has slipped by about 10 percent, but costs more than doubled due surging oil prices.

Following are the latest figures on the cost and amounts of fuel purchased by the U.S. military over the course of the Iraq war:

U.S. MILITARY FUEL SPENDING:^

2003: $ 5.21 billion

2007: $12.61 billion

2007 U.S. MILITARY FUEL CONSUMPTION EQUALS:+

– 90 percent more than Ireland’s annual consumption

– 38 percent more than Israel’s annual consumption

– 20 times Iceland’s annual consumption

– 1.7 percent of U.S. annual consumption

Reuters