How Much Is the Post-War Occupation of Iraq Likely to Cost?
As with the costs of the war itself, the direct military costs of occupying Iraq in the war s aftermath can be only very roughly estimated. The level of disagreement and uncertainty surrounding the size of the occupation force that may be needed in Iraq and the duration of that occupation is, if anything, even greater than the uncertainty surrounding the war itself. Among other things, the size and duration of the US occupation force required after the war would depend on four factors: the attitude of the Iraqi population toward the US presence; the amount of tension or hostility between different ethnic groups within Iraq; the degree of participation by US friends and allies in carrying out occupation duties; and the goals of the occupation the more ambitious the goals, the larger and longer the occupation that would likely be required. According to Bush Administration officials, current plans call for a US general to be placed in overall charge of Iraq for at least two years. The adm
