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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