The Staggering Cost Of War: Examining The Trillions Spent In Iraq And Afghanistan

The US government has spent trillions of dollars on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The exact figure is hard to pinpoint due to the complexity of the costs involved, but researchers at Brown University estimate that the US has spent $5.8 trillion on the war in Afghanistan and other conflicts stemming from the September 11, 2001 attacks, including Iraq. This figure includes direct and indirect spending on military equipment, homeland security, and death gratuities for the families of slain American service members. The US government has financed this spending almost entirely through debt, which will have long-term consequences for the country's economy.

The US spent $2.3 trillion on the war in Afghanistan

The $2.3 trillion spent on the war in Afghanistan is a portion of the total estimated cost of post-9/11 wars, which also includes conflicts in Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Somalia and elsewhere. The US government has never provided a full accounting of the costs of these so-called "forever wars". However, researchers at Brown University estimate that the US has spent $5.8 trillion on the war in Afghanistan and other conflicts stemming from the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. This includes direct and indirect spending on military equipment, homeland security, and death gratuities for the families of slain American service members.

The cost of the war in Afghanistan has been financed almost entirely through debt. As a result, the US budget deficit has increased, the national debt has grown, and consumer interest rates have risen. Interest payments on the money borrowed to fund the war are expected to cost an additional $2.1 trillion by 2030 and could top $6.5 trillion by 2050.

The war in Afghanistan has also had significant human costs. The Costs of War Project estimates that 243,000 people have died as a direct result of the war, not including deaths caused by disease, loss of access to food, water, infrastructure, and other indirect consequences. In addition, more than 2,400 US service members and more than 38,000 Afghan civilians have been killed.

The war in Afghanistan has also had limited success in achieving its aims. The Taliban remains a strong force in the country and Afghanistan is still a leading global supplier of opium and heroin. While there have been some improvements in health and education, these gains are scant compared to international norms.

The UK spent £8.4 billion on military operations in Iraq

The total cost of the Iraq War is often contested, as academics and critics have unearthed many hidden costs not represented in official estimates. For example, the cost of long-term veteran care for all of these conflicts has been calculated to be around £25-30 billion, or £1 billion per year at today's prices.

The UK's spending on the Iraq War came from a government fund called the "Special Reserve", which had a balance of £7.4 billion at the time. By March 2006, approximately £4.5 billion had been spent in Iraq. Official calculations state that the combined cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan totalled £20.3 billion up to June 2010.

The UK's military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan have been judged as strategic failures by the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI). According to RUSI, there is a consensus that Britain's role in the Iraq War served to increase the radicalisation of young Muslims in the UK. The study also notes that the UK's intervention in Helmand, southern Afghanistan, backfired as it drove many members of the governor's forces to join the burgeoning militia.

The US spent $6.4 trillion on wars in the Middle East and Asia since 2001

The US has spent $6.4 trillion on wars in the Middle East and Asia since 2001, according to a 2019 study by Neta Crawford from the Watson Institute of International and Public Affairs at Brown University. This figure reflects the cost across the US federal government, as the price of America's wars is not borne by the Defense Department alone.

The study also finds that more than 801,000 people have died as a direct result of fighting, with over 335,000 of those being civilians. Another 21 million people have been displaced due to violence.

The $6.4 trillion figure includes the cost of war-related spending by the Department of State, past and obligated spending for war veterans' care, interest on the debt incurred to pay for the wars, and the prevention of and response to terrorism by the Department of Homeland Security.

The US government has financed its military spending almost entirely through debt since the September 11 attacks. This borrowing has raised the US budget deficit, increased the national debt, and had other macroeconomic effects, such as raising consumer interest rates.

The true cost of war is often contested, as critics have unearthed many hidden costs not represented in official estimates. For example, the loss of military equipment during the war, the opportunity cost of not investing in other sectors, and the cost of providing healthcare for returning veterans.

The US's post-9/11 wars have expanded to more than 80 countries, becoming a truly global war on terror. The longer these wars continue, the more service members will ultimately claim benefits and disability payments, further increasing the financial burden.

The US government spent $2.2 trillion to finance the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq

The US government has spent a staggering $2.2 trillion on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, according to figures from Brown University's Costs of War Project. This figure, which amounts to roughly 10% of the country's total gross domestic product, reflects only the upfront costs of the conflicts. The true cost of these wars, including interest, is projected to be significantly higher.

The US approach to financing these wars marks a shift from previous conflicts. Traditionally, the US government has relied on taxes and war bonds to fund wars, as seen in the American Civil War and the Korean War. However, in the post-September 11 era, the US turned to debt to finance its military endeavours. This borrowing has increased the country's budget deficit and national debt, and it will incur future interest payments. Experts estimate that interest payments on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq could add an additional $2.1 trillion by 2030 and top $6.5 trillion by 2050.

The human toll of these wars is also immeasurable, with countless lives lost and forever altered. The Costs of War Project estimates that 243,000 people have died as a direct result of the war in Afghanistan alone, not including deaths caused by indirect consequences such as disease and loss of access to food and water. The report from Brown University further highlights the displacement of 21 million people due to violence.

The financial impact of these wars extends beyond the upfront costs of military operations. The US has committed to providing healthcare, disability benefits, and burial services for approximately 4 million Afghanistan and Iraq war veterans, with costs projected to exceed $2 trillion. These costs will continue to rise as more service members claim benefits and disability payments in the coming years.

The true cost of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq is, thus, far-reaching and long-term. The $2.2 trillion spent so far is only the beginning, and the US government and taxpayers will continue to bear the financial burden for decades to come.

The US has spent $5.8 trillion on the war in Afghanistan and conflicts stemming from the Sept. 11 attacks

The US government has never provided a full accounting of the costs of these "forever wars". However, the Brown University researchers' estimate suggests that the US has spent a significant amount on these conflicts, which have had a high human and financial toll. The human cost of these wars is immense, with more than 2,400 US service members and over 46,000 civilians killed in Afghanistan, according to a Brown University report.

The financial cost is also substantial. The US has spent trillions of dollars on military equipment, training, fuel, armoured vehicles, facilities, and transportation. In addition, the interest on borrowed funds to finance these wars will add trillions more to the overall cost. For example, the US borrowed heavily to finance the war in Afghanistan, and it is estimated that the interest payments on these loans will cost over $600 billion through 2023, with the rest of the debt taking years to repay.

Furthermore, some costs will continue even after the US military presence in Afghanistan has ended, such as ongoing medical care for veterans. The US has committed to paying for the healthcare, disability, burial, and other costs for about 4 million Afghanistan and Iraq war veterans, projected to amount to more than $2 trillion. These costs are expected to peak after 2048.

The US's post-9/11 wars have also had macroeconomic effects, such as raising consumer interest rates and impacting investment in non-military sectors like healthcare and infrastructure. The true cost of these wars is difficult to calculate and will continue to rise long into the future.

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