War on terrorism’s price tag: $ 1 trillion

According to a Congressional Research Service report, the military operations since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks have cost over $1 trillion, making the “war on terrorism” second only to World War II in cost to US taxpayers.

“CRS provided its estimates in current year dollars (i.e. the year they were spent) and in constant year dollars (adjusted for inflation), and as a percentage of gross domestic product,” noted Secrecy News editor Steven Aftergood, who obtained the report. “Many caveats apply to these figures, which are spelled out in the CRS report.”

Indeed, the author of the report, Stephen Daggett, wrote that “Comparisons of war costs over a 230-year period are … inherently problematic.”