Since the war in Iraq started, it has caused a lot of cost the U.S. government both economically and socially. Starting with the initial mixed reaction about the war in Iraq, this still draws reactions from many people in the world even from the United States itself. This cost has been counted on many dimensions.
Many people have looked at the economic cost of the war. Since the war started, it is estimated that it has cost the United States about $1 trillion. This is predicted to cause a heavy burden to the tax payers. This goes to keeping the more than 190,000 combat soldiers operating in Iraq and for reconstruction of damages of the war. Already United States has spent more than $439 billion by the end of last year in wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is also estimated that the country will spend more on treatment of the wounded soldiers. (Bender, 2007)
But perhaps the United States has more by the dead bodies that continue to be flied for burial in their home soil. It is paying costly by its fallen soldiers. Figures released this year shows that already about 28870 American soldiers have been wounded in the war. It is also recorded that more than 3,000 have died in the war since the war began. Perhaps few people have ever sat and thought about the human cost of war and many of us just looks at the soaring figures that the congress approves for the war. But perhaps the great human suffering has been on the Iraq people where it is estimated that 1,165,204 Iraqis have died since the war began. (Griffs, 2008)
Every time the fallen soldiers are lifted to the U. S. they are received with sorrowful and crying relatives. Many of them cannot comprehend why their loved ones had to die for no cause. But for all this time the best Americans can get from their leaders is that one should be ready to die for the love of their country. It is good to understand that, one can express the love for ones country if there is a justifiable reason to fight for the country. Do we ever think of fathers who leave their young sons and daughters? Will these children ever forgive the United States government for robbing them their loved fathers and mothers? (Stephen, 2007)
We all acknowledge that the war has brought a lot of suffering in many families in the United States. The emotional suffering that these families are going through will take years to subside and the wound will take a long time to heal. How will their children grow without their fathers and mothers? Who will take that burden of bringing up these children? We all agree that no amount of monetary compensation can heal these families and restore their hopes in life. In deed this war has caused a lot of human suffering and disruption of normal life for many families.
This human suffering does not take toll only in the families. It is also affecting the soldiers. According to a UPI report, it has been observed that 1 out of 10 soldiers from the Army’s hospital in Europe were suffering from mental problems. All these soldiers were from war on terror in Iraq. A data from Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany shows that 8 percent to 10 percent of about 12,000 soldiers from war in Iraq had mental problems.
This shows that more soldiers were evacuated from the war due to mental problems. How will these people recover for the wounds inflicted by the war? It is clear that this has not been a normal war but it appears to be a ruthless war with many implications to the soldiers fighting on the soil of Iraq. Many soldiers have suffered from brain and spinal injuries. (Wheeler, 2007)
References
Bender, B. (2007): Analysis say war could cost $1 trillion: Budget Office Sees Effect on Taxpayers for Decade. The Boston Globe.
Griffs, M. (2008): Casualties in Iraq: The Human Cost of Occupation. Anti War Highlights.
Stephen, A. (2007). Iraq: The Hidden Cost of the War. New Statesman.
Wheel, W. T. (2006): How many US troops are really in Iraq? How much is the war in Iraq costing? Counterpunch Newsletter.