‘Mission Accomplished’ By The Numbers
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On May 1, 2003, President Bush stood underneath a “Mission Accomplished” banner and announced that “Major combat operations have ended. In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed.”
Here’s a by-the-numbers look at the situation then, compared to the situation now:
May 1, 2003
TodayU.S. Troops Wounded
542
24,912
139
3,351
69
916Journalists and Media Assistants Killed
11
167U.S. Forces in Iraq
150,000
146,000Size of Iraqi Security Forces
7,000-9,000
334,300Number of Insurgents
less than 5,000
~70,000 (Sunni only)Insurgent Attacks Per Day
8
148.9Cost to U.S. Taxpayers
$79 billion
$421 billionApproval of Bush’s Handling of Iraq
75%
24%Percentage of Americans who Believe The Iraq War Was “Worth Fighting”
70%
34%
Source: Think Progress » ‘Mission Accomplished’ By The Numbers