Today marks the ten year anniversary of the United States’ imperial war of aggression in Iraq. Under the Nuremberg Laws – ironically authored in part by representatives of the United States – wars like Iraq are expressly forbidden.

(a) Crimes against peace:

(i) Planning, preparation, initiation or waging of a war of aggression or a war in violation of international treaties, agreements or assurances;
(ii) Participation in a common plan or conspiracy for the accomplishment of any of the acts mentioned under (i).

So much for international law.

Besides the reputational costs of marking America as a rogue barbaric state the Iraq War had tremendous human and financial costs. A 2006 report by John Hopkins University estimated that 600,000 Iraqis had died since the 2003 invasion. A recent report by Brown University claimed over 130,000 Iraq civilians died directly from the war that is along with the 4,488 America service members dead and over 32,000 wounded. Brown University puts direct deaths as a result of the Iraq War at 189,736.

The report also noted the costs of the war will exceed $3.8 trillion when debt payments are included. In other words, almost all the money the Republicans want to save in the Ryan Budget by cutting entitlements and the rest of the safety net. Though it’s worth noting that Iraq’s public sector has been completely destroyed.

A loss of credibility, trillions in debt, thousands of dead soldiers, and hundreds of thousands of dead innocent civilians – and for what?