Mo' Money

Since I'm still cheesed off at my fellow countrymen over their alleged support for the illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq, I'll add some more fuel to the fire.

If you have been following the Bush budget process, you should be aware that his 2004 budget didn't include funds for ongoing operations in Iraq or Afghanistan.

You should also know that it's not a function of the Pentagon planner's inability to come up with figures. It's an election year dodge. Pure and simple.

Now, the Washington Post tells us that "Intense combat in Iraq is chewing up military hardware and consuming money at an unexpectedly rapid rate".

Horse dung. Just because no one can expect to keep their job in the Bush administration if they reveal unpalatable estimates for various programs and activities, does not mean that these estimates haven't been made.

Larry Lindsey was essentially 'shown the door' as Bush's Economic Adviser by claiming that war with Iraq would cost between $100 billion to $200 billion.

Medicare actuary, Richard S. Foster was threatened with termination if he gave a higher cost estimate of Medicare 'reform' to Congress.

Obviously, if you tell the truth about costs in the Bush administration, you'll soon be unemployed.

Lindsey's scurrilously high estimate has proven to be absurdly low. The talk by administration officials at the time shows a stunning lack of leveling with the 'American People' regarding the war's potential costs.

Historical Information

(no, its not like anacondoleezza's 'historical information' - this is the real thing)

This CNN article chronicles a bit of the stunning hubris of the Bush Administration.

I mean, can you believe Bush said this regarding Iraq? : "I want to remind people that Saddam Hussein, the choice is his to make as to whether or not the Iraqi situation [is] resolved peacefully. ... I hope we're not headed to war in Iraq."

"This economy cannot afford to stand an attack. And I'm going to protect the American people. The economy's strong. It's resilient. Obviously, so long as somebody's looking for work, we've got to continue to make it strong and resilient."

01/02/2003 - George Wtf Bush

An attack by Iraq? No one with a functioning organ atop their shoulders took this seriously. Brother.

It's now clear that when Bush made this ludicrous statement about Iraq attacking us, it was already a 'done deal' that Bush was going to attack Iraq. Iraq was the neo-con's 'exemplary action' of the now discredited "Bush Doctrine."

But I digress. Sorry.

Getting back to the military's money woes, WaPo reports, in part:

Intense combat in Iraq is chewing up military hardware and consuming money at an unexpectedly rapid rate -- depleting military coffers, straining defense contractors and putting pressure on Bush administration officials to seek a major boost in war funding long before they had hoped.

Since Congress approved an $87 billion defense request last year, the administration has steadfastly maintained that military forces in Iraq will be sufficiently funded until early next year. President Bush's budget request for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1 included no money for Iraqi operations, and his budget director, Joshua B. Bolten, said no request would come until January at the earliest.

But military officials, defense contractors and members of Congress say that worsening U.S. fortunes in Iraq have dramatically changed the equation and more money will be needed soon. This comes as lawmakers, returning from their spring break, voice unease about the mounting violence and what they say is the lack of a clearly enunciated strategy for victory.

The military already has identified unmet funding needs, including initiatives aimed at providing equipment and weapons for troops in Iraq. The Army has publicly identified nearly $6 billion in funding requests that did not make Bush's $402 billion defense budget for 2005, including $132 million for bolt-on vehicle armor; $879 million for combat helmets, silk-weight underwear, boots and other clothing; $21.5 million for M249 squad automatic weapons; and $27 million for ammunition magazines, night sights and ammo packs. Also unfunded: $956 million for repairing desert-damaged equipment and $102 million to replace equipment lost in combat.

The Marine Corps' unfunded budget requests include $40 million for body armor, lightweight helmets and other equipment for "Marines engaged in the global war on terrorism," Marine Corps documents state. The Marines are also seeking 1,800 squad automatic weapons and 5,400 M4 carbine rifles.

Rep. Curt Weldon (R-Pa.), vice chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, charged that the president is playing political games by postponing further funding requests until after the election, to try to avoid reopening debate on the war's cost and future........[snip]

Remember, the Republican's 'support the troops.' Until they ask for a few bucks.

There. I feel better now. Please read the information contained in the links. It's all very important to provide my gentle readers with a fuller picture of Bush's mis-handling of anything with a "$" sign in front of it.

If you only read one of the articles, the WaPo article is a must for today.

I've a lot more to say, but in the interest of brevity, I'll end here. :) Read. Learn. Know stuff.