Ever since the Twin Towers fell, the United States has been at war. The costs of that decade of conflict have been unimaginably high: trillions of dollars spent, hundreds of thousands of lives lost. The numbers are almost too big to grasp, let alone quantify. The graphics below are our incomplete attempt to do so.

These figures are also a way of showing the radical transformation the U.S. military has undergone during the 9/11 era. Drones, once an afterthought in tactical plans, have become a central component, flying millions of hours in combat. Special operations forces have added tens of thousands to their ranks. Bomb-resistant armored vehicles, absent from the American arsenal in 2001, are now a primary means of battlefield transportation — even as Afghanistan’s militants find new ways to render them irrelevant.

We know how many American troops have been killed in this decade’s wars. How many Afghans and Iraqis have lost their lives isn’t clear. The United Nations only started keeping reliable statistics on Afghanistan’s casualties in 2007. The estimates for the number of dead Iraqis vary by 1,000 percent or more. And even if these conflicts last another 10 years, the final toll may never be known.

You can dive into the data behind these graphics — and check the sourcing of the numbers we’ve used.

The chart below is interactive. Mouse over the year headings and the data blocks to view additional details.

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}); var ms_2001_content = "

2001

Defense Spending: $303 billion

War Supplemental: $13 billion

Total Military Spending: $316 billion

";

var ms_2002_content = "

2002

Defense Spending: $328 billion

War Supplemental: $17 billion

Total Military Spending: $345 billion

";

var ms_2003_content = "

2003

Defense Spending: $365 billion

War Supplemental: $72 billion

Total Military Spending: $437 billion

";

var ms_2004_content = "

2004

Defense Spending: $377 billion

War Supplemental: $91 billion

Total Military Spending: $468 billion

";

var ms_2005_content = "

2005

Defense Spending: $403 billion

War Supplemental: $76 billion

Total Military Spending: $479 billion

";

var ms_2006_content = "

2006

Defense Spending: $419 billion

War Supplemental: $116 billion

Total Military Spending: $535 billion

";

var ms_2007_content = "

2007

Defense Spending: $435 billion

War Supplemental: $166 billion

Total Military Spending: $601 billion

";

var ms_2008_content = "

2008

Defense Spending: $480 billion

War Supplemental: $187 billion

Total Military Spending: $667 billion

";

var ms_2009_content = "

2009

Defense Spending: $520 billion

War Supplemental: $146 billion

Total Military Spending: $667 billion

";

var ms_2010_content = "

2010

Defense Spending: $529 billion

War Supplemental: $162 billion

Total Military Spending: $691 billion

";

var ms_2011_content = "

2011

Defense Spending: $549 billion

War Supplemental: $159 billion

Total Military Spending: $708 billion

";

var vf_2001_content = "

2001

Veterans Funding: $59.7 billion

";

var vf_2002_content = "

2002

Veterans Funding: $64.3 billion

";

var vf_2003_content = "

2003

Veterans Funding: $71.5 billion

";

var vf_2004_content = "

2004

Veterans Funding: $71.4 billion

";

var vf_2005_content = "

2005

Veterans Funding: $79.1 billion

";

var vf_2006_content = "

2006

Veterans Funding: $78.5 billion

";

var vf_2007_content = "

2007

Veterans Funding: $85.4 billion

";

var vf_2008_content = "

2008

Veterans Funding: $92.6 billion

";

var vf_2009_content = "

2009

Veterans Funding: $100.4 billion

";

var vf_2010_content = "

2010

Veterans Funding: $127.9 billion

";

var vf_2011_content = "

2011

Veterans Funding: $125.4 billion

";

var tr_2002_content = "

2002

Troops in Afghanistan: 7,300

Troops in Iraq: 0

Total Troops: 7,300

";

var tr_2003_content = "

2003

Troops in Afghanistan: 10,900

Troops in Iraq: 147,400

Total Troops: 158,300

";

var tr_2004_content = "

2004

Troops in Afghanistan: 17,800

Troops in Iraq: 144,300

Total Troops: 162,100

";

var tr_2005_content = "

