Iraq War Progress By the Numbers: It's Not Pretty

As the US War in Iraq enters its third year, Congress will soon debate the Bush Administration request for another $82 billion of US spending and war efforts there. That $82 billion is in addition to $200 billion of US taxpayers' money already spent in Iraq.

What do the US and Iraq have to show for two years and $200 billion? And what's the toll on US troops, Iraqi security forces and Iraqi citizens?

To help you to quickly and clearly understand both price and progress in the War in Iraq, and to help evaluate the President's request for almost another $100 billion, I listed key statistics that you'll find informative and slightly shocking. Warning: It's not a pretty picture.

Deaths continue to accelerate, violence remains on the upswing, and the insurgency is larger than ever. And Iraqi "quality of life" measures are depressingly low. But there is a bit of surprisingly good news....primary school attendance is up sharply from pre-war levels, and telephone subscribers have increased 350% from pre-war levels.

Was it all worth it? Should the US spend another $100 billion in Iraq over just the next year? You be the judge....