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The cost of war is often measured in the physical destruction of a country's infrastructure, in the blasted buildings, factories and bridges, in the number of dead. But probably worse is the psychological and spiritual toll. The cost takes generations to heal. It cripples and perverts whole societies, as Europe saw with the shattered veterans from World War I. But even for those who know the cost of war, it still holds out the promise of eradicating the thorny problems of life.

(Hedges, War Is a Force p.162)

Cost of War

War Funding

Stiglitz, Joseph, & Bilmes, Linda. (2008). The Three Trillion Dollar War. W. W. Norton.

"Apart from its tragic human toll, the Iraq War will be staggeringly expensive in financial terms. This sobering study by Nobel Prize winner Joseph E. Stiglitz and Harvard professor Linda J. Bilmes casts a spotlight on expense items that have been hidden from the U.S. taxpayer, including not only big-ticket items like replacing military equipment (being used up at six times the peacetime rate) but also the cost of caring for thousands of wounded veterans--for the rest of their lives. Shifting to a global focus, the authors investigate the cost in lives and economic damage within Iraq and the region. Finally, with the chilling precision of an actuary, the authors measure what the U.S. taxpayer's money would have produced if instead it had been invested in the further growth of the U.S. economy. Written in language as simple as the details are disturbing, this book will forever change the way we think about the war." See http://threetrilliondollarwar.org/.

Congressional Research Services Report, Code RL33110. (2008, May). The Cost of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Other Global War on Terror Operations Since 9/11.

"With enactment of the FY2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act (H.R. 2764/P.L. 110-161) on December 26, 2007, Congress has approved a total of about $700 billion for military operations, base security, reconstruction, foreign aid, embassy costs, and veterans' health care for the three operations initiated since the 9/11 attacks: Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) Afghanistan and other counter terror operations; Operation Noble Eagle (ONE), providing enhanced security at military bases; and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF)"

Wallsten, Scott, & Kosec, Katrina. (2005, September). The Economic Costs of the War in Iraq. The AEI-Brookings Joint Center for Regulatory Studies

"... our best estimates suggests that the direct economic costs to the U.S. through August 2005 are about $255 billion, about $40 billion to coalition partners, and $134 billion to Iraq. These estimates suggest a global cost to date of about $428 billion. The avoided costs, meanwhile, are about $116 billion. We estimate that the expected total net present value of the direct costs through 2015 could be $604 billion to the U.S., $95 billion to coalition partners, and $306 billion to Iraq, suggesting a global total expected net present value of about $1 trillion. The net present value of total avoided costs, meanwhile, could be about $429 billion." Wallsen & Kosec (2005)

Senate Joint Economic Committee. (2007, November). War at Any Price?: The Total Economic Costs of the War Beyond the Federal Budget.

"The total economic cost of the war in Iraq to a family of four is a shocking $16,500 from 2002 to 2008. When the war in Afghanistan is included, the burden to the American family rises to $20,900. The future impact on a family of four skyrockets to $36,900 for Iraq and $46,400 for Iraq and Afghanistan when all potential costs from 2002 to 2017 are included."

Iraq Cost estimates, see above. Second costliest war in American history, after WWII.
Vietnam (1972$)--about $111 billion, $562 billion in today's dollars
Korean (1953$)--about $54 billion, $417 billion in today's dollars
WWII (1945$)--about $288 billion, $3.36 trillion in today's dollars
WWI (1918$)--about $32 billion , $513 billion in today's dollars

 

Presidential Candidates 2008: Plans for Iraq

Candidate Permanent bases? Withdraw? Iran?
Barr (Libertarian)
No Yes, as soon as possible ?

McCain (Republican)

 Yes Only after Iraq has been secured; will make no commitments Diplomacy first
McKinney (Green) No Yes, immediately No

Obama (Democrat)

 No Yes, as soon as possible (as region is secured) Diplomacy first

 

Supporting the Iraq War

McCain, John. (2008, July 22). Getting Iraq Right: How to Keep Progress Going. New York Post.

Bush Adviser Says Iraqi Timeline "Very Dangerous". (2008, July 20). Thomas Reuters.

Statement by Press Secretary on Iraq. (2008, July 18). White House Release.

Victory in Iraq. (2008, July 18) The New York Sun.

Kagan, Frederick, Kagan, Kimberly, & Keane, Jack. (2008, July 16). The New Reality in Iraq. American Enterprise Institute for Foreign Policy & Wall Street Journal.

Four Months for Victory. (2008, July). Vets for Freedom.

Krauthammer, Charles. (2008, June 13). Make the Election About Iraq. The Washington Post.

Herman, Arthur. (2008, June 9). Eat Crow, Iraq War Skeptics. New York Post.

Al-Qaeda on Ropes: Bin Laden is Losing. (2008, June 2). Manchester Union Leader.

Gardiner, Nile. (2008, March 18). Iraq Five Years On: The Coalition Is Winning the War Against Al-Qaeda. The Heritage Foundation.

O'Hanlon, Michael. (2008, March). Reality and the Iraq War. USA Today.

Media/Movie:

The Case for War: In Defense of Freedom. Directed by Brook Lapping for PBS.

Still Supporting the War? Debates.

Rivkin, David & Cirincione, Joseph. Are We Winning in Iraq? LA Times.

Should the US Have Attacked Iraq? The Pro-Con Arguments. ProCon.org

Media Websites on the War