The 2000s
6 active conflicts · Clinton, Bush Jr, Obama
5 conflicts started · 1 ended
$5177B
Military Budget (Total)
6
Active Conflicts
$4.4T
War Cost
7,130
US Deaths
$518B
Avg/Year
$667B
Peak Year
$360B
Low Year
499,150
Civilian Deaths
2
Authorized
4
Unauthorized
📖 The 2000s in Context
September 11, 2001 launched the most expensive decade of military operations since World War II. Afghanistan and Iraq together cost over $4 trillion, killed nearly 7,000 Americans, and destabilized the entire Middle East. The decade saw the authorization of torture, warrantless surveillance, indefinite detention at Guantanamo, and the global drone campaign. The 2001 AUMF — 60 words — became the legal foundation for a permanent global war. By decade's end, it was clear that neither war had achieved its objectives.
📊 Military Spending Trend
Military Spending by Year (Billions)
🎭 Cultural Context
"Support the troops" became mandatory patriotism. The Patriot Act expanded surveillance. Abu Ghraib photos shocked the world. Anti-war protests drew millions globally. "Freedom fries" and "you're either with us or against us."
🔥 Conflicts Started
War in Afghanistan
✅War on Terror2001–2021 · $2.3T · Defeat
“We were devoid of a fundamental understanding of Afghanistan — we didn't know what we were doing....”
Global War on Terror (Other Operations)
❌War on Terror2001–Present · $60B · Ongoing
“Let us not become the evil that we deplore....”
Iraq War
✅War on Terror2003–2011 · $2T · Pyrrhic victory / Strategic defeat
“Every nation, in every region, now has a decision to make. Either you are with us, or you are with t...”
Global Drone Campaign
❌War on Terror2004–Present · $30B · Ongoing
“He should have had a more responsible father....”
Somalia (AFRICOM Operations)
❌War on Terror2007–Present · $4.5B · Ongoing
“We have been at war in Somalia for so long that most people don't even know we're at war in Somalia....”
⚔️ All Active Conflicts
Bosnia Intervention
Post-Cold War1995–2004 · $35B · Dayton Accords
War in Afghanistan
War on Terror2001–2021 · $2.3T · Defeat
Global War on Terror (Other Operations)
War on Terror2001–Present · $60B · Ongoing
Iraq War
War on Terror2003–2011 · $2T · Pyrrhic victory / Strategic defeat
Global Drone Campaign
War on Terror2004–Present · $30B · Ongoing
Somalia (AFRICOM Operations)
War on Terror2007–Present · $4.5B · Ongoing
📅 Key Events
- ▸2001 2001 AUMF passes — 60 words that authorized 25+ years of global war — GWOT (Other)
- ▸2007 AFRICOM established for Africa operations — GWOT (Other)
- ▸2007 US airstrikes begin targeting al-Qaeda in Somalia — Somalia (AFRICOM)