Number of years since the U.S. invaded Iraq: 3. Number of U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq: 2,520.
Number of those which were non-combat related: 552. Number of United Kingdom soldiers killed in Iraq (the next nation with the highest fatalities): 103. Number of U.S. women soldiers killed in Iraq: 54.
Number of U.S. soldiers captured by hostile forces: 1. Number of journalists killed in Iraq: 87.
Number of parents who have now outlived their soldier child, spouses who have lost their soul mate, children deprived of a parent’s embrace, babies who will grow old never knowing a parent’s voice, smile, or hug, future children that will never be: Only God knows.
Number of U.S. soldiers wounded in Iraq: 17,004. Percent of U.S. veterans that served in Iraq who sought mental health services within one year of returning from battle: 35.
Number of soldiers whose lost limbs, suffer physical handicap, or will develop psychological difficulties that will lead to violence in the home, divorce, substance abuse, homelessness, crime, poverty and/or early death: Only God knows.
The cost of the war in Iraq (based on Congressional appropriation) thus far: Approximately $248,056,925,748. Cost of the war per day: $226,536,005.
Number of children who could have instead attended Head Start: 32,849,670. Number of years we could have fully funded world-wide AIDS programs: 24. Number of years we could have fully funded global anti-hunger efforts: 10. Number of years we could have ensured that every child in the world was given basic immunizations: 82.
Number of U.S. citizens who will go without and generations of families trapped in deeper poverty because our taxes are buying guns rather than butter: Only God knows.
Number of Iraqis civilians reported killed: 37,754.
Number of Iraqis civilians killed per day during the first year of conflict: 20. Number of Iraqis civilians killed per day during the second year of conflict: 31. Number of Iraqis civilians killed per day during the third year of conflict: 36.
Number of years the United States must serve in purgatory for the blood it is shedding: Only God knows.
Number of Iraqi prisoners killed while in captivity: Only God knows. Number of Iraqi citizens who have “disappeared”: Only God knows. Number of prisoners of war being held without being charged: Only God knows. Number of secret prisons operated by the U.S.: Only God knows. Number of U.S. soldiers who have participated in the torture and murder of Iraqi prisoners: Only God knows.
Number of U.S. soldiers being held responsible for the abuses at Abu Ghraib prison: 17. Number of U.S. soldiers convicted of torture and murder of Iraqi prisoners: 7. Number of Muslims who due to U.S. forces abuses have turned to terrorist activities: Only God knows.
Number of weapons of mass destruction found in Iraq: 0. Number of Iraqis involved in the 9/11 terrorist attack: 0. Number of documents recovered by our intelligence service confirming a direct connection between the Saddam regime and Al-Qaeda: 0. Number of documents recovered by our intelligence service confirming a direct connection between the Saddam regime and 9/11: 0.
Number of days Bush served in Vietnam when his country called upon him: 0. Number of deferments received by Vice President Cheney to avoid serving his country in Vietnam: 5.
Number of lies told by the Bush Administration to get the U.S. to invade Iraq: Only God knows.
Miguel A. De La Torre is director of the Justice & Peace Institute and associate professor of social ethics at IliffSchool of Theology in Denver.
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Professor of Social Ethics and Latinx Studies at Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Colorado, and a contributing correspondent at Good Faith Media.