2005

Troops in Afghanistan: 19,200

Troops in Iraq: 141,100

Total Troops: 160,300

";

var tr_2006_content = "

2006

Troops in Afghanistan: 22,300

Troops in Iraq: 130,300

Total Troops: 152,600

";

var tr_2007_content = "

2007

Troops in Afghanistan: 23,800

Troops in Iraq: 152,500

Total Troops: 176,300

";

var tr_2008_content = "

2008

Troops in Afghanistan: 34,000

Troops in Iraq: 153,300

Total Troops: 187,300

";

var tr_2009_content = "

2009

Troops in Afghanistan: 55,100

Troops in Iraq: 134,500

Total Troops: 189,600

";

var tr_2010_content = "

2010

Troops in Afghanistan: 91,775

Troops in Iraq: 92,000

Total Troops: 183,775

";

var tr_2011_content = "

2011

Troops in Afghanistan: 99,000

Troops in Iraq: 46,000

Total Troops: 145,000

";

var sf_2001_content = "

2001

Special Operations Forces: 45,600

";

var sf_2002_content = "

2002

Special Operations Forces: 46,600

";

var sf_2003_content = "

2003

Special Operations Forces: 47,200

";

var sf_2004_content = "

2004

Special Operations Forces: 49,800

";

var sf_2005_content = "

2005

Special Operations Forces: 51,400

";

var sf_2006_content = "

2006

Special Operations Forces: 52,800

";

var sf_2007_content = "

2007

Special Operations Forces: 47,900

";

var sf_2008_content = "

2008

Special Operations Forces: 54,300

";

var sf_2009_content = "

2009

Special Operations Forces: 55,800

";

var sf_2010_content = "

2010

Special Operations Forces: 58,600

";

var sf_2011_content = "

2011

Special Operations Forces: 60,900

";

var mf_2001_content = "

2001

Fatalities in Afghanistan: 12

Fatalities in Iraq: 0

Total U.S. Military Fatalities: 12

";

var mf_2002_content = "

2002

Fatalities in Afghanistan: 49

Fatalities in Iraq: 0

Total U.S. Military Fatalities: 49

";

var mf_2003_content = "

2003

Fatalities in Afghanistan: 48

Fatalities in Iraq: 486

Total U.S. Military Fatalities: 534

";

var mf_2004_content = "

2004

Fatalities in Afghanistan: 52

Fatalities in Iraq: 849

Total U.S. Military Fatalities: 901

";

var mf_2005_content = "

2005

Fatalities in Afghanistan: 99

Fatalities in Iraq: 846

Total U.S. Military Fatalities: 945

";

var mf_2006_content = "

2006

Fatalities in Afghanistan: 98

Fatalities in Iraq: 822

Total U.S. Military Fatalities: 920

";

var mf_2007_content = "

2007

Fatalities in Afghanistan: 117

Fatalities in Iraq: 904

Total U.S. Military Fatalities: 1,021

";

var mf_2008_content = "

2008

Fatalities in Afghanistan: 155

Fatalities in Iraq: 314

Total U.S. Military Fatalities: 469

";

var mf_2009_content = "

2009

Fatalities in Afghanistan: 317

Fatalities in Iraq: 149

Total U.S. Military Fatalities: 466

";

var mf_2010_content = "

2010

Fatalities in Afghanistan: 499

Fatalities in Iraq: 60

Total U.S. Military Fatalities: 559

";

var mf_2011_content = "

2011

Fatalities in Afghanistan: 298

Fatalities in Iraq: 44

Total U.S. Military Fatalities: 342

";

var dfh_2001_content = "

2001

Drone Flight Hours: 12,500

";

var dfh_2002_content = "

2002

Drone Flight Hours: 25,000

";

var dfh_2003_content = "

2003

Drone Flight Hours: 32,000

";

var dfh_2004_content = "

2004

Drone Flight Hours: 60,000

";

var dfh_2005_content = "

2005

Drone Flight Hours: 110,000

";

var dfh_2006_content = "

2006

Drone Flight Hours: 165,000

";

var dfh_2007_content = "

