The Insane and Devastating Costs of the War in Iraq
Ten years ago next week, the United States invaded Iraq. The ensuing decade of war would destroy Iraq, kill hundreds of thousands of civilians and soldiers, and cost trillions of dollars. It was not worth it. Not even close. A new accounting from the Costs of War project at Brown University lays bare just how much blood and treasure ten years of the War in Iraq has cost. For example:
- More than 189,000 direct war deaths.
- At least 123,000-134,000 civilians killed in Iraq, and perhaps many times more.
- More than 6,600 US soldiers and 3,000 US contractors killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
- Almost 700,000 US veterans of Iraq or Afghanistan have been granted disability.
- The future medical costs of caring for disabled Iraq and Afghanistan veterans is projected to be between $600 billion and $1 trillion.
- The US has already spend well over $2 trillion on the war in Iraq. Over the next 40 years, we could pay close to $4 trillion in interest on costs associated with the war.
