Iraq Scorecard: The War So Far

Wars are inherently chaotic and confusing, and judging the outcome so far of the war in Iraq is doubly difficult. The formal end of the U.S. combat role there, and the drawdown of U.S. troops to below 50,000, have unleashed a flood of emotional reaction, and President Obama's speech this evening should provoke even more debate about the cause, conduct and consequences of the U.S. invasion in 2003.

Here are some data points to guide the debate. Most are from the Brookings Institution's Iraq Index; the statistics on American battle wounded and evacuees are from the Veterans for Common Sense, and the Congressional budget Office. Check back at 8pm Tuesday and click play below to watch an accompanying live stream of the speech.