Another Gauntlet Is Thrown... 'Bush To Seek Nearly $200 Billion More For Wars'

[WillyT]

Bush to seek nearly $200 billion more for wars

<snip>

After smothering efforts by war critics in Congress to drastically cut U.S. troop levels in Iraq, President Bush plans to ask lawmakers next week to approve another massive spending measure -- totaling nearly $200 billion to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan through 2008, Pentagon officials said.

If Bush's spending request is approved, 2008 will be the most expensive year of the Iraq war.

U.S. war costs have continued to grow because of the additional combat forces sent to Iraq in 2007 and because of efforts to quickly ramp up production of new technology, such as mine-resistant trucks designed to protect troops from roadside bombs. The new trucks can cost three to six times as much as an armored Humvee.

The Bush administration said earlier this year that it probably would need $147.5 billion for 2008, but Pentagon officials now say that and $47 billion more will be required. Secretary of State Robert Gates and other officials will formally present the full request at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing Wednesday. The funding request means that war costs are projected to grow even as the number of deployed combat troops begins a gradual decline starting in December. Spending on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will rise from $173 billion this year to about $195 billion in fiscal 2008, beginning Oct. 1.

When costs of CIA operations and embassy expenses are added, the war in Iraq currently costs taxpayers about $12 billion a month, said Winslow Wheeler, a former Republican congressional budget aide who is now a senior fellow at the Center for Defense Information in Washington. "Everybody predicts declines, but they haven't occurred, and 2008 will be higher than 2007," Wheeler said. "It all depends on what happens in Iraq, but thus far it has continued to get bloodier and more expensive. Everyone says we are going to turn the corner here, but the corner has not been turned."

In 2004, the two conflicts together cost $94 billion; in 2005, they cost $108 billion; in 2006, $122 billion.

<snip>

Link: http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2007/09/bush_to_seek_nearly_200_billio.html

I'm not gonna say it, I'm not gonna fucking say it...

:mad::nuke::mad:

[Raven]

1. Well...if my reps vote for this, that's it. My patience is gone, gone gone.

[movonne]

3. And I ask, what can we do about it??? is this something the dems and

repugs have cooked up to have a one party system? I'm beginning to fear the dems too...(not all)

[glowing]

2. But he calls democratic congress fiscally irresponsible for wanting

to ensure children have medical care... What a fucked up country I live in.

[Disturbed]

4. The Regime wants to cut funding of handicap buses.

The funding cuts of all programs are deep, yet $Billions are sent to Iraq.

The Dems can stop this if they wanted to do so.

[PassingFair]

23. The idiot republicans I know are "on-board" with this...

They think irresponsible poor people should not make
children that need health care.

More money is needed for the war against Islam.

They SAY this.

:crazy:

[bluestateguy]

5. Where did the money go that we gave him in the summer?

God, these people piss money away like bottled water.

[VP505]

8. Try asking

Haliburton and Blackwater,they might know.

[tekisui]

10. 500,000 dollars a minute......

[MikeNearMcChord]

6. WHEN IS ENOUGH, ENOUGH!!!!

You want the money SHRUB??!! Name the withdraw date!! Extend the Time for the Troops to stay home between deployments!!! Expand Veterans Benefits!!!
Otherwise Go Cheney Yourself!!!

[BringEmOn]

7. Dems will say, "we see your $200B and raise you $50B...'cause we support the troops.

[Vickers]

9. It went from "The Iraq war will pay for itself!" to a projected 2.2 trillion

dollar disaster.

TWO POINT TWO TRILLION DOLLARS.

$2,200,000,000,000.00

[partylessinOhio]

11. Nancy will put on her high heels and Armani suit and ride over to the WH,

smile at * and say, "Here it is with a little sumthin' sumthin' extra."

We are being screwed people and so are our troops. You support the troops by bringing them home - nothing less.

11% - Madame Squeaker and going down!

[Tom Joad]

12. When Bush asks, the dems respond... "Sure you don't need more?"

[leftchick]

13. gauntlet? are you fucking kidding me?

more like a cakewalk!

:mad:

[Cha]

14. Fuck that..they just better NOT.

We have a country here that needs our tax money..why doesn't bush raise taxes on his fucking friends to get his wasted war money?

Yeah, I know the answer to that..because he told them he wouldn't raise taxes if they contributed to his campaign and made him the pretzelshit.

[BlooInBloo]

15. Roll over Congress!! Woof! Woof!!

[earthboundmisfit]

16. And right after this funding request is approved

another "supplemental" request will be put forth :grr: (need a putting-head-through-the-wall smilie)

[cali]

17. Over 70 House dems have signed the

PDA pledge to NOT vote for anymore war funding. So clearly there are quite a few dems who aren't rolling over. Let's hope that more get fed up and sign on.

[HardRocker2005]

18. we're on the verge of destruction... nt

[BattyDem]

19. But we can't have universal health care because it's too expensive

:eyes:

When are the people of this country going to stand up and say, "Enough is enough! It's OUR money, NOT yours and we don't want to spend one more dime on this war! We want health care ... we want strong infrastructure ... we want good public schools ... WE WANT SOMETHING FOR OUR MONEY!!!" :grr:

[Crunchy Frog]

20. Only give it to him if he doesn't veto the children's health bill.

I'd say don't give it to him at all, like that's really gonna happen. Our useless lawmakers could at least try to get something

[TahitiNut]

21. Reminder: Only 41 Senators are needed to stop funding the Occupation of Iraq.

That's all. Just 41. Not 60. Not 67. 41. So much for all the kabuki. :shrug:

Isn't it about time? It's NOT like the GOP wasn't given OTHER choices.

They ignored us when we said 'NO!' to the Iraq War Resolution. They refused to compromise on benchmarks and timelines over and over again. They've REFUSED absolutely EVERYTHING except an ENDLESS OCCUPATION and endless killing.

In my opinion, it's about fucking time to stop the horseshit.

Any continuation of the funding for this CRIMINAL occupation of Iraq is outright Fascism!

[depakid]

22. Yet forget about childrens health care

and just watch- Congress will cave in without ever making the connection.

[Canuckistanian]

24. Jumping Jesus, he's pushing it, isn't he?

So, he says that $147b is needed, but the Pentagon needs another $47b. That makes $194.5b

So why not round it up another $5.5b?

$5.5b here, $5.5b there, pretty soon it adds up to REAL MONEY.

Tell me, does the Pentagon ever get allowed into these meetings where the original sum came from? The administration says it "probably" needs $147b.

Is there any formal accounting for this number? Or are they just pulling this number out of their ass?