War budget request loaded with extras

[Rose Siding]

WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration asked Congress on Monday to provide $82 billion to cover unbudgeted costs in the global war on terrorism, but the request includes funds for a long-planned military reorganization and for activities such as tsunami aid that are seemingly unrelated to terrorism.

The president's supplemental request seeks $42.5 billion that would pay for military activities in Iraq and Afghanistan through September, the end of the 2005 federal fiscal year, as well as $12 billion more to refurbish and replace worn-out vehicles, weapons and equipment used in those operations.

The request includes $3 billion that is unrelated to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and $19 billion more that is not directly related to U.S. military costs there.
...
....Bush urged Congress "not to attach to this proposal items that are not directly related to these emergencies abroad."

But the White House attached its extra spending request to a measure that is labeled "Funding for the War on Terror." Among the extras is $5.3 billion to pay for a restructuring of the Army and, to a lesser degree, the Marine Corps. The administration chose to not include those items in the $419.3 billion defense budget for 2006 that Bush submitted to Congress last week.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0502150213feb15,1,4022913.story?coll=chi-news-hed

[LynnTheDem]

1. bush's usual trick; gimme ALL or I will VETO $ for the TROOPS.

Yet again bush is USING our troops for financial BLACKMAIL.

[cliss]

2. ....as the sands of the hourglass run low......

About 50 years from now (if we make it), history books will look back at this as the "Era of Insanity".

Chapter 5: "The US loses its bearings".

Historians understand now (in 2055 A.D.), that the United States collectively lost its mind during the "Bush Dynasty", 2000-2008. Researchers are still trying to figure out how a still-strong country became crippled to the point where it could barely recover.

There was a myriad of problems. Huge balance of trade deficit, unemployment, a hollow economy which didn't produce very much, huge consumer debt and massive cheating on a stratospheric scale.

And of course, the worst: a government which was spending itself into oblivion. Massive war debts which drove in the death dagger.

The corruption was worse than cockroaches in an old refrigerator. The economy simply couldn't recover from such massive deficit spending.

Historians are amazed that a solid country could let itself get on such a wrong track. There is ample evidence that there was lots of protesting going on: there is evidence of a very informative web site called the "Democratic Underground".

[Kagemusha]

3. Hey. The tsunami stuff is OK.

They sent an aircraft carrier to one of the stricken areas and I've heard all sorts of whining complaints about how that's hurt military readiness and all that. Poor babies. Looking good for the country is too good for them. Well whatever. Point being, it's an unanticipated expense and is legit in a supplemental budget and not at all unrelated to the war on terror.

But.

The stuff for military reorganization really ought to be budgeted normally...

[icymist]

6. But, why is it in a WAR budget?

I wouldn't put it past these bastard to set a nuke off to trigger the earthquake that created the massive waves. Hmmm. Makes good science fiction writing, don't it? Maybe I should go into writing.

[Supersedeas]

4. turncoat fiscal conservatives like McCain must get the shivers

[grumpy old fart]

5. This is a GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY....and we are missing it again...

We can, and must, attach a rider to the appropriation bill requiring hearings on WHERE THE MONEY HAS GONE!!! There is already $9 Billion unaccounted for with Halliburton. My letter to my Congressman Harold Ford, Jr.:

Just a note to say that we are missing a golden opportunity to hold the administration accountable for the incredible fraud, corruption and waste in their illegal Iraq war. You are being asked to approve another $80 Billion for this war. Now is the time to attach a rider requiring hearings on where the hundreds of billions already appropriated has gone, and where this new money is going. As you know, there is already at least $9 Billion gone missing with Halliburton alone.

There are already bills pending to have these "Truman Commission" type hearings, introduced in the House by Rep. Jim Leach (R-Iowa) and by Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Larry Craig (R-Idaho) in the Senate.

I know no one can safely oppose this new funding without looking like a traitor. But how can the Republicans refuse in good faith to agree to account for taxpayer money? It's a golden opportunity. Please take it.

[cyberpj]

7. This idea deserves it's own thread - please promote your idea! eom.

I will be writing my congresspeople with your suggestion.

I think it needs better attention than just in this thread so please post it with an appropriately catchy title to get more attention to this.

Thanks.

PJ

[grumpy old fart]

8. Here's the thread..not many takers yet...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1596824&mesg_id=1596824