In August 2021, the US military withdrew from Afghanistan, declaring the shameful defeat of the 20-year "war on terror" of the United States.
At that time, data from the "Cost of War" project at the Watson Institute at Brown University in the United States was widely cited: the wars and military operations launched by the United States since 2001 in the name of counterterrorism have caused more than 929,000 deaths, of which civilians account for more than 40%, more than 387,000.
Screenshot of the report on the "Cost of War" project
However, these figures now seem outdated.
According to the latest research released this month by the Cost of War project, the wars related to the United States after 9/11 killed at least 4.5 million to 4.6 million people, 3.6 million to 3.7 million more than the previous figure!
Screenshot of the report on the "Cost of War" project
"In the U.S., this is an extremely underrated problem"
The report, titled "How Death Lasts More Than War: The Impact of Post-9/11 War on Human Health," surveyed seven Middle Eastern countries over several years: Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Libya and Somalia.
The survey found that while the U.S. "war on terror" ended in 2021, indirect deaths and related health problems from the destruction of economies, public services and the environment in these countries continue to increase and will worsen over time.
Screenshot of the Watson Institute website at Brown University
The report points out that the destruction of critical infrastructure caused by war seriously threatens the basic survival of the people in these countries.
For example, during the height of the war in Iraq, the destruction of ports, roads, and power systems killed more people than the war itself.
In Libya, which has received relatively little attention than Iraq, the situation is more serious than thought.
Libya once ranked first in Africa in the Human Development Index, but U.S. and Western military intervention changed everything: In 2016, for example, the U.S. carried out about 500 airstrikes on the Libyan city of Sirte in just five months, more intense than the U.S. airstrikes on Syria and Iraq during the same period.
This brutal airstrike wreaked havoc on Libya's healthcare system, leading to widespread infectious diseases and a sharp drop in life expectancy (9 years for men and 6 years for women).
Screenshot of the report on the "Cost of War" project
The report also notes that more people, especially women and children, bear the brunt of the continuing effects of the aftermath of war than the number of people who die directly as a result of the war.
Many of the long-underappreciated consequences of war on human health are evident in the malnutrition of local children.
It is estimated that more than 7.6 million children under 5 years of age are severely malnourished in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Somalia, putting them at greater risk of dying.
Screenshot of the report on the "Cost of War" project
In particular, the report notes that the true impact of war is "vast and complex" and cannot be quantified. As a result, the "Cost of War" project has so far not produced accurate death figures, providing only a "conservative estimate".
Stephanie Saville, author of the report and co-director of the Cost of War project, said that although the "war on terror" has now ended nominally with the departure of the United States from Afghanistan, people in war zones continue to suffer the consequences of the war, which is poorly known or indifferent at home.
Savile social media screenshot: "The post-9/11 war has taken a huge toll, but at least in the United States, it's a grossly underestimated issue. ”
"To this day, the United States has not learned its lessons"
After the release of this report, it attracted great attention from US public opinion.
The thought-provoking discovery highlights the long-term impact of the "war on terror" waged by the United States, once again proving it to be the "deadliest war" of the 21st century so far.
Screenshot of the website of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Governance
The US "Middle East Proverbs" semi-monthly quoted the report as saying that "indirect death" is a devastating disaster. Many indirect deaths would have been avoided without the war.
A striking example is Afghanistan: despite the withdrawal of U.S. troops and the stabilization of the situation, Afghans "still die more than ever before due to war-related consequences."
Screenshot of the report of the semi-monthly report of the US "Middle East Proverbs"
Over the years, the world has long seen clearly what the hegemony, bullying and hegemony of the United States have brought to the Middle East. Some of America's allies in the region are also realizing that the United States, which has never really benefited the Middle East, is no longer trustworthy and dependable.
This year, the Middle East marks the 20th anniversary of the war in Iraq. At the same time, driven by the formal resumption of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, the former archrivals of the Middle East, under the mediation of China, the "tide of reconciliation" has become the main theme of the Middle East. Among them, Syria's return to the Arab family is the biggest highlight.
However, to this day, the United States still maintains an illegal military presence in Syria that supports Syrian anti-government forces, occupying Syria's main oil-producing areas; At the same time, illegal unilateral sanctions against Syria continue to be imposed, making it impossible for Syria's economy and people's livelihood to get out of difficulties, and the humanitarian crisis has worsened.
Savile, co-director of the "Cost of War" project, criticized that the United States has not given up its maximum pressure on Syria, which is a typical embodiment of its "global war on terror" continuing to harm the people of the Middle East.
Savile social media screenshot: "Syria is an important part of the U.S. 'global counterterrorism footprint,' and U.S. counterterrorism operations still cover 85 countries today, exacerbating many violent conflicts and wars in various regions." ”
Behind the current "wave of reconciliation" reflects the strong desire of many countries in the Middle East to free themselves from US control.
The frown of the United States at the unity of the Arab countries reflects its hegemonic nature and its resentment of not being willing to fail after a hasty end to the Afghan war, and trying to plant mines in the Middle East.
Mehdi Masaud, a senior official of Yemen's Houthi armed forces, warned not long ago that the United States is trying to obstruct the negotiation process between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia and undermine the solution of humanitarian issues by all parties in Yemen.
Screenshot of the report on the website of Lebanon's "Square" TV station
Recent leaks of secret Pentagon documents also show that the United States has been closely monitoring negotiations between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia and is pressuring Saudi Arabia in an attempt to force Saudi Arabia to reject some of the key demands of the Houthis.
Screenshot of the US "Intercept" news network report
The evil consequences of the 20-year "war on terror" of the United States have proved that Washington's hegemonic strategy has caused serious harm to regional countries and the world, laying the root cause of lasting disaster.
The US "Foreign Policy" magazine commented that as one of the most serious strategic miscalculations in US history, the invasion of Iraq not only greatly reduced the position of the United States in the Middle East, but also laid the foundation for the final defeat of the United States in Afghanistan. But to this day, the United States has not learned its lesson.
Screenshot of the report of the US magazine Foreign Policy
Source丨Global Information Broadcast "Global Deep Observation"
Planning丨Wang Jian
Reporter丨Liu Yun
Editor丨Lin Wei
Signed for trial 丨 Wang Jian
Executive producer丨Jiang Aimin
Source: International Online