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Hidden costs 'raise US war price' Hidden costs 'raise US war price'
(about 5 hours later)
The US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are costing nearly double the amount previously thought, according to a report set to be released by Congress. The US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are costing nearly double the amount previously thought, according to a report by Democrats in the US Congress.
Democrats say the wars have cost $1.5 trillion - almost twice the requested $804bn (£402bn) - because of "hidden costs", the Washington Post reports. They say "hidden costs" have pushed the total to $1.5 trillion - almost twice the requested $804bn (£402bn).
That figure would amount to $20,000 for an average US family of four, it adds. Higher oil prices, treating wounded veterans, and the cost to the economy of pulling reservists away from their jobs have been taken into account.
And some of the figures cited in the report were labelled speculative by funding experts, the Post says. Republicans have not yet commented officially on the report.
Among the indicators contributing to the higher cost of the conflicts are higher oil costs and payments to war veterans.
'Lost earnings''Lost earnings'
The report is expected to be presented to Congress later on Tuesday. The report was written by Democratic members of the Congress's Joint Economic Committee.
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They calculate that between 2002 and 2008 the campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan will have cost the average US family of four about $20,900.
The report adds that the amount could rise to $46,400 over the next decade.
It also says the funding is diverting investment away from US businesses.
The Democratic authors included the costs of treating wounded veterans and mounting interest payments on money borrowed to finance the wars.The Democratic authors included the costs of treating wounded veterans and mounting interest payments on money borrowed to finance the wars.
The report calculates that the campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan have cost the average US family of four more than $20,000. They estimate that treating veterans could add more than $30bn to war costs, including disability payments and lost earnings for veterans affected by post-traumatic stress disorder.
It adds that the amount could rise to $46,300 over the next decade, the Washington Post says.
The committee's Democrats estimate that treating veterans could add more than $30bn to war costs, including disability payments and lost earnings for veterans affected by post-traumatic stress disorder.
Republicans have not yet commented officially on the report.