The presence of U.S. soldiers in Iraq has been controversial for, well, forever. What you may not have heard that much about, however, are the other 40-plus countries that may potentially have become involved. That’s right. According to a recent study headed by the U.S. Department of Defense, “over 45 nations have offered military forces.” Now, don’t pull out your “Make Love, Not War!” banners just yet; it’s not all boots and guns.

The United Nations reported a simultaneous study, pointing out that humanitarian assistance to Iraq totals 2.3 billion dollars. Roughly half of that is produced by the UN’s Oil for Food Program; the other 1.3 billion comes from international donations. “In addition,” the U.S. Department of Defense comments, “over half a billion dollars have been given [in surplus] to that of the UN.”

Countries from every corner of the globe have pitched in financially, from Kuwait to Japan to Norway. The United States, however, is the largest contributor of financial aid, totaling over 500 million dollars in donations, not to mention food packages, reimbursement for stolen or damaged goods, and perhaps a more controversial from of “aid”: “another 12,000 troops.”

Print this page.