Aftermath
half a million:
total possible on all sides during the conflict and the following
three months could range from 48,000 to over a quarter of a million
subsequent civil war 20,000
add a further 200,000 to adverse effects
then a further 200,000 would be threatened after
civil conflict
legions of refugees
children's health
destruction of manufacturing and agriculture
not only the capital, but also surrounding areas uninhabitable for
years to come
oil industry, roads, bridges, communications, electricity supplies,
water and sewage systems, factories, warehouses and civilian homes
systematically destroyed by ordnance
conscious policy to destroy electricity generating facilities, together
with water storage and treatment amenities
series of devastating famines and epidemics
bombs deafen, blind and blow apart people, riddling them with shrapnel,
glass and debris, collapse buildings on victims, including hospitals
and clinics vital to treating the wounded, unexploded ordinance left
behind kills and maims, battlefield toxins contaminate the environment
for decades
downfall of regimes in surrounding nations
retaliatory action by Islamic fundamentalists
ripple effects
oil price hikes
trade reduction
disastrous effect upon the less developed nations
stuttering world economy tipped into deep prolonged recession
$150 billion to $200 billion on a conventional war
further $5 billion to $20 billion on subsequent occupation
longer-term cost could amount to as much as $600 billion
worst case scenario, including oil price spikes and OPEC intransigence
envisages costs of as much as $1.6 trillion
left to debate causes and responsibilities without an adequate information
base
"price worth paying"
*