Optimism and War Costs

Noam Chomsky offered some remarks on the current state of the world at the World Social Forum last week. He's actually somewhat optimistic. There are "many reasons to be encouraged," he insists, "but there will be a long hard road ahead." We are at a "moment of world history that is in many ways unique – a moment that is ominous, but also full of hope."

In his statement, Chomsky cites a December 2002 report issued by the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, "War with Iraq: Costs, Consequences, and Alternatives," which demolishes Bush's case for war. It warns that the "political, military, and economic consequences of war with Iraq could be extremely costly to the United States."

The report's calculated economic costs of the war are derived from William Nordhaus' research, which received some play in the media. As far as I know, the other estimates articulated in the report have not received any considerable amount of attention.