This week marks the 25th anniversary of 9/11. There has been much reflection about the wars and the direction the U.S. has taken since that time. For many war tax resisters the costs of war in terms of economic investment and the human toll are often on our collective mind. A little over 3 weeks later on October 7th, the U.S. began bombing Afghanistan; creating ceaseless war.
The Costs of War Project at Brown University issued a recent report documenting the impacts of of war that has spread to dozens of counties with the participation of over 78 countries in ‘counter terrorism’ trainings. By 2011, the U.S. had more private contract employees than uniformed military personnel involved in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Cost of War Project’s Heidi Peltier issued a paper on the post 9/11 wars and the ‘Camo Economy.’ “It’s a Camo Economy because the U.S. government has used the commercialization (often mislabeled “privitization”) of the military as camouflage, concealing the true financial and human cost of America’s post- 9/11 wars.”
The study cites that more than half of the contract workers were ‘Host Country Nationals’ or ‘Third Party Nationals’, migrant laborers who face the worst exploitation. 30-40% of spending on contractors is lost to waste, fraud and abuse. In another study by the Costs of War Project, they estimate that the U.S. will have spent as much money on the interest payment as it did on overseas contingency operations for the war themselves leading some to call these ‘credit card wars.’
From October 7, 2023 until September 2025 the U.S. has spent about $34 Billion in military aid to Israel and operations in the area. In July the Pentagon estimated the cost of war in Iran was $47 Billion yet other sources cite a cost to U.S. taxpayers at $113 Billion.
The 20 year war in Afghanistan left behind $7 Billion worth of equipment and the return of the Taliban to power. The promise of those who worked with the U.S. military to have refuge in the U.S. has been rescinded leading to many refugees being deported to Afghanistan and almost certain death.
As this anniversary is upon us, I find myself reflecting. 25 years marks the ½ way mark of my life. Prior to 9/11, I was living and working with Vietnam Veterans who were impacted by the war that had ended 25 years earlier, yet the impacts of the war were still disrupting their lives. I had committed to refusing to pay for war prior to that but these relationships solidified my resolve.
I am reminded of a familiar refrain of that time 25 years ago that continues to be applicable today ‘our grief is not a call for war.’ Ruth Benn wrote a blog for NWTRCC Being Ungovernable about a book by that title that documents the history to stop the war on terror soon after 9/11.
Campaign Nonviolence, a project of Pace e Bene, hosts Action Days every year on International Nonviolence Day, September 21 through Gandhi’s Birthday on October 2 to encourage individuals and communities to take nonviolent actions. This year’s theme is Reflect, Educate, Act. NWTRCC will be hosting an Introduction to War Tax Resistance on Saturday September 26th 12pm Eastern/ 9am Pacific. You can find information on how to register here.
Post by Chrissy Kirchhoefer