Article

Two years after U.S. troops invaded Iraq and achieved a swift military victory, our armed forces and the people of Iraq are facing a dangerous and unstable situation. There has been good news: January's election, this month's inaugural session of the National Assembly, and strides in education stand out. But for every step forward there have been two steps back: U.S. troop presence in Iraq is at an all-time high, and the Army and Marines are stretched as never before. American taxpayers are spending almost $7 billion every month to maintain our presence in Iraq and Iraqi citizens are dying in attacks that come almost daily. Reconstruction of the country proceeds at a glacial pace. The following numbers help tell the story.*

200 Lowest estimated number in billions of U.S. taxpayers dollars that have been spent on the war in Iraq
152,000 Estimated number of troops currently deployed in Iraq
1,511 U.S. troops killed in Iraq since the invasion
11,285 Americans wounded since the invasion was launched two years ago
21,100-
39,300
Estimated number of Iraqi civilians killed since the invasion by violence from war and crime
176 Non-U.S. coalition troops killed in Iraq since the invasion
339 Coalition troops killed by Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs)
70 Daily average number of insurgent attacks on coalition forces in February 2005
14 Daily average number of insurgent attacks on coalition forces in February 2004
18,000 Estimated number of insurgents in Iraq today
5,000 Estimated number of insurgents in Iraq in June 2003
27 vs. 14 Countries remaining in the "coalition of the willing" versus number of coalition troops that have withdrawn all their forces or announced their intention to do so
25,000 Non-U.S. coalition troops still in Iraq
4,500 Troops that Italy and the Netherlands have pledged to withdraw before the end of the year
271,000 Number of Iraqi security forces – including police, border, and national guard forces – that the U.S. says it wants to train by July 2006
142,472 Iraqi security troops the Pentagon says it has trained and equipped
40,000 Iraqi troops that General Richard Myers, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said are adequately trained and equipped to handle most threats
40 Percent of U.S. troops in Iraq that belong to the National Guard and Reserve
0 Number of active Army combat units deployed to Iraq that have received the required year-long break from active duty required by Pentagon rules
30 Percent by which the U.S. National Guard missed its recruitment targets in November and December 2004
27 Percent by which the U.S. Army missed its recruitment goals in the past month
15 Percent of military personnel, according to GAO, who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, who could develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
2 Estimated output of Iraqi oil industry in millions of barrels per day
2.8 Estimated output of Iraqi oil industry in millions of barrels per day before the U.S. invasion
8 Average number of hours that Iraqis have electricity per day
28-40 Estimated Iraqi unemployment rate
4.3 Millions of children enrolled in primary school today
3.6 Millions of children enrolled in primary school in 2000
108 Millions of dollars in Halliburton overcharges hidden from international auditors by the Pentagon
9 Billions of dollars the Coalition Provisional Authority cannot account for of all funds dispensed for Iraq reconstruction

Afghanistan by the numbers

* Inspired by the Harper's Index, with thanks to the editors.

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