The Costs of War Project
@costsofwar.bsky.social
The human, budgetary, environmental, and social costs of U.S. militarism and military operations, at home and abroad. Housed at Brown University's Watson School of International and Public Affairs at costsofwar.org.
On average, over the course of the war in Afghanistan, 24 percent of active-duty women and 1.9 percent of active-duty men experienced sexual assault.
Sexual assault prevalence in the military is likely two to four times higher than official government estimations.
Sexual assault prevalence in the military is likely two to four times higher than official government estimations.
November 28, 2025 at 4:44 PM
On average, over the course of the war in Afghanistan, 24 percent of active-duty women and 1.9 percent of active-duty men experienced sexual assault.
Sexual assault prevalence in the military is likely two to four times higher than official government estimations.
Sexual assault prevalence in the military is likely two to four times higher than official government estimations.
A new book by Costs of War contributor William Hartung and Ben Freeman looks at how we got to a trillion dollar military budget — more than half of which goes to military contractors. www.commondreams.org/opinion/tril...
'Trillion Dollar War Machine': Understanding US Militarism and How to Dismantle It | Common Dreams
William D. Hartung and Ben Freeman's extremely timely and necessary book explains how today's crises are the predictable consequence of an entrenched system of militarism, a politics captured by lobb...
www.commondreams.org
November 26, 2025 at 3:52 PM
A new book by Costs of War contributor William Hartung and Ben Freeman looks at how we got to a trillion dollar military budget — more than half of which goes to military contractors. www.commondreams.org/opinion/tril...
In a first, Ukraine plans to seek nearly $44 billion in damages from Russia for emissions caused by the ongoing war. time.com/7335449/ukra...
November 25, 2025 at 3:29 PM
In a first, Ukraine plans to seek nearly $44 billion in damages from Russia for emissions caused by the ongoing war. time.com/7335449/ukra...
Since the agreed upon ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, 67 Palestinian children have been killed in “conflict related incidents,” says UNICEF. news.un.org/en/story/202...
Gaza: Two children killed every day during fragile ceasefire, says UNICEF
Ongoing attacks and airstrikes attributed to Israeli forces in Gaza continue to kill and maim people of all ages in the shattered enclave despite an agreed ceasefire, UN agencies said on Friday.
news.un.org
November 24, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Since the agreed upon ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, 67 Palestinian children have been killed in “conflict related incidents,” says UNICEF. news.un.org/en/story/202...
The White House is ready for war with Venezuela, but the majority of Americans are unenthusiastic.
Only Congress can intervene by asserting its war powers, writes @cathylutz.bsky.social and @lutzfernandez.bsky.social.
responsiblestatecraft.org/trump-war-ve...
Only Congress can intervene by asserting its war powers, writes @cathylutz.bsky.social and @lutzfernandez.bsky.social.
responsiblestatecraft.org/trump-war-ve...
Ask Americans — they don't want a war on Venezuela
Reports say the president is preparing to attack, as lawmakers ignore their constituents and refuse to stand in the way
responsiblestatecraft.org
November 21, 2025 at 4:12 PM
The White House is ready for war with Venezuela, but the majority of Americans are unenthusiastic.
Only Congress can intervene by asserting its war powers, writes @cathylutz.bsky.social and @lutzfernandez.bsky.social.
responsiblestatecraft.org/trump-war-ve...
Only Congress can intervene by asserting its war powers, writes @cathylutz.bsky.social and @lutzfernandez.bsky.social.
responsiblestatecraft.org/trump-war-ve...
The post-9/11 wars directly killed at least 940,000 people; an additional 3.6-3.8 million have died due to the reverberating impacts of war, bringing total deaths to at least 4.5 million people. costsofwar.watson.brown.edu/findings
November 20, 2025 at 8:20 PM
The post-9/11 wars directly killed at least 940,000 people; an additional 3.6-3.8 million have died due to the reverberating impacts of war, bringing total deaths to at least 4.5 million people. costsofwar.watson.brown.edu/findings
A trillion dollar 2026 military budget would likely privatize well over $500 billion in public funds, writes @stephensemler.bsky.social. popular.info/p/how-trumps...
How Trump’s trillion-dollar war machine enriches the 1%
Congress will decide in the coming weeks whether to approve a $1 trillion military budget for 2026.
popular.info
November 19, 2025 at 3:07 PM
A trillion dollar 2026 military budget would likely privatize well over $500 billion in public funds, writes @stephensemler.bsky.social. popular.info/p/how-trumps...
