Democrats, Military Fault Bush for Old Weapons [View All]

[sabra]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-warcosts28jul28,0,693656.story?coll=la-home-headlines

Democrats, Military Fault Bush for Old Weapons

Washington -- The war on terrorism has already cost nearly two-thirds as much as the Vietnam War. But congressional Democrats, supported by top Army brass, complain that the Bush administration is not spending enough to repair or replace weapons systems used in combat.

The top Democrats on the House Armed Services and Appropriations committees have held news conferences in the last two days, urging the administration to submit an emergency request for $17 billion for this year alone -- an amount suggested by Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker, the Army chief of staff.

"Our current readiness level puts us at strategic risk," Rep. Ike Skelton of Missouri, the top Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, said Thursday. "It risks emboldening our enemies, and it threatens the security of this nation."

President Bush has said repeatedly that the U.S. public is better off if American troops are battling terrorists overseas than if the terrorists are bringing the war to America. But with the congressional midterm elections less than four months away, Democrats have made no secret that they want to use military readiness to help turn the issue in their favor.