By: Azhar Azam
The cost of war could never be calculated – the emotions shattered could never be measured – the relations detached could never be refilled – the misery of an orphan could never be sensed – the feelings of a widow could never be expressed – and the sacrifice of the son, brother, father or husband could never be weighed.
Though it is not possible to convey the human toll in the wars on terror in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan but what is calculable are the ledgers, financial burdens and offence allocations or expenditures which could give an idea of devastation incurred.
Since 9/11, a number of international, regional and territorial wars and conflicts have been kindled – shadily nearly all in selective Asian regions. Starting from US-led coalition forces attacks on Iraq, Afghanistan – later tugging Pakistan into war – and then to ongoing Middle East chaos, everywhere the number of casualties is myriad.
As these wars and operations have been triggered by the United States directly or indirectly – it has to make huge on account of weapons, destruction then reconstructions, logistics, pays, interests and medical etc.
According to a study for Department of Defense released in July 2017, American taxpayers are estimated to pay a total of $1.52 trillion at an average of $7,740 for US wars on terror in Afghanistan (3,785) and Iraq/Syria ($3,955) through FY2018.
Federation of American Scientists (FAS) has also obtained a DOD report through Secrecy News that lists US costs of war has exceeded $1.46 trillion as of June 2017 – showing US wars expenditure of $253.6 million per day.
Professor Neta C. Crawford research paper revealed this month estimates that the actual costs of war are much higher through FY2017 – $1.88 trillion at per month average expenditure of $320.3 million in these war zones.
US began global war on terror in October 2001 alongside war against Afghan Taliban and Al-Qaida in Afghanistan. It launched war against Iraq in March 2003 and later expanded it to Syria in August 2014. Pentagon baptized various war missions with different names.
Operation Freedom’s Sentinel (OFS) – train, advise, and assist mission to Afghan security forces – began on January 1, 2015 in Afghanistan (incl. operations in Pakistan) after formally ending Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) – combat mission – which lasted for over 13 years – October 7, 2001 to December 31, 2014.
Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) – military air power intervention – began in August 2014 in Iraq and Syria. Earlier it launched Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) – military action – that ran from March 19, 2003 to August 31, 2010. War in Iraq continued under Operation New Dawn (OND) till December 2011 before renamed into Post-Operation New Dawn (P-OND). With the inclusion of Syria, it is now known as OIR.
Eventually US have formally ended combat missions in Afghanistan and have also limited its military operations in Iraq and Syria to solitary air strikes.
Operation Noble Eagle (ONE) was started on September 14, 2001 attacks and is the military operation related to homeland security and providing support to federal, state, and local agencies after 9/11 attacks.
Prof. Crawford lists various hidden outlays that cracks the US war costs incredibly. He estimates that the total US spending on Global War on Terror (GWOT), Homeland Security, Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs since the 9/11 attacks has already exceeded $4.3 trillion through FY2017.
An additional $281 billion is estimated to be spent by the US (excluding Pakistan) through FY2018 – ramming total cost of wars to over $4.6 trillion.
That goes on to corroborate that the wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria would essentially charge each American taxpayer a total of $22,120 or US economy $755 million per day through FY2018.
The cost of war could never be calculated – the emotions shattered could never be measured – the relations detached could never be refilled – the misery of an orphan could never be sensed – the feelings of a widow could never be expressed – and the sacrifice of the son, brother, father or husband could never be weighed.
Though it is not possible to convey the human toll in the wars on terror in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan but what is calculable are the ledgers, financial burdens and offence allocations or expenditures which could give an idea of devastation incurred.
Since 9/11, a number of international, regional and territorial wars and conflicts have been kindled – shadily nearly all in selective Asian regions. Starting from US-led coalition forces attacks on Iraq, Afghanistan – later tugging Pakistan into war – and then to ongoing Middle East chaos, everywhere the number of casualties is myriad.
As these wars and operations have been triggered by the United States directly or indirectly – it has to make huge on account of weapons, destruction then reconstructions, logistics, pays, interests and medical etc.
According to a study for Department of Defense released in July 2017, American taxpayers are estimated to pay a total of $1.52 trillion at an average of $7,740 for US wars on terror in Afghanistan (3,785) and Iraq/Syria ($3,955) through FY2018.
Federation of American Scientists (FAS) has also obtained a DOD report through Secrecy News that lists US costs of war has exceeded $1.46 trillion as of June 2017 – showing US wars expenditure of $253.6 million per day.
Professor Neta C. Crawford research paper revealed this month estimates that the actual costs of war are much higher through FY2017 – $1.88 trillion at per month average expenditure of $320.3 million in these war zones.
US began global war on terror in October 2001 alongside war against Afghan Taliban and Al-Qaida in Afghanistan. It launched war against Iraq in March 2003 and later expanded it to Syria in August 2014. Pentagon baptized various war missions with different names.
