Here are the best estimates that have been hidden from the public:

AMERICAN CASUALTIES

·      US soldiers' deaths under Bush [2001-2008] in Afghanistan: 630[i]

·      US soldiers' deaths under Obama [2009-Oct. 2010] in Afghanistan: 693[ii]

·      Total US soldiers' deaths in Afghanistan: 1,323[iii]

·      Total US soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan: 5,748[iv]

·      Total US contractor deaths from 09.01.01 through 09.30.10 30: 2,400[v]

·      Total US soldiers wounded in Afghanistan: 8,530[vi]

·      Total US soldiers wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan: 40,464[vii]

·      Total US contractors wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan: 44,152[viii]

·      Total US military suicides during 2001-2009: 1,985[ix]

AMERICAN CASUALTIES TAX DOLLARS SPENT

·       Direct costs/month in Iraq: $12.5 billion[x]

·       Direct costs/month in Afghanistan $16 billion[xi]

·       Total direct cost, Iraq:  $737.5 billion[xii]

·       Total direct cost, Afghanistan: $354.4 billion[xiii]

·       Total projected direct and indirect costs, Iraq: $3 trillion+[xiv]

·       Total projected direct and indirect costs, Afghanistan: $1 trillion+[xv]

[i] A. iCasualties. 12 Oct. 2010.

B. DoD Personnel & Procurement Statistics. Statistical Information Analysis Division. 12. Oct. 2010.

[ii] Ibid.

[iii] Ibid.

[iv] United States of America. Department of Defense. OIF/OND/OEF U.S. Casualty Status. 10 Oct. 2010.

[v] United States of America. Department of Labor. Office of Workers Compensation Programs (OWCP). "Defense Base Act Summary By Employer." 12 Oct. 2010.

[vi] United States of America. Department of Defense. OIF/OND/OEF U.S. Casualty Status.

[vii] Ibid.

[viii] Schooner, Steven L., and Collin D. Swan. "Contractors and the Ultimate Sacrifice." Service Contractor September 2010: 16-8. 10 Oct. 2010.

[ix] Christenson, Sig. "Military is Battling Alarming Suicide Rate." The Houston Chronicle 10 Oct. 2010.

[x] Stiglitz, Joseph, and Linda Bilmes. United States of America. House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. The True Cost of War. 3 Oct. 2010.

[xi] Ibid.

[xii] The Cost of War. National Priorities Project. 10 Oct. 2010.

[xiii] Ibid.

[xiv] "The Three Trillion Dollar War." Stiglitz, Joseph and Linda Bilmes. The Times 23 Feb. 2008: Times Online. 10 Oct. 2010.

[xv] Obama estimates $113 billion in direct costs/per year at current U.S. troop levels of 100,000. If those troop levels are halved by 2013, then the direct costs will remain over $50 billion/per year. An additional three years would therefore cost at least $200 billion more. Using the Stiglitz/Bilmes methodology for measuring indirect--accrual--costs, such as veterans' health care and benefits, interest payments, etc--would add hundreds of billions in long-term costs, making Afghanistan another $1 trillion dollar war.

*All data accurate as of October 12, 2010.