Fact Sheet: Quick Facts about U.S. Military Operations in Afghanistan
by Christopher Hellman [contact information]
September 8, 2009
BACKGROUND
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. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has indicated that he is willing to consider such a recommendation.
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.
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. [Bloomberg, 9/1/2009]
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: CRS, 7/2/2009
WAR COSTS
NOTE: 2002 figure includes both fiscal years 2001 and 2002 funding. The source gave only the total and did not break out funding for each year.
Source: CRS, 5/15/2009
FATALITIES
*NOTE: As of September 1, 2009
Source: Icasualties
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Civilian Casualties - The Human Rights Unit of the 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. Access it online.
Additional casualty data, plus Background information on Afghanistan, can be found in “The Cost of War in Afghanistan,” published jointly by the National Priorities Project and the American Friends Service Committee. Access it online.
Christopher Hellman 202-546-0795 chellman@armscontrolcenter.org
Christopher Hellman is the Military Policy Fellow at the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation where his work focuses on national security spending, military planning and policy, trends in the defense industry, global military spending, and homeland security. Hellman is a frequent media commentator on these issues. Previously, Hellman worked for the Center for Defense Information, Physicians for Social Responsibility, and spent ten years as a congressional staffer working on national security and foreign policy issues.