INSTITUTE INDEX: The Iraq War at 10
Since the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq began 10 years ago this week, number of people who have been killed in the ensuing violence: at least 190,000
Percent of those who died that were civilians: more than 70
Number of Iraqis killed last month alone: 220
Number of Iraqi children orphaned in the conflict: 5 million
Estimated number of Iraqis displaced by the war: 2.7 million
Percent of displaced Iraqis who said they wished to return home in 2006: 45
Percent of displaced Iraqis who said they wished to return home in 2012, with the decline blamed on the lack of security: 6
Total number of U.S. service members killed in Iraq: 4,488
Minimum number of U.S. contractors killed there: 3,400
Of the 10 states that suffered the greatest number of troop deaths in Iraq*, number in the South: 4
Of the 10 bases that suffered the greatest number of troop deaths in Iraq**, number in the South: 5
Amount the Bush administration initially estimated the war would cost: $50 billion to $60 billion
Minimum amount the war will actually cost U.S. taxpayers: $2.2 trillion
Since the war was funded through borrowing, what the cumulative interest could amount to through 2053: $3.9 trillion
Amount the U.S. is now spending annually to compensate veterans and victims of its past wars: $40 billion
Number of people who are still receiving benefits related to the Civil War, which ended 148 years ago: 2
Date on which the statute of limitations runs out for possible crimes committed by President George W. Bush related to fraud in launching and continuing the war: 1/20/2014
* CA (519), TX (454), FL (218), PA (217), NY (210), OH (207), IL (177), MI (168), GA (151), and VA (142)
** Fort Hood, TX (509); Camp Pendleton, CA (345); Camp Lejeune, NC (295); Fort Campbell, KY (224); Fort Carson, CO (202); Fort Bragg, NC (197); Fort Lewis, WA (191); Fort Stewart, GA (183); Fort Riley, KS (140); Fort Drum, NY (119)
(Click on figure to go to source.)
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Sue Sturgis
Sue is the former editorial director of Facing South and the Institute for Southern Studies.