In 2021, the United States and the world marked 20 years since the attacks of September 11, 2001 and the beginning of the U.S. “war on terror.” The wars the U.S. government has waged in the last 20 years in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Syria, Somalia, Libya, Yemen, and elsewhere have been a great catastrophe for the United States and the world. There have been countless social, political, and environmental costs:

-Over 929,000 people have died as a direct result of these wars, and several times as many more have died due to war’s reverberating effects.
- At least 38 million people have been displaced from their homes.
- U.S. taxpayers have spent more than $8 trillion on these wars, precluding different budgetary choices such as education, housing, public health, or pandemic preparedness.
 
Yet in the U.S. there is relatively little public understanding of the post-9/11 wars or their causes and consequences. Often, Americans’ only knowledge comes from mainstream media, government talking points, and popular movies and television. There has been a severe lack of elementary, secondary, post-secondary, and general public education about the wars and their profound impacts.

As a supporter, some ways you can help push forward the fight to end endless wars include:
 
- Joining fellow teachers at all levels in teaching about the post-9/11 wars in your classroom;

- Spending at least one class period, a week, a month, or longer on this topic;

- Encouraging your colleagues to dedicate time in their courses to teaching the real history and impact of the post-9/11 wars across the world.

- Connecting students to opportunities for advocacy and engagement: https://watson.brown.edu/costsofwar/teaching/students

For teaching resources, readings, video, audio, sample syllabi, slides, and other teaching materials on the post-9/11 wars, visit: watson.brown.edu/costsofwar/teaching