2007

Drone Flight Hours: 262,000

";

var dfh_2008_content = "

2008

Drone Flight Hours: 390,000

";

var dfh_2009_content = "

2009

Drone Flight Hours: 463,000

";

var dfh_2010_content = "

2010

Drone Flight Hours: 563,000

";

var dfh_2011_content = "

2011

Drone Flight Hours: 644,000

";

var mrap_2006_content = "

2006

Total MRAP Vehicles: 185

";

var mrap_2007_content = "

2007

Total MRAP Vehicles: 6,738

";

var mrap_2008_content = "

2008

Total MRAP Vehicles: 15,838

";

var mrap_2009_content = "

2009

Total MRAP Vehicles: 21,482

";

var mrap_2010_content = "

2010

Total MRAP Vehicles: 26,882

";

var mrap_2011_content = "

2011

Total MRAP Vehicles: 27,744

";

var wo_2001_content = "

2001

Wiretap Orders: 1,491

";

var wo_2002_content = "

2002

Wiretap Orders: 1,358

";

var wo_2003_content = "

2003

Wiretap Orders: 1,442

";

var wo_2004_content = "

2004

Wiretap Orders: 1,710

";

var wo_2005_content = "

2005

Wiretap Orders: 1,773

";

var wo_2006_content = "

2006

Wiretap Orders: 1,839

";

var wo_2007_content = "

2007

Wiretap Orders: 2,208

";

var wo_2008_content = "

2008

Wiretap Orders: 1,891

";

var wo_2009_content = "

2009

Wiretap Orders: 2,376

";

var wo_2010_content = "

2010

Wiretap Orders: 3,194

";

var wo_2011_content = "

2011

Number not yet released

";

var year_2001_content = "

2001

Sept. 11

Nearly 3,000 civilians lose their lives to attacks by al-Qaida terrorists.

Sept. 18

Letters containing anthrax spores appear in the U.S. mail, directed to news and government offices. The anthrax attacks launch a large FBI investigation, dubbed 'Amerithrax.'

Oct. 7

Start of Operation Enduring Freedom, the war in Afghanistan.

Oct. 26

President Bush signs U.S. Patriot Act into law.

";

var year_2002_content = "

2002

Jan. 29

President Bush declares Iran, Iraq and North Korea an 'axis of evil.'

June

The Afghan grand council appoints Hamid Karzai as interim head of state.

Sept. 8

The Bush administration claims that Iraq is trying to acquire high-strength aluminum tubes for enriching uranium to make nuclear bombs.

Oct. 2

Congress passes a joint resolution giving President Bush the legal right to use military forces against Iraq.

";

var year_2003_content = "

2003

Feb. 5

In an address to the U.N. Security Council, Colin Powell argues in favor of military action in Iraq. He claims to have 'no doubt' that Saddam Hussein has biological weapons, and is working to obtain parts for nuclear weapons.

March 20

Start of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the war in Iraq.

May 1

Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld declares that 'major combat' in Afghanistan has ended.

May 2

President Bush declares that 'major combat' in Iraq has ended.

May-June

The Iraq insurgency begins, composed of a mix of different ethnic groups, militias and fighters opposing the U.S.-led coalition forces and Iraqi government.

Dec. 13

Iraq leader Saddam Hussein is captured by the U.S. 4th Infantry Division.

";

var year_2004_content = "

2004

Feb. 3

CIA admits there was no imminent threat from weapons of mass destruction before Iraq invasion of 2003.

September

U.S. Army orders 1,000 Warlocks, or devices that jam the radio signals used to detonate roadside bombs, for use in Iraq. According to Gen. John Abizaid, the top military commander in the Middle East at the time, roadside bombs are his 'No. 1 threat in Iraq.'

November

More than 1,000 troops are wounded or killed by roadside bombs in Iraq, the highest number recorded in the war.

Nov. 2

President Bush is elected for a second term.

";

var year_2005_content = "

2005

May

Violent anti-American riots spread across Afghanistan, in reaction to reports that prison guards intentionally damaged a copy of the Quran.

