We may all be paying a steep price for Bush's reckless foreign policy decisions...We did NOT have to pre-emptively attack Iraq...Most experts think we are not any safer today...It's clear now that there was NOT an imminent threat...Please read this report carefully...
A Study by the Institute for Policy Studies and Foreign Policy In Focus
Full report with citations available at:
ips-dc.org
Paying the Price: The Mounting Costs of the Iraq War
Key Findings:
fpif.org
FPIF Special Report
June 24, 2004
Paying the Price: The Mounting Costs of the Iraq War
Foreign Policy In Focus www.fpif.org
Key Findings
(I. Costs to the United States / II. Costs to Iraq / III. Costs to the World)
I. Costs to the United States
A. Human Costs
U.S. Military Deaths: Between the start of war on March 19, 2003 and
June 16, 2004, 952 coalition forces were killed, including 836 U.S.
military. Of the total, 693 were killed after President Bush declared
the end of combat operations on May 1, 2003. Over 5,134 U.S. troops
have been wounded since the war began, including 4,593 since May 1,
2003.
Contractor Deaths: Estimates range from 50 to 90 civilian contractors,
missionaries, and civilian worker deaths. Of these, 36 were identified
as Americans.
Journalist Deaths: Thirty international media workers have been killed
in Iraq, including 21 since President Bush declared the end of combat
operations. Eight of the dead worked for U.S. companies.
B. Security Costs
Terrorist Recruitment and Action: According to the London-based
International Institute for Strategic Studies, al Qaeda's membership
is now at 18,000, with 1,000 active in Iraq. A former CIA analyst and
State Department official has documented 390 deaths and 1,892 injuries
due to terrorist attacks in 2003. In addition, there were 98 suicide
attacks around the world in 2003, more than any year in contemporary
history.
Low U.S. Credibility: Polls reveal that the war has damaged the U.S.
government's standing and credibility in the world. Surveys in eight
European and Arab countries demonstrated broad public agreement that
the war has hurt, rather than helped, the war on terrorism. At home,
54 percent of Americans polled by the Annenberg Election Survey felt
that "the situation in Iraq was not worth going to war over."
Military Mistakes: A number of former military officials have
criticized the war, including retired Marine General Anthony Zinni,
former commander of the U.S. Central Command, who has charged that by
manufacturing a false rationale for war, abandoning traditional
allies, propping up and trusting Iraqi exiles, and failing to plan for
post-war Iraq, the Bush Administration made the United States less
secure.
Low Troop Morale and Lack of Equipment: A March 2004 army survey found
52 percent of soldiers reporting low morale, and three-fourths
reporting they were poorly led by their officers. Lack of equipment
has been an ongoing problem. The Army did not fully equip soldiers
with bullet-proof vests until June 2004, forcing many families to
purchase them out of their own pockets.
Loss of First Responders: National Guard troops make up almost
one-third of the U.S. Army troops now in Iraq. Their deployment puts a
particularly heavy burden on their home communities because many are
"first responders," including police, firefighters, and emergency
medical personnel. For example, 44 percent of the country's police
forces have lost officers to Iraq. In some states, the absence of so
many Guard troops has raised concerns about the ability to handle
natural disasters.
Use of Private Contractors: An estimated 20,000 private contractors
are carrying out work in Iraq traditionally done by the military,
despite the fact that they often lack sufficient training and are not
accountable to the same guidelines and reviews as military personnel.
C. Economic Costs
The Bill So Far: Congress has already approved of $126.1 billion for
Iraq and an additional $25 billion is heading towards Congressional
approval, for a total of $151.1 billion through this year.
Congressional leaders have promised an additional supplemental
appropriation after the election.
Long-term Impact on U.S. Economy: Economist Doug Henwood has estimated
that the war bill will add up to an average of at least $3,415 for
every U.S. household. Another economist, James Galbraith of the
University of Texas, predicts that while war spending may boost the
economy initially, over the long term it is likely to bring a decade
of economic troubles, including an expanded trade deficit and high
inflation.
Oil Prices: Gas prices topped $2 a gallon in May 2004, a development
that most analysts attribute at least in part to the deteriorating
situation in Iraq. According to a mid-May CBS survey, 85 percent of
Americans said they had been affected measurably by higher gas prices.
According to one estimate, if crude oil prices stay around $40 a
barrel for a year, U.S. gross domestic product will decline by more
than $50 billion.