A Costs of War cultural analysis paper looks at how the military uses social media platforms to shape narratives around war, drive recruitment, and wage cyberwarfare. [THREAD]
November 18, 2025 at 6:24 PM
A Costs of War cultural analysis paper looks at how the military uses social media platforms to shape narratives around war, drive recruitment, and wage cyberwarfare. [THREAD]
Israel’s entire inventory of combat capable aircraft comes from the U.S.; Israel’s attack and transport helicopters are also all of U.S. origin.
November 17, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Israel’s entire inventory of combat capable aircraft comes from the U.S.; Israel’s attack and transport helicopters are also all of U.S. origin.
The name change from DoD to Department of War could cost up to $2 billion dollars, reports @nbcnews.com. www.nbcnews.com/politics/nat...
Trump's Pentagon name change could cost up to $2 billion
Officially changing the Department of Defense to the Department of War can only be done by Congress and would require updating thousands of signs, rewriting digital code and creating new letterheads,...
www.nbcnews.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:23 PM
The name change from DoD to Department of War could cost up to $2 billion dollars, reports @nbcnews.com. www.nbcnews.com/politics/nat...
With COP30 underway, it's worth noting that the U.S. military is the world's largest institutional greenhouse gas emitter.
November 13, 2025 at 7:45 PM
With COP30 underway, it's worth noting that the U.S. military is the world's largest institutional greenhouse gas emitter.
Since Oct. 7, 2023, the U.S. has spent over $9.65 billion on military activities in Yemen, Iran, and the wider region.
Including military aid to Israel, the U.S. has spent over $31 billion on the post-10/7 wars.
Including military aid to Israel, the U.S. has spent over $31 billion on the post-10/7 wars.
November 12, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Since Oct. 7, 2023, the U.S. has spent over $9.65 billion on military activities in Yemen, Iran, and the wider region.
Including military aid to Israel, the U.S. has spent over $31 billion on the post-10/7 wars.
Including military aid to Israel, the U.S. has spent over $31 billion on the post-10/7 wars.
This Veteran’s Day, we’re remembering the 7,053 service members killed in the so-called “War on Terror,” and the estimated 30,177 service members and veterans that died by suicide in the 20 years that followed Sept. 11, 2001.
November 11, 2025 at 2:24 PM
This Veteran’s Day, we’re remembering the 7,053 service members killed in the so-called “War on Terror,” and the estimated 30,177 service members and veterans that died by suicide in the 20 years that followed Sept. 11, 2001.
More than 200,000 Iraqi civilians were killed in the wake of the post-9/11 wars writes @ishaantharoor.bsky.social, citing our research.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
Column | Dick Cheney’s Iraq War legacy lives on
The former vice president is outlived by the cascading consequences of a war he defended to the last, even as Republican politics shifted.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:00 PM
More than 200,000 Iraqi civilians were killed in the wake of the post-9/11 wars writes @ishaantharoor.bsky.social, citing our research.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
H.R. 1 diminishes transparency around Pentagon and military-related spending and increases it beyond the $1 trillion mark in FY 2026.
November 7, 2025 at 3:18 PM
H.R. 1 diminishes transparency around Pentagon and military-related spending and increases it beyond the $1 trillion mark in FY 2026.
The Iraq war was perhaps Dick Cheney's "most lasting, and darkest, legacy," writes CNN's Ben Wedeman, citing Costs of War research on the financial costs of the post-9/11 wars: $8 trillion and counting. www.cnn.com/2025/11/05/m...
Dick Cheney helped design the ‘war on terror.’ It opened a Pandora’s box that still hasn’t been closed | CNN
Dick Cheney, who passed away Tuesday at the age of 84, was arguably one of the most powerful and influential US vice presidents in history.
www.cnn.com
November 6, 2025 at 2:27 PM
The Iraq war was perhaps Dick Cheney's "most lasting, and darkest, legacy," writes CNN's Ben Wedeman, citing Costs of War research on the financial costs of the post-9/11 wars: $8 trillion and counting. www.cnn.com/2025/11/05/m...
Dick Cheney, one of the key architects of the post-9/11 war era, has died.
An estimated 3.6-3.8 million people have died indirectly in post-9/11 war zones, bringing the total death toll to at least 4.5-4.7 million and counting.
An estimated 3.6-3.8 million people have died indirectly in post-9/11 war zones, bringing the total death toll to at least 4.5-4.7 million and counting.
November 4, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Dick Cheney, one of the key architects of the post-9/11 war era, has died.
An estimated 3.6-3.8 million people have died indirectly in post-9/11 war zones, bringing the total death toll to at least 4.5-4.7 million and counting.
