The cost of our wars compared to GDP

[JIMV]

Cost of various U.S. wars in terms of annual GDP:

Revolutionary War (1775-1783): 63%

War of 1812 (1812-1815): 13%

Mexican War (1846-1848): 3%

Civil War (1861-1865): Union: 84%; Confederate: 169%; Combined: 104%

Spanish American War (1898): 3%

World War I (1917-1918): 24%

World War II (1941-1945): 130%

Korea (1950-1953): 15%

Vietnam (1964-1972): 12%

First Persian Gulf War (1990-1991): 1%

Source: http://www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/CIB/2002-03/03Cib24.htm

Now taking the Iraq & Afghanistan figures cited by Kos (about $700 billion), and the 2006 U.S. GDP (about 13 trillion), we get:

Iraq and Afghanistan Wars:5%

The adjusted rankings (cost as % of annual GDP), going from most to least expensive:

Civil War (Confederate): 169%
World War II: 130%
Civil War (Combined): 104%
Civil War (Union): 84%
Revolutionary War: 63%
World War I: 24%
Korean War: 15%
War of 1812: 13%
Vietnam War: 12%
Iraq and Afghanistan Wars: 5%
Mexican War: 3%
Spanish-American War: 3%
Persian Gulf War I: 1%

From a Powerline poster code named 'Chicagogabriel'

http://www.plnewsforum.com/index.php/forums/viewthread/28844/

[NuclearShadows]

This stuff eludes me a bit but right at the beginning of your link it says:
"The following table summarises the likely costs for the US and Australia of the war in Iraq." and says that the U.S. cost would be 44-60 billion for combat operations and 75 billion for occupation... Given that we are spending 12 billion a month in Iraq those numbers seem a bit off???

Bush Budget Likely to Generate Record Deficit, With Boosted War Funds (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,327887,00.html)

The Pentagon refuses to tell congress (http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-defense3feb03,1,5739881.story) how they will spend our money.

[GUS]

We must not forget that real peace and prosperity are available to us. America has a grand tradition in this regard despite her shortcomings. It’s just that in recent decades the excessive unearned wealth available to us to run our welfare/warfare state has distracted us from our important traditions-- honoring liberty and emphasizing self-reliance and responsibility. Up until the 20th century we were much less eager to go around the world searching for dragons to slay. That tradition is a good one, and one that we must soon reconsider before the ideal of personal liberty is completely destroyed.

1.The costs of war are always much more than anticipated, while the benefits are much less.

2.The cost of war is more than just the dollars spent; it includes deaths, injuries, and destruction along with the unintended consequences that go on for decades.

3. Support for offensive wars wears thin; especially when they are not ended quickly.

4. The Iraq war now has been going on for 15 years with no end in sight.

5. Ulterior motives too often preempt national security in offensive wars.

6. Powerful nations too often forget humility in their relationships to other countries.

7. World history and religious dogmatism are too often ignored and misunderstood.

8. World government is no panacea for limiting war.

9. Most wars could be avoided with better diplomacy, a mutual understanding of minding one’s own business, and respect for the right of self-determination. WRITTEN BY RON PAUL 2005.

[NuclearShadows]

With 20 million dead and 21 million wounded the first world war was to be the “war to end all wars”… But then came world war two with 60 million dead, 20 million soldiers and 40 million civilians… Europe was in shambles and everyone was touched by death.

If we in the United States witnessed war up close and personal as they have, do you think we would keep having them? Probably. Ho Hum….

[GUS]

I was just looking at the USA Military war deaths which pays no attention to colateral deaths. Of course the colateral deaths always far exceed the mlilitary deaths. WWI and WWII certainly had good cause and you can say Korea and Vietnam had cause as they were TREATY WARS. DUMBYA bush talked America into Iraq for regime change and then made Iraq into a killing field for oil which we never got. Of course he also wants to strenghten Israel and build a grandious embassy there.

NS, you are correct that those in countries where there have been wars are NOT so eager to jump into another war...YES, maybe some of the leaders of other countries, like Tony Blair who showed an eagerness to maim, kill and destroy but NOT THE CITIZENS who were/are consistently anti-war. What was with American citizens? Are many Americans so gullible or so scared that they listen and support bumbling idiots who spew lying propaganda or are they just true to the party of their fathers?

WWI- 53,513 battle deaths casualty deaths of 63,195 wounded 204,002
WWII-292,131 " " 115,185 " 671,846
Korea- 33,667 " " 3,249 " 103,284
Vietnam 47,393 " " 10,800 " 153,363

Persian Gulf War 298deaths and 467 wounded