Gates Declines to Estimate War Costs

[Purveyor]

Source: Associated Press

Defense Secretary Robert Gates says a realistic estimate of next year's war costs is almost impossible to discern, in part because he doesn't know how many troops will be in Iraq this fall.

The assertion, to be made on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, will no doubt raise the ire of congressional Democrats, who contend the Bush administration is trying to keep these costs from the American public.

"While I would like to be in a position to give you a realistic estimate of what the department will need for (fiscal year) 2009 supplemental funds, I simply cannot at this point," according to Gates' prepared remarks for a budget hearing.

"There are too many significant variables in play," he added.



Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/02/05/national/w083911S56.DTL

[havocmom]

1. Could any of you manager types get away with that where you work?

The contempt is like fog. It's everywhere and obscures everything.

[ladywnch]

6. exactly! 'could you give us a reasonable range you think it will fall in?'!!!!!!!!

how have ANY of you ever run/managed a business/organization like this!!!!

There are "variables" in EVERY business and yet, people manage to realistically project costs.

This is pure cowardess

[Lasher]

9. No problem, Congress should base an estimate on historical data.

Take the average acutal cost of the last 3 years and put it in the budget. It's pretty simple.

[jtrockville]

2. If only the administration had a PLAN.

[sutz12]

3. "I won't be in charge next year, so neener, neener, neener" nt

[ladywnch]

4. yeah, pretty much

they don't want to give a figure and further damage republican election prospects.

[Solly Mack]

5. snort

[fascisthunter]

7. yeah well... We the People Decline to Fund this BS

what a prick... all of them.

[HowHasItComeToThis]

8. BUSH HAS A PLAN

TO LOOT AMERICA.... SAME OLD REPUBLICAN STRATEGY