Ellen knickmeyer
08/15/2021 2:31 PM
Clarín.com
World
Updated 08/15/2021 2:31 PM
America's combat mission ending in Afghanistan after 20 years was
the longest war in
the country.
The Asian country is back on the international radar since in recent days the Taliban rebels showed their strength with a fierce offensive in which they took control of much of the country.
Until a few weeks ago, American civilians tended to forget about the war that bled the country for years and received far less oversight from the US Congress than the Vietnam War.
But it left
tens of thousands of deaths
.
And because Washington borrowed nearly all of the funds to finance it, generations of Americans will be burdened with repaying the debt.
Here's a look at the numbers from the war in Afghanistan, as the Taliban rebels, in a blitzkrieg offensive, captured much of the country and plan to continue their advance before August 31, the date the United States set itself to end their participation in the combat and accelerates the evictions of Americans and Afghan allies.
Much of the data was provided by Linda Bilmes of Harvard University's Kennedy School of Political Science and the Brown University Costs of War project.
Since between 2003 and 2011 the United States fought simultaneously in Afghanistan and Iraq, some figures cover both wars after the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York and Washington.
The reopening of the US embassy in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan.
in December 2011, after the fall of the Taliban regime.
Photo: AFP
Human costs
Members of the US forces who died in Afghanistan as of April: 2,448.
American Contractors: 3,846.
Afghan military and police: 66,000.
Other members of allied forces, including NATO and other member states: 1,145.
Afghan civilians: 47,245.
Taliban and other opposition fighters: 51,191.
Humanitarian workers: 444.
Journalists: 72.
Congress and the war in Afghanistan
Since September 18, 2001, when Congress authorized US forces to prosecute those responsible for the 9/11 attack, US lawmakers have never voted to declare war on Afghanistan.
Number of times legislators from the Budget Appropriations Defense Subcommittee addressed the costs of the Vietnam War during the conflict: 42.
Number of times lawmakers from the same subcommittee mentioned the costs of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq through mid-summer 2021: 5.
Number of times the Senate Finance Committee mentioned the costs of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq from September 11, 2001 to mid-summer 2021: 1.
US President Joe Biden announced early in his term that he would withdraw troops from Afghanistan.
Photo: AFP
The expenses of the wars
In the past, the governments of the United States decided to
increase taxes
to face the cost of the wars they fought in other countries.
Percentage that President Harry Truman temporarily raised tax rates to pay for the
Korean War
: 92%.
Percentage that President Lyndon Johnson temporarily raised tax rates to pay for the
Vietnam War
: 77%.
Percentage President George W. Bush Reduced Tax Rates For The Richest, Instead Of Raising Them, At The Start Of The Afghanistan And Iran Wars: At Least 8%.
Estimated amount of the costs of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan that the United States financed with
loans
through 2020: $ 2 trillion.
Estimated interest for 2050: Above 6.5 trillion dollars.
Source: AP
CB
Look also
The Taliban tighten the siege on Kabul and the government of Afghanistan hurries a counteroffensive
The US will send 3,000 soldiers to Afghanistan to evacuate almost its entire embassy in Kabul