Story perspectives

Brown University Estimates 432,000 Civilian Deaths in U.S. Wars

By Drooid · Sep 18, 2026, 6:10 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Hasan Piker said the United States caused more terrorism than al-Qaeda, citing death counts.
Brown University’s Costs of War project estimates 432,000 civilian deaths from U.S. post-9/11 wars (2001-2023).
Piker referenced the February 2024 Minab, Iran school airstrike that killed over 150 people, including about 120 children, as U.S. terror.
Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed disagreed with Piker’s remarks and refused to campaign with him.
Republican Senator Katie Britt used Piker’s comments to label the Democratic Party’s left wing extremist in the 2026 midterm race.

History

Historical Context

The 1968 My Lai massacre in South Vietnam, in which U.S. troops killed an estimated 504 Vietnamese civilians, sparked nationwide outrage. The Pentagon later reported officially 1,500 civilian casualties across Vietnam in 1969, while the anti-war movement grew to 2 million participants. Similarly, Hasan Piker cites the Brown University Costs of War tally of 432,000 civilian deaths from U.S. post-9/11 conflicts, echoing My Lai’s moral controversy. These recurring casualty debates pressure legislators like Senator Katie Britt and Abdul El-Sayed to weaponize civilian-death narratives in upcoming 2026 campaigns.

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Story summary

Hasan Piker said the United States caused more terrorism than al-Qaeda, citing death counts.
Brown University’s Costs of War project estimates 432,000 civilian deaths from U.S. post-9/11 wars (2001-2023).
Piker referenced the February 2024 Minab, Iran school airstrike that killed over 150 people, including about 120 children, as U.S. terror.
Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed disagreed with Piker’s remarks and refused to campaign with him.
Republican Senator Katie Britt used Piker’s comments to label the Democratic Party’s left wing extremist in the 2026 midterm race.

1 / 2