Washington, D.C. — Today, on the 10th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, the Center for American Progress released an updated timeline of events and “The Iraq War Ledger” on the human, financial, and strategic costs of the war. CAP Senior Fellow Lawrence J. Korb released the following statement:
The 10th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq is an important moment to honor the members of the armed forces, the federal civil servants, the private contractors, and their families who sacrificed so much. In the eight years since the Center for American Progress developed a plan for the United States to exit this quagmire without further undermining our strategic interests, we have seen vast changes both in the United States and in Iraq. The loss of 4,480 American service members and the physical wounds suffered by 32,000 more have left an indelible impression on our country, while Iraq continues to struggle with the legacy of violence and destruction unleashed by the war. At present, at least 260,000 American veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder and there are more than 1.3 million Iraqi refugees. Just this morning, it was reported that a series of bombs killed at least 50 people in Baghdad. Today we remember the high costs of war and reaffirm our steadfast commitment to a peaceful future in the Middle East.
To speak with CAP experts, please contact Christina DiPasquale at 202.481.8181 or [email protected].
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