2005 request for war funds to top $50 billion

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4970228/

The Bush administration’s next request for financing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will push next year’s total beyond $50 billion, a top Pentagon official told Congress on Thursday.

The remark by Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz put a partial price tag on operations in both countries for the budget year that begins next Oct. 1. The administration has long insisted it will not be able to accurately estimate those costs for many months because of uncertainties over conditions in Iraq and possible contributions by allies.

President Bush had formally sought an initial $25 billion for next year’s military activities in Iraq and Afghanistan on Wednesday. Administration officials notified congressional leaders about the request a week earlier, abruptly reversing earlier declarations that they would not seek the money until after the November elections.

On Thursday, Wolfowitz told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the administration’s second request for funds will come early next year.

“It will surely be much larger than $25 billion,” he said.

[LittleApple81]

1. We don't have congresscritters that represent our beliefs. Starting

with Joe Biden. They are eager to give more and more money for the "contractor effort". We apparently have no say.

[mulethree]

2. hah and Rumsfeld looked so disgusted when Byrd said

the 25 million was sure to grow to 50 and probably 75 million.

Even more disgusted when Byrd asked what assurances there were that it wouldn't be used to plan and prepare for another war.

[birdbrain]

3. Were going to have to support the troops

fighting in Damascus....

[keithyboy]

4. This is an absolutely horrific disgrace.

Gas prices through the ceiling, parents working two and three jobs, no health care system, people starving, college costs soaring, medical cost soaring...and we spend 50 billion on the military with no identified enemy. If we would just stay out of other peoples' country and take care of our own country, even Al-qaeda would leave us alone!!

[fryguy]

5. what happened to the vast Iraqi oil reserves....

.....paying for the occupation and reconstruction?

[Mountainman]

6. administration has long insisted it will not be able to accurately

estimate those costs.

Is this a flip-flop if Kerry proportions?

[fryguy]

7. no...

bushies don't flip-flop, they mis-speak and then let their press secretaries make the necessary corrections....

[Barrett808]

8. This is nice, from Santorum

Asked about the effect on his constituents of the Abu Ghraib prison abuse furor and the murder of Nicholas Berg by Islamic zealots, Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa. said Berg’s murder proved that “there are terrorists there in Iraq who want to hurt Americans. It is the same organization that inflicted the damage on Sept. 11. If there is any question that our effort in Iraq is part of the war on terrorism, this was a very direct answer on the part of al-Qaida.”

Be sure to Google "Santorum" and click on the very first link.