Operation Freedom’s Sentinel (OFS) – train, advise, and assist mission to Afghan security forces – began on January 1, 2015 in Afghanistan (incl. operations in Pakistan) after formally ending Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) – combat mission – which lasted for over 13 years – October 7, 2001 to December 31, 2014.
Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) – military air power intervention – began in August 2014 in Iraq and Syria. Earlier it launched Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) – military action – that ran from March 19, 2003 to August 31, 2010. War in Iraq continued under Operation New Dawn (OND) till December 2011 before renamed into Post-Operation New Dawn (P-OND). With the inclusion of Syria, it is now known as OIR.
Eventually US have formally ended combat missions in Afghanistan and have also limited its military operations in Iraq and Syria to solitary air strikes.
Operation Noble Eagle (ONE) was started on September 14, 2001 attacks and is the military operation related to homeland security and providing support to federal, state, and local agencies after 9/11 attacks.
Prof. Crawford lists various hidden outlays that cracks the US war costs incredibly. He estimates that the total US spending on Global War on Terror (GWOT), Homeland Security, Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs since the 9/11 attacks has already exceeded $4.3 trillion through FY2017.
An additional $281 billion is estimated to be spent by the US (excluding Pakistan) through FY2018 – ramming total cost of wars to over $4.6 trillion.
That goes on to corroborate that the wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria would essentially charge each American taxpayer a total of $22,120 or US economy $755 million per day through FY2018.
The report also calculates an additional $1,000 billion spending on account of future obligations for GWOT Veterans Medical and Disability for 2019-2016.
One must not be confused with $877.4 billion war appropriation to Afghanistan that includes Pakistan Coalition Support Fund (CSF). CSF is a reimbursement to Pakistan for military operations conducted against Taliban and Al-Qaida on behalf of the US and is just a fraction of total amount – $14.5 billion.
CSF to Pakistan so as the other aids to several countries is appropriation only – final obligations and disbursements are much lower than these appropriations as reference document verifies too. For example, the US appropriated $742 million, obliged $142 million and spent only $130 million on foreign assistance to Pakistan in FY2017.
Professor explains the point on Page 11 and confirms that the US disbursed and compensated Pakistan for using ports, overland transportation of food, fuel, and military equipment, providing logistical support for its forces, manning observation posts on Pak-Afghan border, conducting maritime interdiction operations, and combat air patrols.
On the other side, US global war on terror has charged Pakistan’s economy direct and indirect losses of nearly $120 billion from 2002 to 2016 besides maiming death toll of nearly 80,000 in GWOT including innocent people, armed and other law enforcing agencies personnel.
Consequently the report opines that these massive costs of wars are likely to cost tens of thousands of jobs, affect US ability to invest in infrastructure, increased interests costs on borrowings leading to greater overall Federal indebtness.
Based on DOD current contingencies $120 billion (FY2017) on account of two major international missions – Operation Freedom’s Sentinel (OFS) in Afghanistan and Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) in Iraq and Syria – Professor’s estimate of $70 billion for Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) and US troops’ withdrawal from all the three countries (except for tactical troops’ increase in Afghanistan) accentuate that the United States is gradually drawing out of its own-waged Global War on Terror (GWOT).
One must not be confused with $877.4 billion war appropriation to Afghanistan that includes Pakistan Coalition Support Fund (CSF). CSF is a reimbursement to Pakistan for military operations conducted against Taliban and Al-Qaida on behalf of the US and is just a fraction of total amount – $14.5 billion.
CSF to Pakistan so as the other aids to several countries is appropriation only – final obligations and disbursements are much lower than these appropriations as reference document verifies too. For example, the US appropriated $742 million, obliged $142 million and spent only $130 million on foreign assistance to Pakistan in FY2017.
Professor explains the point on Page 11 and confirms that the US disbursed and compensated Pakistan for using ports, overland transportation of food, fuel, and military equipment, providing logistical support for its forces, manning observation posts on Pak-Afghan border, conducting maritime interdiction operations, and combat air patrols.
On the other side, US global war on terror has charged Pakistan’s economy direct and indirect losses of nearly $120 billion from 2002 to 2016 besides maiming death toll of nearly 80,000 in GWOT including innocent people, armed and other law enforcing agencies personnel.
Consequently the report opines that these massive costs of wars are likely to cost tens of thousands of jobs, affect US ability to invest in infrastructure, increased interests costs on borrowings leading to greater overall Federal indebtness.
Based on DOD current contingencies $120 billion (FY2017) on account of two major international missions – Operation Freedom’s Sentinel (OFS) in Afghanistan and Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) in Iraq and Syria – Professor’s estimate of $70 billion for Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) and US troops’ withdrawal from all the three countries (except for tactical troops’ increase in Afghanistan) accentuate that the United States is gradually drawing out of its own-waged Global War on Terror (GWOT).