By 1970, Operation Momentum cost $500 million annually, equivalent to about $3.3 billion today.
Notes on verification
Consistent figure repeated across multiple independent sources (Nikkei Asia article by the original book author, Forbes, Greydynamics), all tracing to Kurlantzick's well-regarded book. No contradicting figures found.
Sources
- A Great Place to Have a War | Council on Foreign Relations (cfr.org)
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/jplehmann/2017/03/01/covert-war-in-laos/ (forbes.com)
- https://asia.nikkei.com/Viewpoints/Joshua-Kurlantzick/Troubling-legacy-of-a-forgotten-war-haunts-Laos (asia.nikkei.com)
- https://greydynamics.com/operation-momentum-the-secret-laos-guerrilla-force/ (greydynamics.com)