Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan costs $75,000 for every American household: Kennedy School report
In a new report from the Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, the costs of the two very lengthy wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are quite exorbitant.
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The Kennedy School says the wars would end up costing as much as $6 trillion, the equivalent of $75,000 for every American household.
This accounted for roughly 20 per cent of the total amount added to the US national debt between 2001 and 2012, the report notes.
According to the report, the US “has already paid $260 billion in interest on the war debt,” and future interest payments would amount to trillions of dollars.
The report has attributed the largest share of the trillions of dollars in continuing costs to care and compensation for hundreds of thousands of troops left physically and psychologically damaged by the two wars.
“The most common medical problems suffered by troops returning from the two wars include: diseases of the musculoskeletal system (principally joint and back disorders); mental health disorders; central nervous system and endocrine system disorders; as well as respiratory, digestive, skin and hearing disorders. Overall, some 29 per cent of these troops have been diagnosed with PTSD.”
“Among the most severely wounded are 6,476 soldiers and Marines who have suffered “severe penetrating brain injury,” and another 1,715 who have had one or more limbs amputated. Over 30,000 veterans are listed as suffering 100 percent service-related disabilities, while another 145,000 are listed as 70 to 90 percent disabled.”
