Obama asked Congress on Thursday for $83.4 billion for U.S. military and diplomatic operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, pressing for special troop funding that he opposed two years ago when he was senator and Bush was President.
This request, including the money needed to send thousands more troops to Afghanistan, would push the costs of the two wars to almost $1 trillion since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, according to the Congressional Research Service. The additional money would cover operations into the fall.
Obama is also requesting $350 million in new Pentagon funding to deal with Mexican drug cartels and conduct other security activities along the U.S.-Mexico border, along with another $400 million to help Pakistan in counterinsurgency efforts along the border with Afghanistan.
Robert Gibbs--the White House press secretary--said it was needed this time because the money will be required by summer, before Congress is likely to complete its normal appropriations process.
"This will be the last supplemental for Iraq and Afghanistan," Gibbs said.
This monetary request by Obama shows his shift of focus from the war in Iraq to the war in Afganistan, where many challenges remain.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
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He really needs to end the wars, and he's not doing it fast enough. What kind of country continues to fight two wars in the midst of an economic meltdown? History does not suggest that such a combination works out particularly well. (Think: Russia during World War I...) Never mind that this flies in the face of all of his campaign rhetoric AND presidential rhetoric about ending this sneaky practice that was used by the Bush Administration so often.
"That's right Congress, we need emergency unbudgeted money in order to fund a certain war that has only been going on for the past five years or so. No, we couldn't have anticipated still having to pay for it in our budget, but, well.. I mean, come on! It was supposed to be a cakewalk! We thought we'd be greeted as liberators!"
I don't care how noble Obama thinks the war in Afghanistan is, or how much more love Iraq needs from us until we can let them walk on their own, our soldiers are fighting and dying over there for no true cause, and American resources are being spent over there that could be spent here to build up our own domestic services and resources even more. President Obama and Republicans, do you really want to lower the deficit? (And no, I won't get into the hypocrisy of the Republicans on this issue.) Do you really want to recover and reinvest in America? Then let's stop sending people, weapons, drones, and other valuable resources overseas and get our priorities straight.
I've always been a fan of the saying "It will be a good day when schools have all the money they need and the Air Force has to hold a bake sale to buy a bomber." I say that Obama should have to stick with his word and wait for the money that will inevitably come in his budget for his wars. If he needs money before then, well, I know a few people who would love some chocolate cakes...
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