by Jeff Stepper

Created on: March 19, 2008   Last Updated: March 24, 2008

The Iraq War, five years later and what has our 4,000 US soldiers' lives and $526 billion bought us?

The Bush administration repeatedly tells us the war in Iraq is worth the cost. In this article, I will break down those costs and the gains that it has bought us. Then you can make up your own mind if this war is worth the cost or not.

In monetary costs we have spent $526 billion so far with estimates of the total cost being $3 trillion. For the cost for both wars, Afghanistan and Iraq, estimates are $5 - $7 trillion when you add up the interest on the debt we are incurring plus the cost of taking care of the health and counseling costs for our veterans. In March 2003 a barrel of oil cost $33.51 and on March 17 2008 it was $105.68.

In human costs: America has spent 4,000 lives with more than 30,000 wounded. The amount of troops who have tried to commit suicide or injure themselves was 2100 last year, up from 350 in 2002. 11.9% of noncommissioned officers reported having mental health issues after their first tour and 27.2% during their third or fourth tour. There are some that say this is just the cost of war and it is worth it because we are safer now.

But are we?

From January to September 11th 2001, there were 1,188 incidents of global terrorism. From January to September 11th 2006, there were 5,188 incidents of global terrorism. There has been a 30% increase in violence in Afghanistan from 2006 to 2007. There were 21 suicide bombings in Afghanistan in 2001, and 139 in 2006. Only 30% of Afghanistan is controlled by the Afghan government. And the person who was responsible for the attacks on the twin towers, Osama Bin Laden, has been roaming free for 2,380 days since September 11th while we have been distracted in Iraq.

And then there are those that point out that the war must be working because we haven't been attacked since 9/11. To these people I point out that prior to 9/11 we hadn't been attacked in this country for 225 years. I know this isn't a popular opinion, but do you think that it is possible that our meddling in the affairs of sovereign states in the Middle East since the end of WWII might have something to do with it?

We helped carve out a hunk of land and gave it to Israel and then armed them to the teeth so they could keep it. We helped overthrow a brutal regime in Iran and then installed the Shah who was even more brutal. And then when he was overthrown we supplied Saddam, yes Saddam Hussein, with weapons and military expertise so he could fight his war with Iran. But to admit we might have played a part in the attacks on the World Trade Center would be to take responsibility, and sadly, that is a trait that Americans don't seem to have. We are now a blame someone else society, just ask all those lawyers that are making all that money on those frivolous lawsuits.

Is the war worth it? Worth what? What have we gained? What have we lost?

Referenced article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/19/iraq-casual ties-iraq-cos_n_92303.html

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