War May Require More Money Soon

[kskiska]

Wednesday, April 21, 2004; Page A01

Intense combat in Iraq is chewing up military hardware and consuming money at an unexpectedly rapid rate -- depleting military coffers, straining defense contractors and putting pressure on Bush administration officials to seek a major boost in war funding long before they had hoped.

Since Congress approved an $87 billion defense request last year, the administration has steadfastly maintained that military forces in Iraq will be sufficiently funded until early next year. President Bush's budget request for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1 included no money for Iraqi operations, and his budget director, Joshua B. Bolten, said no request would come until January at the earliest.

But military officials, defense contractors and members of Congress say that worsening U.S. military fortunes in Iraq have dramatically changed the equation and that more money will be needed soon. This comes as lawmakers, returning from their spring break, voice unease about the mounting violence in Iraq and what they say is the lack of a clearly enunciated strategy for victory.

The military already has identified unmet funding needs, including initiatives aimed at providing equipment and weapons for troops in Iraq. The Army has publicly identified nearly $6 billion in funding requests that did not make Bush's $402 billion defense budget for 2005, including $132 million for bolt-on vehicle armor; $879 million for combat helmets, silk-weight underwear, boots and other clothing; $21.5 million for M249 squad automatic weapons; and $27 million for ammunition magazines, night sights and ammo packs. Also unfunded: $956 million for repairing desert-damaged equipment and $102 million to replace equipment lost in combat.

The Marine Corps' unfunded budget requests include $40 million for body armor, lightweight helmets and other equipment for "Marines engaged in the global war on terrorism," Marine Corps documents state. The Marines are also seeking 1,800 squad automatic weapons and 5,400 M4 carbine rifles.

Rep. Curt Weldon (R-Pa.), vice chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, charged that the president is playing political games by postponing further funding requests until after the election, to try to avoid reopening debate on the war's cost and future.

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A28903-2004Apr20.html

[Faygo Kid]

1. Well, there's a real surprise.

Good thing we don't need money here for health care, education, the environment, the infrastructure, etc. Yep, ol' Smirky's plan to gut the social safety net once and for all is going great - and watch him get back into office (notice I didn't say, elected).

[TahitiNut]

15. "Surprise; surprise." (Gomer Pyle)

I shocked. shocked I tell you that war profiteers sucked the kitty dry, again. It's too bad the Busholinis don't have an "actionable intellignece," huh?

[Politicub]

2. The next vote for war funding is being floated

this will be an interesting vote.

[Gin]

3. money for Iraq wasn't in the 04 budget...we knew this was coming...

I suppose we will get the bad news soon...they are preparing us with this information. Instead of 4 billion a week...who knows..it may be 6-10 billion a week.

[FloridaPat]

4. How in the world do you mismanaged a war with the greatest

military on the planet and a blank check?? Oh yeh, we're talking about the guy who mismanaged everything he ever did.

[NuttyFluffers]

23. that should be a bumper sticker

it's so short and to the point.

[pinto]

5. well, guess we'll have to mortgage our great grandchild's income.

Already put the kids' income and their kids' income in hock.

Mission accomplished.

[NuttyFluffers]

24. so should this one too.

another bumper sticker in the making. you guys are talented.

[mike1963]

6. Chimpy will just charge it to his Visa. It's not as if he ever had to pay

anything back before......
:eyes:

[Nite Owl]

7. So where will he get the money?

Tale back some of the tax cuts to the weathiest? Are even the Repukes in Congress ready to back this now?

[brokensymmetry]

8. More money? No problem!

We can just pass more tax cuts! That should solve the problem! :eyes:

(Lest anyone doubt it, I'm being sarcastic!)

[revcarol]

9. That giant sucking sound is the lifeblood being sucked out of

us.

[neverforget]

10. Just put it on the credit card! It's not like we'll ever have to pay it

back! :eyes:

[rfkrocks]

11. I am telling you-this is the GOP worst case

It is about time that this hits the fan-we are talking about great debt which will create economic chaos. Many great countries fell by overspending started by war plans, eg, Athenian empire, French monarchy, soviet union-we are heading down this way-less spending for social programs leads to social instability-the tax cuts along with the enormous war cost carried exclusively by the us and the UK is going to create havoc for decades to come-Kerry must run on the reckless expenditure because sadly, our countrymen care less about the lives of soldiers and civilians who die in this dammed war than their pocket book. We need to use Eisenhower against them "a bankrupt nation is a defenseless nation"

[saigon68]

12. The Dinos can't wait to spend money

Support the Troops (Halliburton)

[Sagan]

13. they budget for Haliburton first...

So they can come back and say "You HAVE to approve this or the troops don't get food and body armor."

[freeforall]

14. Financial Black Hole

Well, this illegal war is sucking the lifeblood out of the US.

[moondust]

16. Who could have imagined that $87 billion would not be enough?

C'mon Condi, just say it.

[GregW]

17. Ever wondered how much money is $87B?

try this:

http://www.crunchweb.net/87billion/

[Rex]

18. The Pentagon has become the PentEnron.

So out of 402 billion, the Pentagon couldn't cough up 2 billion (or less than .5% of the overall budget) to armor our troops, give them decent clothing, have money handy for repairs.

What the hell is all this money (this doesn't include the 87 billion BTW) going for? Someone needs to find out ASAP.

Someone needs to hang for this.

[NuttyFluffers]

25. this also should be a bumper sticker

you guys are on a roll. hell, i should just plagarize your stuff and start my own business:evilgrin:

nah, i won't, but seriously someone needs to collect this stuff and bust out some t-shirts from shirtique. could make beaucoup bucks in a protest march while spreading the message.

[Ganja Ninja]

19. I was hoping this would come up before the election.

I can't wait to see the reaction when they ask for another 50 to 100 billion for this fiasco.

[saigon68]

20. In addition to the draft of 500,000 of our children

They'll get their money to "support the troopd"

[dusty64]

22. Me neither,

it ought to go over like a shit balloon.

[cornfedyank]

21. wage peace ---- it's cheaper

$2/hour x 40hours/week = $80/week

$80/week x 50 weeks/year =$4000/year

$4000/year x 23,000,000 iraqis = $92,000,000,000/year

hire them all

[callous taoboy]

26. That's wonderful:

Meantime, the stench of raw sewage in the gym at the school where I teach grows worse each year. It seems that the septic job went to the lowest bidder 7 years ago when the school was built.