Economic Impact on Military Families: Since the beginning of the wars
in Iraq and Afghanistan, 364,000 reserve troops and National Guard
soldiers have been called for military service, serving tours of duty
that often last 20 months. Studies show that between 30 and 40 percent
of reservists and National Guard members earn a lower salary when they
leave civilian employment for military deployment. Army Emergency
Relief has reported that requests from military families for food
stamps and subsidized meals increased "several hundred percent"
between 2002 and 2003.
D. Social Costs
U.S. Budget and Social Programs: The Bush administration's combination
of massive spending on the war and tax cuts for the wealthy means less
money for social spending. The $151.1 billion expenditure for the war
through this year could have paid for: close to 23 million housing
vouchers; health care for over 27 million uninsured Americans;
salaries for nearly 3 million elementary school teachers; 678,200 new
fire engines; over 20 million Head Start slots for children; or health
care coverage for 82 million children. Instead, the administration's
FY 2005 budget request proposes deep cuts in critical domestic
programs and virtually freezes funding for domestic discretionary
programs other than homeland security. Federal spending cuts will
deepen the budget crises for local and state governments, which are
expected to suffer a $6 billion shortfall in 2005.
Social Costs to the Military: Thus far, the Army has extended the
tours of duty of 20,000 soldiers. These extensions have been
particularly difficult for reservists, many of whom never expected to
face such long separations from their jobs and families. According to
military policy, reservists are not supposed to be on assignment for
more than 12 months every 5-6 years. To date, the average tour of duty
for all soldiers in Iraq has been 320 days. A recent Army survey
revealed that more than half of soldiers said they would not
re-enlist.
Costs to Veteran Health Care: About 64 percent of the more than 5,000
U.S. soldiers injured in Iraq received wounds that prevented them from
returning to duty. One trend has been an increase in amputees, the
result of improved body armor that protects vital organs but not
extremities. As in previous wars, many soldiers are likely to have
received ailments that will not be detected for years to come. The
Veterans Administration healthcare system is not prepared for the
swelling number of claims. In May, the House of Representatives
approved funding for FY 2005 that is $2.6 billion less than needed,
according to veterans' groups.
Mental Health Costs: A December 2003 Army report was sharply critical
of the military's handling of mental health issues. It found that more
than 15 percent of soldiers in Iraq screened positive for traumatic
stress, 7.3 percent for anxiety, and 6.9 percent for depression. The
suicide rate among soldiers increased from an eight-year average of
11.9 per 100,000 to 15.6 per 100,000 in 2003. Almost half of soldiers
surveyed reported not knowing how to obtain mental health services.
II. Costs to Iraq
A. Human Costs
Iraqi Deaths and Injuries: As of June 16, 2004, between 9,436 and
11,317 Iraqi civilians have been killed as a result of the U.S.
invasion and ensuing occupation, while an estimated 40,000 Iraqis have
been injured. During "major combat" operations, between 4,895 and
6,370 Iraqi soldiers and insurgents were killed.
Effects of Depleted Uranium: The health impacts of the use of depleted
uranium weaponry in Iraq are yet to be known. The Pentagon estimates
that U.S. and British forces used 1,100 to 2,200 tons of weaponry made
from the toxic and radioactive metal during the March 2003 bombing
campaign. Many scientists blame the far smaller amount of DU weapons
used in the Persian Gulf War for illnesses among U.S. soldiers, as
well as a sevenfold increase in child birth defects in Basra in
Southern Iraq.
B. Security Costs
Rise in Crime: Murder, rape, and kidnapping have skyrocketed since
March 2003, forcing Iraqi children to stay home from school and women
to stay off the streets at night. Violent deaths rose from an average
of 14 per month in 2002 to 357 per month in 2003.
Psychological Impact: Living under occupation without the most basic
security has devastated the Iraqi population. A poll by the U.S.
Coalition Provisional Authority in May 2004 found that 80 percent of
Iraqis say they have "no confidence" in either the U.S. civilian
authorities or in the coalition forces, and 55 percent would feel
safer if U.S. and other foreign troops left the country immediately.
C. The Economic Costs
Unemployment: Iraqi joblessness doubled from 30 percent before the war
to 60 percent in the summer of 2003. While the Bush administration now
claims that unemployment has dropped, only 1 percent of Iraq's
workforce of 7 million is involved in reconstruction projects.
Corporate War Profiteering: Most of Iraq's reconstruction has been
contracted out to U.S. companies, rather than experienced Iraqi firms.
