COST OF WAR WITH IRAQ
CBO Estimate
of Cost of U.S. Military Operations in Iraq
"The Cost of Invading Iraq," National Priorities
Project
www.nationalpriorities.org/iraq.pdf
"War with Iraq: Costs, Consequences, and Alternatives,"
The American Academy of Arts & Sciences
"FYO3 Federal Budget Fact Sheet," Women's
Action for New Directions
"Documents Suggest Iraq May Use Chemical Weapons," New York
Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/24/international/24CND_BRIT.html?
ex=104444242
Resources
http://www.amacad.org/publications/monographs/War_with_Iraq.pdf
SUMMARY
The Bush administration
and independent budget analysts have consistently cited the cost of
a war with Iraq at $100 to $200 billion. These estimates do not include
the cost of rebuilding Iraq after a war nor take into account the economic
losses during wartime incurred by countries around the world. The United
States has suffered the worst revenue decline since World War II and,
after four years of surpluses, the federal government will run a $157
billion deficit this year (Congressional Budget Office report, 9/02).
Rather than spending millions on military intervention in Iraq, the
U.S. should devote more resources to cooperative threat reduction programs,
international peacekeeping, health care, education and the environment.
The $100 to $200 billion estimates include:
- $9 to $13 billion to deploy the military to the Persian
Gulf;
- $6 to $9 billion per month to prosecute a war;
- $5 to $7 billion to return American forces to home bases after a war;
- $1 to $4 billion per month to maintain an occupation force in Iraq.
How much is $100 billion?
- Three times what the federal government spends on K-12
education;
- More than four times the total federal budget for international affairs;
- Enough to provide health care for all uninsured U.S. children under
age five.
The Bush administration's proposed military budget
is $396 billion (FY03), which is higher than the next 25 biggest military
budgets in the world combined.
EXPERTS
Darcy Scott Martin
Women's Action for New Directions
(202) 543-8505
wand@wand.org
Greg Speeter
National Priorities Project
(413) 584-9556
greg@nationalpriorities.org
Nan Grogan Orrock (D-GA)
State Representative
Women's Legislative Lobby
willpres@wand.org