The US war in Iraq has cost $1.7 trillion with an additional $490 billion in benefits owed to war veterans. But the cost could grow to more than $6 trillion over the next four decades when interest payments are included, according to study released on Thursday.
The study comes from the Costs of War Project by the Watson Institute for International Studies at Brown University. It not only estimates the staggering financial costs, but the human costs as well.
The low-end estimate for Iraqi civilians killed is about 134,000, although the Watson Institute says the war may have contributed to as many as four times that number.
The much-cited, peer-reviewed Lancet study found in 2006 that about 650,000 Iraqis, both civilians and fighters, had died from the war up until that point. Credible research estimates that more than 1 million Iraqis were killed, with 4.5 million displaced.
“Despite the US military withdrawal,” the report says, “Iraq’s health, infrastructure, and education systems remain war-devastated.”
“Meanwhile, the $212 billion reconstruction effort was largely a failure with most of that money spent on security or lost to waste and fraud,” Reuters reports.
Even from a crude US perspective, nothing of benefit has been gained from the war: it reinvigorated radical Islamist militants in the region and imposed another dictatorship on Iraqis that is now aligned with Iran instead of Washington.
After 9/11, the Bush administration deliberately fixed fraudulent intelligence around the already existing policy of regime change in Iraq. Every initial justification for the war has been conclusively falsified, further lending credence to the claim that the war itself was criminal under international law. Yet, no Bush administration officials are at even the slightest risk of being held accountable for it.
I think the costs of the Iraq war have already exceeded $3 trillion and will eventually cost us $8 trillion (2003-2028). Bush, Cheney, Powell and Rumsfeld should be in prison.
We should also add in the cost of reparations we owe to Iraqi individuals and to the Iraqi government for the damages our illegal war caused them. And these damages include 1) the physical damage to property, 2) liability and "pain and suffering" penalties for killing family members, 3) medical costs for hospitalization, medicines, rehabilitation, 4) opportunity costs for the lost income, lost education, lost investments, etc. during the disruption we caused, and 5) interest the accumulated costs of 1) + 2) + 3) + 4). Our reparations will come to another $6 trillion dollars.
Don't you just love compound interest?
And to think that more cannon fodderites are lining up to "save the world."
No problem. Look at all the heroes we made for Hollywood. Pass the medals around boys!
The Iraq War will end up costing the US its future.
Small wonder most of the worlds civilization look at america as the 'GREAT SATAN'.
$6 trillion for war and to please "the little shity nation.
Just as some financial institutions have become 'too big to fail', some of our political leaders/institutions have become 'too powerful to punish'.
But imagine if those responsible for this monumental war crime were hanged for their deeds. Real punishment for organized serial murder could usher in a new era of accountability.
For some, the price of an enemy of Israel vanquished cannot be quantified. Scumbags, all.
And worth every single penny. Just look at the picture. There are almost a million Americans who now know how good they have it.milllion American who now know how good they have it and the 'price' of their freedom. Having been a real 'hellhole' for a year, the trailer park looks better than ever.
The cost isn't wasted – those trillions have all made their way back into the hands of the 'quality' who make America so great.
And that alone is 'good'.
maintaining the health of the state is an expensive proposition.