Ten support ships were lost and 684 small boats. Overall, U.S. ship strength was reduced 16 percent. The number of tanks were reduced 827 or 7.6 percent. Other combat vehicles fell 6,360 or 14.5 percent. Overall, available combat vehicles declined by 13.1 percent.
Many items needed to sustain combat operations are in short supply.
But any escalation will increase this cost quickly. Bruce Bartlett, senior fellow, National Center for Policy Analysis, April 21, 1999.