Top contractor Halliburton is being investigated for charging $160
million for meals that were never served to troops and $61 million in
cost overruns on fuel deliveries. Halliburton employees also took $6
million in kickbacks from subcontractors, while other employees have
reported extensive waste, including the abandonment of $85,000 trucks
because they had flat tires.
Iraq's Oil Economy: Anti-occupation violence has prevented Iraq from
capitalizing on its oil assets. There have been an estimated 130
attacks on Iraq's oil infrastructure. In 2003, Iraq's oil production
dropped to 1.33 million barrels per day, down from 2.04 million in
2002.
Health Infrastructure: After more than a decade of crippling
sanctions, Iraq's health facilities were further damaged during the
war and post-invasion looting. Iraq's hospitals continue to suffer
from lack of supplies and an overwhelming number of patients.
Education: UNICEF estimates that more than 200 schools were destroyed
in the conflict and thousands more were looted in the chaos following
the fall of Saddam Hussein. Largely because of security concerns,
school attendance in April 2004 was well below pre-war levels.
Environment: The U.S-led attack damaged water and sewage systems and
the country's fragile desert ecosystem. It also resulted in oil well
fires that spewed smoke across the country and left unexposed ordnance
that continues to endanger the Iraqi people and environment. Mines and
unexploded ordnance cause an estimated 20 casualties per month.
Human Rights Costs: Even with Saddam Hussein overthrown, Iraqis
continue to face human rights violations from occupying forces. In
addition to the widely publicized humiliation and abuse of prisoners,
the U.S. military is investigating the deaths of 34 detainees as a
result of interrogation techniques.
Sovereignty Costs: Despite the proclaimed "transfer of sovereignty" to
Iraq, the country will continue to be occupied by U.S. and coalition
troops and have severely limited political and economic independence.
The interim government will not have the authority to reverse the
nearly 100 orders by CPA head Paul Bremer that, among other things,
allow for the privatization of Iraq's state-owned enterprises and
prohibit preferences for domestic firms in reconstruction.
III. Costs to the World
Human Costs: While Americans make up the vast majority of military and
contractor personnel in Iraq, other U.S.-allied "coalition" troops
have suffered 116 war casualties in Iraq. In addition, the focus on
Iraq has diverted international resources and attention away from
humanitarian crises such as in Sudan.
International Law: The unilateral U.S. decision to go to war in Iraq
violated the United Nations Charter, setting a dangerous precedent for
other countries to seize any opportunity to respond militarily to
claimed threats, whether real or contrived, that must be "pre-empted."
The U.S. military has also violated the Geneva Convention, making it
more likely that in the future, other nations will ignore these
protections in their treatment of civilian populations and detainees.
The United Nations: At every turn, the Bush administration has
attacked the legitimacy and credibility of the UN, undermining the
institution's capacity to act in the future as the centerpiece of
global disarmament and conflict resolution. The recent efforts of the
Bush administration to gain UN acceptance of an Iraqi government that
was not elected but rather installed by occupying forces undermines
the entire notion of national sovereignty as the basis for the UN
Charter.
Coalitions: Faced with opposition in the UN Security Council, the U.S.
government attempted to create the illusion of multilateral support
for the war by pressuring other governments to join a so-called
"Coalition of the Willing." This not only circumvented UN authority,
but also undermined democracy in many coalition countries, where
public opposition to the war was as high as 90 percent.
Global Economy: The $151.1 billion spent by the U.S. government on the
war could have cut world hunger in half and covered HIV/AIDS medicine,
childhood immunization and clean water and sanitation needs of the
developing world for more than two years. As a factor in the oil price
hike, the war has created concerns of a return to the "stagflation" of
the 1970s. Already, the world's major airlines are expecting an
increase in costs of $1 billion or more per month.
Global Security: The U.S.-led war and occupation have galvanized
international terrorist organizations, placing people not only in Iraq
but around the world at greater risk of attack. The State Department's
annual report on international terrorism reported that in 2003 there
was the highest level of terror-related incidents deemed "significant"
than at any time since the U.S. began issuing these figures.
Global Environment: U.S.-fired depleted uranium weapons have
contributed to pollution of Iraq's land and water, with inevitable
spillover effects in other countries. The heavily polluted Tigris
River, for example, flows through Iraq, Iran and Kuwait.
Human Rights: The Justice Department memo assuring the White House
that torture was legal stands in stark violation of the International
Convention Against Torture (of which the United States is a
signatory). This, combined with the widely publicized mistreatment of
Iraqi prisoners by U.S. intelligence officials, gave new license for
torture and mistreatment by governments around the world. |
