Di Leo: The Cost and Duration of a Foreign War

The costs of modern war are in the news this week. In congressional hearings, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth estimated that the current action against Iran is costing about $37.5 billion. That’s a staggering sum. The war has lasted about five months so far, and it’s not over yet. For those of us who hoped it would be quick, that sounds like a long time. But all numbers – both in money and in time – are meaningless in a vacuum. To determine whether it’s really a lot – relatively speaking – depends on the context. And context is everything,...