Measuring the cost of war in Iraq

Stat house
October 2004

Measuring the cost of war in Iraq
A new website, the Cost of War, published by the National Priorities Project, casts a clinical eye on the human and fiscal sacrifices demanded by America's war in Iraq.

On September 29, according to the NPP, the costs of war to the U.S. included:

1,035 soldiers killed (by late September the civilian toll in Iraq was at least 13,000 and possibly as high as 15,000, according to Iraq Body Count)

11 7,245 soldiers wounded

$152.6 billion for what Congress had allocated so far

Another $50.0 billion more for each year the U.S. remains beyond 2004

167,356 Reservists and National Guard troops on active duty

According to NPP, "The human and financial costs of the Iraq War continue to climb. Since the beginning of the war in March 2003, more than 1,000 U.S. soldiers have died, three times the number that died in the first Persian Gulf War. More than 85 percent of those soldiers died since the President declared an end to major combat. More than 7,000 soldiers have been wounded, 15 times the number wounded in the first Gulf War.

"Nearly 170,000 reservists and National Guard troops are currently on active duty compared to 50,000 prior to the Iraq War. These part-time soldiers are taken away from their families and jobs for long periods of time. . . . Every day two U.S. soldiers are killed and 30 are wounded."

"The number of insurgents in Iraq may have quadrupled since last year. Crude oil production in Iraq is only two-thirds of what it was pre-war. A U.S. intelligence report provided to the Bush administration in July concluded a gloomy outlook for stability in Iraq, including the possible outbreak of a civil war. Beyond 2004, the financial needs of this war may consume another $4 billion per month."

The group also tracks the cost of the Iraq war "live" with a running web tabulation that compares the war's tally to alternative purposes, noting for example that the money spent on Iraq so far could have fully funded global anti-hunger campaigns for the next five years, could have sent more than 18 million U.S. children to Head Start pre-school programs, or could have provided health coverage to more than 82 million Americans for one year. The NPP also offers a state-by-state breakdown of the war's social service trade offs.

The group also charges that America's war effort is weakening efforts to achieve better homeland security. According to the NPP, at $474 billion, the defense budget is seven times the combined spending of $32 billion for non-military and $30 billion for homeland security in the war on terror.

"Another strategy is possible," NPP charges. "Non-military security tools that are being shortchanged. . . . billions of dollars could be shifted from military spending to other security needs.

"For example:

"Increase funding for the container inspection program to prevent dangerous materials from entering American ports.

"Increase funding for nonproliferation to keep nuclear materials out of the hands of terrorists.

"Strengthen international intelligence sharing and police work, which has been the key to many of thereal successes against terrorism since 9/11.

"Provide technical assistance to other governments so that they may crack down on sources of terrorist financing."

Back to page top