Military to pay $400 million more per month for fuel

[Contrary1]

"WASHINGTON - Consumers at the gas pump aren't the only ones suffering sticker shock. Military units in Iraq and elsewhere will see another hike in fuel costs next week, the second increase this budget year because of soaring oil prices.

On July 1, the cost for refined fuel used by troops will jump from $127.68 a barrel to $170.94 — an astounding 34 percent increase in just six months and more than double what the Pentagon was paying three years ago.

While prices charged to warfighting units have fluctuated in recent years, they have not faced such a steep spike in so few months. The cost of jet fuel, for example, jumped from $2.31 a gallon in October, the start of the 2008 budget year, to $3.04 in December. As of next month, units will start paying $4.07 a gallon.

Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. Brian Maka said Friday that the latest price hike is needed to cover an anticipated $1.2 billion rise in fuel costs in the next three months. While a $400 million a month increase in fuel costs won't affect ongoing military operations, it will require a "reprioritization of daily support activities," he said in an e-mailed statement...."

"Consumers at the gas pump aren't the only ones suffering sticker shock." :eyes:

Seriously, who the hell do they think they are fooling with this lead in? Are we supposed to believe this increase comes out of their pockets? It's just more profit for Cheney/Bush Inc, courtesy of future generations of US taxpayers.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25419540/

[aquart]

1. In the interest of national security, we need to seize that fuel.

Why not? We're seizing laptops.