WASHINGTON, Nov 13: The economic costs of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are estimated to total $1.6 trillion (euro1.1 trillion) —roughly double the amount the White House has requested thus far, according to a new report by the US Congress’ Joint Economic Committee.

The report, released on Tuesday, attempted to put a price tag on the two conflicts, including ‘’hidden’’ costs such as interest payments on the money borrowed to pay for the wars, lost investment, the expense of long-term health care for injured veterans and the cost of oil market disruptions.

The $1.6 trillion (euro1.1 trillion) figure, for the period from 2002 to 2008, translates into a cost of $20,900 (euro14,310) for a family of four, the report said. The Bush administration has requested $804 billion (euro550.4 billion) for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars combined, the report stated.

For the Iraq war only, total economic costs were estimated at $1.3 trillion (euro890 billion) for the period from 2002 to 2008. That would cost a family of four $16,500 (euro11,300), the report said.

Future economic costs would be even greater. The report estimated that both wars would cost $3.5 trillion (euro2.4 trillion) between 2003 and 2017. Under that scenario, it would cost a family of four $46,400 (euro31,765), the report said.

The report, from the committee’s Democratic majority, was not vetted with Republican members. Democratic leaders in the Congress, including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, seized on the report to criticise President George W. Bush’s war strategy. The White House countered that the report was politically motivated.

’’This report was put out by Democrats on Capitol Hill. This committee is known for being partisan and political. They did not consult or cooperate with the Republicans on the committee. And so I think it is an attempt to muddy the waters on what has been some positive developments being reported out of Iraq,’’ said White House press secretary Dana Perino. ‘’I haven’t seen the report, but it’s obvious the motivations behind it,’’ she added.

The report comes as the House prepares to vote this week on another effort by Democrats to set a deadline for withdrawing troops from Iraq as a condition for providing another $50 billion (euro34.2 billion) for the war.

Reid said the report ‘’is another reminder of how President Bush’s stubborn refusal to change course in Iraq and Congressional Republicans’ willingness to rubberstamp his failed strategy -- has real consequences at home for all Americans.’’

Ms Perino, while acknowledging the dangers in Iraq, defended Bush’s stance.

’’Obviously it remains a dangerous situation in Iraq. But the reduction in violence, the increased economic capacity of the country, as well as, hopefully, some continued political reconciliation that is moving from the bottom up, is a positive trend and one that we -- well, it’s positive and we hope it is a trend that will take hold,’’ Ms Perino said.

Oil prices have surged since the start of the US invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan, from about $37 (euro25) a barrel to well over $90 (euro61) a barrel in recent weeks, the report said. ‘’Consistent disruptions from the war have affected oil prices,’’ although the Iraq war is not responsible for all of the increase in oil prices, the report said.

Still, the report estimated that high oil prices have hit US consumers in the pocket, transferring ‘’approximately $124 billion (euro84.8 billion) from US oil consumers to foreign (oil) producers’’ from 2003 to 2008, the report said.—AP