Fact Sheet: Facts About US Military Operations in Afghanistan

Fact Sheet: Quick Facts About U.S. Military Operations in Afghanistan

Inside, you will find:

* U.S. Troop Levels in Afghanistan historical data
* Annual Funding for U.S. Combat Operations in Afghanistan
* Figures of U.S. Military Fatalities in Afghanistan
* Link to NPP's Cost of War counter
* Additional Resources

The Obama Administration is in the process of preparing a set of benchmarks which will be used to gauge the progress of U.S. military and civilian operations in Afghanistan. Ordered by Congress, the benchmarks are due by September 24. In addition, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, has just released an interim assessment of the situation in the region. It has been widely reported that as a result of this assessment, Gen. McChrystal may request that as many as 45,000 additional U.S. troops be sent to Afghanistan.

The following are quick facts about the U.S. commitment to Afghanistan to date. We hope they are useful to you to you as you follow this issue.



U.S. Troop Levels in Afghanistan
Fiscal Year Troops
2001 N/A
2002 5,200
2003 10,400
2004 15,200
2005 19,100
2006 20,400
2007 23,700
2008 30,100
2009 50,700*
US Troops in Afghanistan by Year Since 2001

* Current Troop Levels - There are roughly 62,000 U.S. troops currently in Afghanistan. This number is expected to grow to at least 68,000 by December.



NOTE: The Defense Department reports troop levels involved in military operations in several ways. The figures shown here are taken from the Pentagon's Boots on the Ground (BOG) reports to Congress. They reflect only personnel located in Afghanistan and do NOT include other personnel deployed as part of Operation Enduring Freedom, such as those providing logistical support in neighboring countries,

Source: Troop Levels in the Afghan and Iraq Wars, FY2001-FY2012: Cost and Other Potential Issues, Congressional Research Service Report R40682, July 2, 2009
http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/R40682.pdf

Annual Funding for U.S. Combat Operations in Afghanistan
Fiscal Year $ in Billions
2001 N/A
2002* 20.8
2003 14.7
2004 14.5
2005 20
2006 19
2007 36.9
2008 42.1
2009 60.2
TOTAL 228.2

Annual Funding For Afghanistan in Billions by Fiscal Year Since 2001




NOTE: 2002 figure includes both FY 2001 and 2002 funding. The source gave only the total and did not break out funding for each year.


Source: The Cost of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Other Global War on Terror Operations Since 9/11, Congressional Research Service Report RL33110, May 15, 2009

http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RL33110.pdf

U.S. Military Fatalities in Afghanistan
Year U.S. Fatalities
2001 12
2002 49
2003 48
2004 52
2005 99
2006 98
2007 117
2008 155
2009 183*
TOTAL 813
US Fatalities in Afghanistan By Year Since 2001


*NOTE: As of September 1, 2009



Source: Icasualties at http://icasualties.org

NPP's Cost of War Counter See NPP's Afghanistan Cost of War Counter (http://www.costofwar.com/) and calculate the cost of the war to your state (and in many cases your city or town).

Additional Resources

Civilian Casualties the Human Rights Unit of United Nations Assistance Mission to Afghanistan publishes an Annual Report on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict in Afghanistan, which is updated every six months.

Their website is http://unama.unmissions.org/Default.aspx?tabid=1816

Additional casualty data, plus Background information on Afghanistan can be found in The Cost of War in Afghanistan, published jointly by NPP and the American Friends Service Committee. It can be found at: http://www.nationalpriorities.org/auxiliary/costofwar/cost_of_war_afghanistan.pdf

I think Robert Duvall said that in a movie. Or something like that.

should be told any time of the day.

its like deja vu, I feel like I am back watching Bush sending in troops to Iraq all over again. This has to end. Wish I had the stats on the COSTS especially all the mercenaries we are sending in..
oh, and this thread about the mercs I posted sank like a stone...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=6454843&mesg_id=6454843

you should read some of the statistics on how much ourtax dollars pay to the mercs and how little is paid to the soldiers..

the number of contractors is greater than the number of troops.

"Though miracles come high today
We have the wherewithal to pay
It takes them off the streets you know
To places they would never go alone
It gives them useful trades
The lucky boys are even paid"

From "Saigon Bride"