Think Progress has done an outstanding job putting some numbers together comparing the statistics in Iraq three years ago today, when Bush gave his infamous “mission accomplished” speech, to the same figures today:
May 1, 2003 Today U.S. Troops Wounded 542 17,469 U.S. Troops Killed
139 2,400 Size of U.S. Forces 150,000 132,000 Size of Iraqi Security Forces
7,000-9000 250,500 Number of Insurgents 5,000 15,000-20,000 Insurgent Attacks Per Day 8 75 Cost to U.S. Taxpayers $79 billion $320 billion Approval of Bush’s Handling of Iraq 75% 37% Percentage of Americans who Believe The Iraq War Was “Worth Fighting” 70% 41% Bush’s Overall Job Approval 71% 38%
This really puts into perspective what has happened over the past three years. Be sure to check out the rest of their analysis here.