February

Commanders in Iraq make a 'priority 1 urgent' request for more than 1,000 Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, to protect soldiers against the roadside bombs that pose the deadliest threat in the region. Marine Corps doesn't issue a formal request for the vehicles until the end of 2006.

Dec. 16

The New York Times publishes a story revealing the National Security Agency's warrantless-wiretapping program.

";

var year_2006_content = "

2006

March 9

President Bush re-signs Patriot Act.

May

Marines request of 185 Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles in Iraq to replace armored Humvees.

May

Afghanistan sees a sharp increase in violence, particularly in roadside bombings and suicide attacks. Human Rights Watch estimates that more than 4,400 Afghans (combatants and civilians) were killed in 2006 — twice the number killed in 2005.

June 7

An American air strike kills terrorist and al-Qaida in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who was linked to several deadly attacks, including the 2005 Jordan suicide bombings and 2004 Madrid train bombings.

Dec. 18

Robert Gates replaces Donald Rumsfeld as secretary of defense.

";

var year_2007_content = "

2007

Jan 7

Gen. David Petraeus is appointed commander of Multinational Force Iraq.

Jan. 10

The surge in Iraq begins, with an increase of 21,500 troops.

Aug. 14

Suicide car-bomb attack kills nearly 800 Iraqi civilians in northern Iraq and leaves more than 1,500 wounded, the single deadliest attack of the war.

December

2007 sees the highest number of U.S. military fatalities, with more than 1,000 troop deaths in Afghanistan and Iraq.

";

var year_2008_content = "

2008

September

U.S.-Pakistan tensions increase as American troops carry out operations on Pakistani soil, and CIA continues to ramp up drone attacks on Pakistan borders.

Nov. 4

President-elect Obama pledges to shift military focus to Afghanistan, increasing U.S. troops in the region and conducting raids on Pakistani soil without Islamabad's permission.

December

The Defense Department reports that violence in Iraq has dropped 80% since before the surge in 2007. Military fatalities dip to 314, from 904 the previous year.

";

var year_2009_content = "

2009

Feb. 17

President Obama announces plan to deploy 17,000 more troops to Afghanistan.

June 10

Army Lt. Gen. Stanley McChrystal is promoted to the top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan. He says he will sharply limit the use of airstrikes, to reduce civilian deaths.

Aug. 20

Elections in Afghanistan spark allegations of widespread fraud. Runoff vote is scheduled for Nov. 7 between Hamid Karzai and rival Abdullah Abdullah, but Abdullah backs out a week prior, saying a 'transparent' election is not possible.

Dec. 1

Another 30,000 troops are scheduled to deploy Afghanistan. White House authorizes increase in CIA drone attacks in Pakistan.

Dec. 25

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the 'Underpants Bomber,' fails to set off explosives hidden in his underwear while on a trans-Atlantic flight.

December

Transportation Security Administration renews efforts to roll out whole-body scanners in airports across the country.

";

var year_2010_content = "

2010

June

Stanley McChrystal resigns as commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan after an article in Rolling Stone exposes several critical remarks about the president. He is replaced by David Petraeus.

Sept. 1

President Obama announces end of the American combat mission in Iraq and a new mission dubbed 'Operation New Dawn,' seven years and 165 days after the first invasion.

Oct. 22

Wikileaks releases 391,832 classified U.S. military documents on the Iraq War — the biggest data leak in U.S. military history.

December

This year marks a more violent turn in the Afghanistan war. Troops in Afghanistan now outnumber those in Iraq, Special Operations raids are six times higher than the previous year, and there are more drone strikes in Pakistan than all previous years since 2001 combined.

";

var year_2011_content = "

2011

May 1

Osama bin Laden is killed by U.S. Forces in Pakistan.

June 22

President Obama announces plan to reduce troops in Afghanistan by 10,000 by the end of 2011, then 20,000 by summer 2012 and the remainder by 2014.

Aug. 11

Taliban shoot down a transport helicopter in eastern Afghanistan, killing 30 American military personnel and 8 Afghans. It is deadliest day for American forces since the war began.

";