Carter: Steady funding needed for Europe reassurance
STUTTGART, Germany — The U.S. should continue to set aside special funds to maintain a beefed-up military presence in Europe, where more rotational forces, an expanded series of war games and increased fighter jet patrols have helped reassure allies rattled by Russian aggression in Ukraine, according to Defense Secretary Ash Carter.
Following a meeting Friday with military commanders and diplomats from across Europe at the U.S. European Command headquarters of Gen. Philip Breedlove in Stuttgart, Carter said it is clear the U.S. must find a way to ensure the so-called European Reassurance Initiative, begun last year, receives continuing support.
“We’re going to need to make that a part of our planning, programming, budgeting system going forward. There’s just no question about it,” Carter told reporters traveling with him, according to a transcript. “This is going to be an enduring challenge.”
The nearly $1 billion European Reassurance Initiative, approved by Congress in December, already has enabled the Pentagon to bolster its activities across the Continent, with a special focus on eastern Europe, where allies in close proximity to Russia and Ukraine are wary about Moscow’s intentions. However, the program, which is funded through overseas contingency funds, must be approved by Congress on an annual basis. While it remains unclear whether Congress will continue to support such funding, the ERI is shielded from the mandatory defense budget cap known as sequestration, which is imposed on the regular military budget. That could make it easier for the Pentagon to maintain funding support in the future should Congress fail to reach a deal that eliminates the mandated slowdown of spending in the base budget.
http://www.stripes.com/news/europe/carter-steady-funding-needed-for-europe-reassurance-1.351272
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where are our congresscritters getting the money?
Iraq and Afghanistan cost AT LEAST one TRILLION dollars over the last 14 years. These 'adventures' were NOT paid for and ended up on our National Credit Card.
How many times must we train the same foreign forces? 2? 3?
Operation Iraqi Liberation was appropriately named.
