Bush reportedly seeking $80 billion more for Iraq/Afghan

[Caldric]

Incredible is all I can say, 105 billion for one year of operations. For a people who show more everyday that they did not want our help. I can not say they are ungrateful, because that would imply they asked for our help and then shuned us. In this case they did not ask and if they are ungrateful then it is our own fault for assuming they did.

WASHINGTON - The Bush administration plans to announce as early as Tuesday that it will seek about $80 billion in new funding for military operations this year in Iraq and Afghanistan, administration and congressional sources said Monday.


White House officials declined to comment on the size of the package or when it would be unveiled. But administration and congressional sources said they expected a White House announcement as early as Tuesday. The request is expected to be formally submitted to Congress for approval next month after President Bush sends up his fiscal 2006 budget on Feb. 7.

The new supplemental budget request, which would come on top of the $25 billion in emergency spending that had already been approved for the current fiscal year, would push total 2005 funding for military operations and equipment close to a record $105 billion, the sources told Reuters on Monday.

When it requested the original $25 billion in May, the administration said it would need another $25 billion later for 2005. The $80 billion request is more than triple that amount.

Congressional sources said the White House, for the first time, was expected to incorporate the spending request into the budget’s deficit projections.

Full story:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6862777/

[scott.voigt]

Combat Operations cost 5 Billion a month minimum to keep 150,000 soldier going and to help with (more a less) humanitarian operations. A small amount goes to vehicle armoring and maint., which were always my concern.

So long as we are in Iraq, I believe that amount is realistic and must be granted. It's either that or make our soldiers that are over their live in tents without cooling, drive in vehicles without armor, and once again, be rationed to two bottles of water a day.

I vote for it.

-Scott-

[odannyboy]

*groan*.......Mo' money, mo' money, mo' money......

[cato2]

ouch! But as Scott.Voigt points out I want the military to be insured they get the equipment they need.

With all of the re-armouring of the HumVee's and other vehicles I wonder if this will continue, the trend to armour all non-traditional vehicles with armour?

[Caldric]

Don't get me wrong I believe in funding the troops. However I would think armor would come out of normal DoD budget. They just need to do some house cleaning.

Now what bothers me the most is that Bush said last year 25 billion, I am sure that was for the election however now he is asking for 105 billion.

Now if it cost 5 billion a month for the troops on the groun that = 60 billion still a horrendous amount. 45 billion more for umm what?

[odannyboy]

Originally Posted by Caldric

Now if it cost 5 billion a month for the troops on the groun that = 60 billion still a horrendous amount. 45 billion more for umm what?

You know that everywhere these units go throughout Iraq they are budgeted a certain amount of money to "spend" with the locals, in the many millions it all adds up to.

Then include all the public works projects, the rebuilding necessary of the Iraqi infrastructure, then consider paying all the civil servants that keep the economy moving, then consider paying people making claims on damages incurred from the U.S. Military, then consider the amount of money spent on training, equipping and paying the salary of both the Iraqi Army/National Police forces, and the costs are never ending. That does not include the 150K U.S. forces and their support networks, either.

I don't think any of us know where the United States treasury is going, unless you say Iraq, and that is a pretty good start I think.

[scott.voigt]

I think i just found out why

The U.S. Army expects to keep its troop strength in Iraq at the current level of about 120,000 for at least two more years, according to the Army's top operations officer.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6863956/