WAR oN IRAQ
by the numbers…
3,030,000
Iraqi civilians will have a dire nutritional status and will require therapeutic feeding as a result of war, according to United Nations Children’s Fund Estimates. “This consists of 2.03 million severely and moderately malnourished children under five and one million pregnant and lactating women.” The nation’s most vulnerable citizens are already in a precarious position due to the shortages of food and medicine caused by UN sanctions; a war would be catastrophic for them. (“Likely Humanitarian Scenarios,” UN report, Dec. 10, 2002, para. 27.)
67
percent of the children of Gulf War veterans in Mississippi were born with various birth defects in the years immediately following the Gulf War. The state-wide survey of 251 Gulf War veterans’ families reported that these ranged from “illnesses rated severe” to “missing eyes, missing ears, blood infections, respiratory problems and fused fingers.” These effects are consistent with those thought to result from exposure to depleted uranium, which the United States is still using in its weaponry. (Laura Flanders, “A Study of Gulf War Veterans in Mississippi,” 1994.)
900,000
Iraqi refugees will require assistance after a war in Iraq, according to an estimate by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. 100,000 of these will require “immediate assistance.” Though all surrounding countries will be closing their borders to these refugees, some are taking measures to prepare for the exodus. Iran, for instance, is building camps on the border. (“Likely Humanitarian Scenarios,” para. 35.)
5,400,000
Iraqi civilians will require “food and necessities” from various aid agencies. Right now, 90% of the Iraqi population relies on government food baskets, and this constitutes most of the income of many civilians. The supply of food is extremely short, and a war will cripple food distribution efforts. (“Likely Humanitarian Scenarios,” para. 39.)
500,000
Iraqi civilian casualties will require medical treatment in the event of awar in Iraq, according to UN estimates. Many indirect casualties may result because the “outbreak of diseases in epidemic if not pandemic proportions is very likely.” (“Likely Humanitarian Scenarios,” UN report, Dec. 10, 2002, paragraphs 23 and 25.)
163,989
veterans of the Gulf War are considered “disabled” due to injuries and illnesses incurred as a result of serving in the Persion Gulf during the war with Iraq. (Veteran’s Benefit Administration’s November 2002 “Gulf War Veterans Information Report.”)
27.7
percent of American soldiers who served in the Gulf War sustained casualties after it ended. Though casualties during the war were limited, this extremely high post-war casualty rate should give pause to those who claim that the Gulf War did not exact a significant toll on our forces who served. The mysterious Gulf War Syndrome, the causes of which are unkown but are thought to result from exposure to chemical weaponry and depleted uranium, might account for many of these casualties. (November 2002, “GWVIA.”)
52
percent of Americans oppose war if it would involve significant casualties. In a March 6 news conference, President Bush declined to comment on how many casualties the U.S. might suffer in a war in Iraq. (Pew, October 30 2002; NY Times, March 7, 2003.)
0
September 11 hijackers hailed from Iraq. No direct link has been proven between Iraq and Al-Qa’ida or Saddam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden. In fact, Muslim fundamentalism is at odds with Saddam’s brand of secular politics, and it is extremely unlikely that there are any ties between the organizations presently. However, according to CIA head George Tenet, "Should Saddam conclude that a US-led attack could no longer be deterred, he probably would become much less constrained in adopting terrorist actions.” (The Nation, October 9, 2002)
121billion.
Cost to United States, in dollars, of a short and favorable war, by the estimate of William D. Nordhaus, Sterling Professor of Economics at Yale University.
1.595trillion.
Estimated cost to United States, in dollars, of a protracted and unfavorable war. The number will likely fall somewhere in between the two figures, depending on the success of military, diplomatic, and nation-building efforts. Nordhaus writes: “The first concern is that the Bush administration has made no serious public estimate of the costs of the coming war. The public and the Congress are unable to make informed judgments about the realistic costs and benefits of the upcoming conflict when none are given.” In a March 6 news conference, Bush again declined to comment on the cost of a war. (William D. Nordhaus, “The Economic Consequences of War with Iraq,” October 2002.)
75-500 billion.
Estimated cost, in US dollars, of occupation and peacekeeping efforts could following a war in Iraq. Nordhaus writes: Particularly worrisome is the promise of postwar occupation, reconstruction, and nation-building in Iraq. If American taxpayers decline to pay the bills, this would leave a mountain of rubble and mobs of
angry people in Iraq and the region.” (Nordhaus, “Economic Consequences.”)
304 billion.
White house estimate, in US dollars, of the federal budget deficit for FY 2003. This is a
conservative estimate, and does not account for the costs of a war in Iraq, but is still the largest budget deficit in history and tops last year’s deficit by $145 billion. Congressional estimates peg the number at closer to $340 billion, and others say that it will top 400 billion. (New York Times, March 5, 2003.)
58
percent of Americans believe that the United States does not have the international support it needs to go to war in Iraq. This international support is lacking: France, Germany, and Russia are promising to block the UN Security Council Resolution that the U.S. is currently seeking. Bush’s answer to this widespread opposition to unilateral action? In a March 6 news conference, he declared “We really don’t need anybody’s permission” to go to war. (Pew Research Center Poll, February 20, 2003; New York Times, March 7, 2003.)
121 billion
barrels of crude oil are proven to lie under Iraqi soil. Iraq’s proven oil reserves are second only to Saudi Arabia’s. Because of this “Iraq is the only country in the world that could, conceivably, replace Saudi Arabia as the guarantor of world oil price stability.” It is hard to believe that this potential economic bonanza is not a factor in the thinking of the Bush administration. (MSNBC, November 7, 2002.)
Millions
are rallying around the world, from Paris to New York, San Francisco to Madrid, to protest a possible war in Iraq. The protests in the United States (January 18, February 15, March 15) are the largest since those of the Vietnam era. (New York Times, February 16, 2003.)
853
Harvard University students and faculty have pledged to walk out of class at 12:30 on the day after war begins, as of March 7. Go to to sign up.