The Costs of War Project

Read the research, “Costs of United States Military Activities in the Wider Middle East Since October 7, 2023” by Linda J. Bilmes. costsofwar.watson.brown.edu/paper/WiderM...

U.S. Spending in Post-10/7 Wars: $31 Billion and Counting

In the two years since October 7, 2023, the United States has incurred significant costs in a broad set of military actions in support of U.S., Israeli, and allied interests in the wider Middle East.

Read our new cultural analysis examining the militarization of fashion: costsofwar.watson.brown.edu/paper/consum...

From the runways to the malls, military style is everywhere. But when did camo stop meaning war, and start meaning cute? [1/2]

It’s New York Fashion Week. Shouldn’t we be curious about why “camo” is seemingly everywhere in the lives of people not in the military? Read our latest cultural analysis on the militarization of fashion. costsofwar.watson.brown.edu/paper/consum...

Read the analysis, “The Militarization of Fashion: “Camo,” “Khakis,” and Beyond” by Cynthia Enloe and David Vine – part of the Consuming War series. costsofwar.watson.brown.edu/paper/consum...

The analysis concludes: “Militarized fashion, like militarization more broadly, is not inevitable. It is not unstoppable. It can be challenged. We can learn to see through the camouflage to look squarely at war and its terrible costs.” [9/10]

Wear the war machine with Lockheed Martin merch The weapons industry is turning to branded hoodies and cargo pants to launder its increasingly unpopular image

The world’s largest weapons maker, Lockheed Martin, has even licensed its brand to a Korean fashion company that sells streetwear featuring the company’s name, logo, slogans, and F-35 fighter jet. [8/10] responsiblestatecraft.org/lockheed-mar...

In recent decades, most major male U.S. professional sports teams and many high school and college teams have worn camo uniforms. [7/10]

In the 80s and 90s, rappers, skaters, the grunge movement, and others adopted the look. In the 1990s, camouflage went mainstream. [6/10]

By the 1940s, scores of militaries were issuing khaki uniforms to their land-based soldiers. In the 70s and 80s, the clothing retailer The Gap began marketing khaki trousers to civilian men as an alternative to both blue jeans and business attire. [5/10]

Camo isn’t unique: The military has a presence in virtually every corner of the fashion world. [4/10]

The size of the market for camouflage ($5.3 billion, 2022) shows how militarized fashion has been profitable for the fashion industry. [3/10]

Military-style fashion is part of a broader process of societal militarization that encourages the adoption of unquestioning support for war, while also shaping gender norms. [2/10]

What does it say about our society that “Half the people on the street are dressed to kill,” as one New York Times critic has noted? Our new analysis explores one of the subtle ways we consume war: from bomber jackets to camo, militarized fashion consciously and unconsciously glorifies war. [THREAD]

Democratic leaders offer ICE reforms — and record funding Polygraph | Newsletter n°335 | 9 Feb 2026

ICE funding exceeds the military budgets of all but 15 countries, reports @stephensemler.bsky.social. www.stephensemler.com/p/democratic...

Read the research, “Making Crisis Inevitable: The Effects of U.S. Counterterrorism Training and Spending in Somalia”. costsofwar.watson.brown.edu/paper/making...

U.S. counterterrorism spending in Somalia – over $2.5 billion since 2007 – dwarfs tax revenue raised by the Somali federal government.

Read the research, “Total Information Awareness: The High Costs of Post-9/11 U.S. Mass Surveillance”. costsofwar.watson.brown.edu/paper/total-...

While “mass surveillance” is often used to refer to government spying, in the post-9/11 era it involves a complex grouping of federal agencies, local police, private companies, and even members of the public.

Read “The Militarization of U.S. Sports,” part of the Consuming War cultural analysis series. costsofwar.watson.brown.edu/paper/consum...

Sporting events like the Super Bowl play a pivotal role in helping the U.S. armed forces recruit new troops. Between 2012-2015, the Pentagon spent $53 million to subsidize various sporting events and promotional campaigns.

Reminder: Join us today at 4:00 p.m. ET for a panel reflecting on the political costs of war for U.S. democracy.

In-person participants must register in advance here: events.brown.edu/watson/event...

Watch the livestream here: www.youtube.com/live/6AQDMKL...

Between 2021 and 2023, the U.S. government conducted counterterrorism operations in 78 countries. costsofwar.watson.brown.edu/paper/united...

Read our research on news graveyards and the costs of war to journalism: costsofwar.watson.brown.edu/paper/news-g...

A sad day. Reliable information is essential in conflict zones if we are to understand the costs of war. The de-prioritization of international news coverage makes it harder to track those myriad costs, including civilian death tolls.

Tomorrow: Join us for an interdisciplinary panel reflecting on the political costs of war for the U.S. today.

All participants must register in advance for in-person attendance; the event will also be streamed live at 4:00 pm ET.

Learn more and register here: events.brown.edu/watson/event...

Read the research, “Reality Check: Chinese Military Spending in Context”. costsofwar.watson.brown.edu/paper/realit...

Some experts have argued that China’s military expenditures are far higher than official reporting would suggest. But either way, the U.S. continues to outspend China on defense by a substantial margin.

Between 2020 and 2024, $771 billion in Pentagon contracts went to just five firms: Lockheed Martin, RTX, Boeing, General Dynamics, and Northrop Grumman. costsofwar.watson.brown.edu/paper/profit...