Iraq war costs compared with earlier wars

AP ^ | 5/5/2004, 7:52 p.m. ET

[FourPeas]

(AP) — How the cost of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and other anti-terrorism operations by the Defense Department since Sept. 11, 2001, compares to costs of past wars.

So far, $165 billion has been provided for U.S. military activities in Iraq, Afghanistan and other anti-terror efforts, according to an October 2003 report by the Congressional Research Service, which conducts research for lawmakers. That amount excludes the additional $25 billion Bush administration officials said Wednesday that they are requesting.

Figures on past wars' costs to U.S. taxpayers are from a Congressional Research Service report from September 2003. The price tags of past wars are all converted to 2003 dollars to include the effects of inflation over the years.

American Revolution: $3.2 billion.

War of 1812: $1 billion.

Mexican War: $1.8 billion.

Civil War, Union and Confederacy: $72 billion.

Spanish-American War: $6.5 billion.

World War I: $588 billion.

World War II: $4.8 trillion.

Korean War: $408 billion.

Vietnam War: $584 billion.

Persian Gulf War, 1991: $82 billion, of which all but $5 billion was repaid by foreign countries.

[wagglebee]

$165 billion has been provided for U.S. military activities in Iraq, Afghanistan and other anti-terror efforts

I think without realizing it, AP has acknowledged that the War on Terror including Iraq is one war. Of course we have known this all along. Great post, I think the cost of the American Revolution and Civil War (especially the Civil War) seem sort of low.

[Michael.SF.]

Mexican War: $1.8 billion.

Looks like we got a bargain on that one. Mexico always has been known for it's moderate prices.

[FourPeas]

I'm guessing the reason the American Revolution and Civil War seem so low is because much of the funding, in the way of firearms, ammo, etc., was provided by the individual citizens. IIRC, many of the soldiers in the American Revolution weren't compensated or were "paid" in ways other than with money.

[wagglebee]

But was Reconstruction included in the Civil War costs, because in essence that is what a lot of the cost of Iraq and Afghanistan is.

[LADY J]

How about Kosovo?

[Born Conservative]

I think the cost of the American Revolution and Civil War (especially the Civil War) seem sort of low.

They weren't even close back then to the technology we have today, which is probably why the cost was lower yet the casualties were higher.

[NMR Guy]

Maybe a better comparison would be cost as a percent of GNP, per year?

[oolatec]

Yeah, they conveniently forget Bosnia and Kosovo... and what about the Clinton Haiti operation?

[GEC]

"Maybe"

The true measure of "war burden" is % of GDP.

By this measure, the only truly great war in the last 100 years was WWII.

We spent over 100% of our GDP for at least 2 years while we fought to gear up from years of military neglect.

People bought "war bonds" because the government didn't have the tax revenue to cover all of the spending.

This war is NOT, repeat NOT in the same league as even Vietnam.

It is a DIFFERENT kind of war.

Special Forces rule...that's why Pat Tillman's death bumbed me out so much.

[Petronski]

Just imagine how today's crapweasel press would have reported the Battle of Midway...or the Battle of the Bulge.

Time for more Prilosec.

[LADY J]

"Yeah, they conveniently forget Bosnia and Kosovo... and what about the Clinton Haiti operation?"

I knew a FReeper could come up with more we need to remember.

How much did the hillbillies spend going around the world several times? Liberals don't mind spending when they are the ones doing it!

[Congressman Billybob]

The AP article makes the War on Terror look like one of America's most costly wars. Given the bias of the AP, that probably explains why it did NOT compare the more precious cost, the combat fatalities in each war.

By THAT comparison, KIA per month, the present war is the least costly war the US as ever fought, bar none. This war is less bloody than the Revolution, when the soon-to-be-United States had just 1% of its current population.

Congressman Billybob

Latest column, "Honesty Problems with Kerry and Gorelick: Pin the Truth on the Democrat."

[JamesP]

Here is what I got when I divided cost by GDP. (Average GDP for multi year wars)

Cost GDP
War 2000 Dollars %GDP
1812 1 10.73 9%
Civil 72 81.63 88%
WW2 4,800 1674 287%
Iraq 165 10390 2%

This is the total cost divided by the yearly GDP.

[JamesP]

  

	Cost	GDP
War	Billions	2000 Dollars	%GDP
War of 1812	1	11.73	9%
Civil War	72	81.63	88%
WW2	4,800.00	1674	287%
Iraq	165	10390	2%