May 3, 2011

The Hunt for Bin Laden, in Numbers

A few statistics from what was arguably the most expensive manhunt in history.

Time Osama Bin Laden spent on the fbi’s Most Wanted list: 155 months State Department reward for information leading to Bin Laden’s capture: $25 million Estimated amount Al Qaeda spent on the September 11 attacks: $400,000 to $500,000 Death toll on 9/11: 3,389 Economic impact of attacks on New York City: At least $82.8 billion Cost of US military operations in Afghanistan, 2010: $93.8 billion Cost of US military operations in Afghanistan, 2001-2010: $325 billion Years since 2001 in which US military spending in Afghanistan exceeded military spending in Iraq: 2001, 2010 Estimated cost of US operations in Afghanistan in 2011, per soldier: $694,000 Number of US soldiers killed in action by hostile forces in Afghanistan, 2001-2010: 1,045 Number of US soldiers wounded in action in Afghanistan, 2001-2010: 9,614 Number of civilians killed in Afghanistan, 2007-2010: 9,759 Number of reported US drone strikes in Afghanistan and Pakistan, 2004-2011: 236 Number of drone attacks on Al Qaeda, 2004-2011: 33 Minimum share of drone casualties who were civilians, 2004-2010: 16% “Core” Al Qaeda members in Pakistan today: 100 to 150 US aid to Pakistan, 2001-2010: $20 billion Distance from Bin Laden’s final compound to military academy known as “Pakistan’s West Point”: 3/4 mile Cost of Black Hawk helicopter destroyed during raid: $27.5 million Number of American commandos involved in raid on compound: 79 Number of dogs: 1

Sources:

Most Wanted List: FBI

Reward: State Department

Cost of 9/11 attacks: 9/11 Commission (PDF)

9/11 death toll: The New York Times. Does not include hijackers.

Economic impact of 9/11: New York City Comptroller (PDF)

Costs of military operations: Congressional Research Service (PDF)

US casualties: Department of Defense

Civilian casualties: United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (PDF)

Drone attacks: “The Year of the Drone,” by Peter Bergen and Katherine Tiedemann, New America Foundation

Al Qaeda members: “The Almanac of Al Qaeda,” by Peter Bergen and Katherine Tiedemann, New America Foundation

Aid to Pakistan: Congressional Research Service (PDF)

Bin Laden compound: Christian Science Monitor, Google Maps

Helicopter cost: Department of Defense 

Commandos and dogs: New York Times

 

Front page photo: caffeina/Flickr

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And the stakes are high. Democracy is on the defense. We’ve been exposing corruption and scandal for five decades, and this is a pivotal moment in our country’s history. Will democracy prevail? We won’t wait for time to tell—independent journalism is essential for democracy, and we’ll keep doing our part to amplify the free press.

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