An estimated 3.6-3.8 million people have died indirectly in post-9/11 war zones, bringing the total death toll to at least 4.5-4.7 million and counting.
@christopherleonard.bsky.social reports on the wave of labor unrest that has swept America’s workers in the weapons industry over the past year, citing our research with @quincyinst.bsky.social on Pentagon spending going to military contractors. www.politico.com/news/magazin...
America Doesn’t Have Enough Weapons for a Major Conflict. These Workers Know Why.
This summer, employees at several big defense companies went on strike. Their grievances highlight a much larger problem brewing beneath the surface.
www.politico.com
November 4, 2025 at 2:42 PM
@christopherleonard.bsky.social reports on the wave of labor unrest that has swept America’s workers in the weapons industry over the past year, citing our research with @quincyinst.bsky.social on Pentagon spending going to military contractors. www.politico.com/news/magazin...
Reposted by The Costs of War Project
Mamdani spoke of his aunt’s fear after 9/11. Backlash revealed how Islamophobia persists — A recent @salon.com article cites a report from the @costsofwar.bsky.social project that found hate crimes against Muslims increased between 2000 and 2009.
Mamdani spoke of his aunt’s fear after 9/11. Backlash revealed how Islamophobia persists - Salon.com
The response to an anecdote about anti-Muslim sentiment shows Islamophobia is still a problem.
ow.ly
November 3, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Mamdani spoke of his aunt’s fear after 9/11. Backlash revealed how Islamophobia persists — A recent @salon.com article cites a report from the @costsofwar.bsky.social project that found hate crimes against Muslims increased between 2000 and 2009.
Listen to Costs of War co-founder Neta C. Crawford on Gaza, and how U.S. democracy suffers as a result of long-term militarization.
November 3, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Listen to Costs of War co-founder Neta C. Crawford on Gaza, and how U.S. democracy suffers as a result of long-term militarization.
Costs of War contributor @david-vine.bsky.social on how the Israeli government appears to have orchestrated mass expulsion in Gaza – one of several tools of genocide.
October 31, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Costs of War contributor @david-vine.bsky.social on how the Israeli government appears to have orchestrated mass expulsion in Gaza – one of several tools of genocide.
@levernews.com breaks down our latest research with the @stimsoncenter.bsky.social on just what military contractors are getting out of the reconciliation bill, the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act. www.levernews.com/the-emperors...
The Emperor's New Drones
In an unusual move, lawmakers are sending billions in funding for defense technology companies through the reconciliation budget.
www.levernews.com
October 31, 2025 at 2:00 PM
@levernews.com breaks down our latest research with the @stimsoncenter.bsky.social on just what military contractors are getting out of the reconciliation bill, the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill Act. www.levernews.com/the-emperors...
Listen to Costs of War contributor Linda Bilmes on the billions spent in U.S. post-10/7 military operations, and the trillions spent in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
October 30, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Listen to Costs of War contributor Linda Bilmes on the billions spent in U.S. post-10/7 military operations, and the trillions spent in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The House of Dynamite production team chose not to seek collaboration with the Pentagon to remain independent.
Now the Pentagon is objecting over its depiction of missile defense systems as fallible. The scriptwriter stands behind the depiction. [1/2] www.theguardian.com/film/2025/oc...
Now the Pentagon is objecting over its depiction of missile defense systems as fallible. The scriptwriter stands behind the depiction. [1/2] www.theguardian.com/film/2025/oc...
House of Dynamite writer ‘respectfully disagrees’ with Pentagon’s complaints about nuclear missile thriller
Noah Oppenheim responded to complaints from the Pentagon over the accuracy of the film’s depiction of the US’s defence systems
www.theguardian.com
October 29, 2025 at 4:04 PM
The House of Dynamite production team chose not to seek collaboration with the Pentagon to remain independent.
Now the Pentagon is objecting over its depiction of missile defense systems as fallible. The scriptwriter stands behind the depiction. [1/2] www.theguardian.com/film/2025/oc...
Now the Pentagon is objecting over its depiction of missile defense systems as fallible. The scriptwriter stands behind the depiction. [1/2] www.theguardian.com/film/2025/oc...
Two U.S. administrations proceeded as though they had no leverage against Israel to stop the killing in Gaza. Costs of War contributor and @quincyinst.bsky.social expert William Hartung on why this wasn’t true:
October 29, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Two U.S. administrations proceeded as though they had no leverage against Israel to stop the killing in Gaza. Costs of War contributor and @quincyinst.bsky.social expert William Hartung on why this wasn’t true: