Bush seeks 72.4 billion dollars for Iraq, Afghanistan (AFP)

[Up2Late]

(Is this the other shoe? the first being the $50 Billion Bridging money)

Bush seeks 72.4 billion dollars for Iraq, Afghanistan

17/02/2006 01h13

WASHINGTON (AFP) - President George W. Bush asked Congress for 72.4 billion dollars in additional funding for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan this year, the White House said.

If approved as expected, the request would raise war-related costs to nearly 400 billion dollars since the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.

The request is on top of 50 billion dollars already approved for fiscal 2006, raising the total for the year to 120 billion dollars.

Additionally, the White House has said it will seek another 50 billion dollars in bridge funding for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan for fiscal 2007, which begins October 1.

(more at link below)

<http://www.afp.com/english/news/stories/060216231916.gtf3zdi9.html>

[fooj]

1. Not ONE MORE DIME!!

Period.

Peace.

[enid602]

2. total?

Does anyone know what the total of requested funds is, given these new requests? Are we at half a trillion yet? How much will Iran cost?

[Clara T]

7. $100,000 per minute in Iraq- $18,000 per minute in Afghanistan

The stated total at present in Iraq is around $240 billion.

That leaves out alot. The most recent total projection from ex- World Bank economist J. Stiglitz and Harvard Budget (Director?), I forget her name and title, took into account other variables and the projected total for Iraq was to be at about a trillion conservatively. Noone has disputed that figure.

[MadMaddie]

3. Just like a parent to a teenager

It's time to start saying "No" to their money request.

They have had 5 years to show some kind of success. They are held to no success metrics so "No". See once you start saying it the easier it gets.

They are selling out our ports so they can raise money for their war machine. No, No, No

[dapper]

5. I Agree!!!

You and I (and the kids) need to practice financial restraint, why can't the Govt?

Dap

[dapper]

4. I have to reccomend...

I was going to post this very article.

I'm very upset about our hard earned tax dollars going to another country when we need it here in America, especially when programs for the needy are getting cut.

72 Million for another country but only 20 million for Hurricane Katrina victims....

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060217/pl_nm/iraq_spending_dc


Dap

[MadMaddie]

8. The administration is bleeding tax payer money...

How do the Americans put a stop to this?

Is it up to each state to start saying No?

How do we get control of this out of control train....
They continue to cut needed domestic programs and feeding their military machine.

Our Representatives and Congressman are ineffective because they have been taken out of the Checks and Balances role and pushed aside as minor annoyances.

How is this going to end?

[leesa]

18. It's not going to another country. It's going into the pockets of their

rich contractor buddies.

[Up2Late]

6. Updated AFP Link!

Bush seeks extra 72.4 billion dollars for Iraq, Afghanistan in 2006

17/02/2006 02h51

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US President George W. Bush has asked Congress for 72.4 billion dollars in additional funding for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan this year, the White House said.

If approved by Congress as expected, the request would raise war-related spending to nearly 400 billion dollars since the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.

"These funds support US armed forces and coalition partners as we advance democracy, fight the terrorists and insurgents, and train and equip Iraqi security forces so that they can defend their sovereignty and freedom," Bush said in a letter to Congress.

The bulk of the money -- 34.7 billion dollars -- will go to cover the cost of maintaining 138,000 US troops in Iraq and about another 15,000 in Afghanistan.

<http://www.afp.com/english/news/stories/060217025101.zh5e79up.html>

[MadMaddie]

10. I have a question....

Sane People
When you and I and fellow DU'rs see these astronomical $$financial request, We think this is bullshit there has to be fiscal restraint in order for this country to function.

Neocon Cult
What can the freeps possibly think when they see this? Most of them barely have enough money to keep a roof over their heads, and maybe they can't visualize the amount of money they see being requested?

Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

[Up2Late]

13. I'm convinced it all brain washing via RW Talk Radio and Fox "news"

I was forced to listen to that crap for years at my last 2 jobs, and the only thing that kept me from going to the other side was Real News.

CNN Headline News, back when it was still worth watching, and now NPR, I never turn on the TV News anymore because, if the "news" isn't making your brain turn to mush, the commercials do.

It could be all the nasty red-neck drugs too: Cristal Meth, Hillbilly Heroin (what is that, Oxy Contin?) Jack Danial's, Cases of Beer...

[president4aday]

15. Let's not forget our excellent "schools" system

that graduate useful idiots at taxpayer expense.

[JohnnyRingo]

9. Gotta spend that money he doesn't have

Or the liberals will want to waste it on Social Security, health care, and National security.

The "CEO President" is setting a corporate example that's reflected in record numbers of bankrupt companies from Delphi to Enron.
When the US government goes belly-up, will we be able to impeach him? Or will we have to reward him with a huge bonus and stock options?

Seems to be the new American dream to run your business into the ground and walk away fat.

[MadMaddie]

11. Ha that's right.....He did call himself

the "CEO President", the country should have paid attention to his past corporate failures.

His companies went belly up and if we don't get this adminsitration you are right this country will go belly up?

His Bonus and Stock options will include a trip to the Hague!!

<snip>
Seems to be the new American dream to run your business into the ground and walk away fat.
<snip>

Yea, especially if your mommy and daddy bail you out every time!!

[Up2Late]

14. I prefer the term the MBA "president"

Sorry, I can never and will never refer to that Horse's Ass as President. Just can't do it.

[president4aday]

12. Wake me when we're all broke.

[cliss]

16. OK: here's the ugly truth.

All this money that they've asked for from Congress....I think it's 350 billion dollars at last count.

None of that has been paid for using current funds. It's all been borrowed from the future. Guess where we got the money from?

China.....Japan....Saudi Arabia....our creditors lent us the money to go do this. Currently, we're paying $2,000,000,000 billion dollars per day just to finance our debt. This is not the principal, just the interest.

We are bankrupt. We simply cannot go on like this indefinitely. At some point, maybe May or June, our creditors either can not or will not lend us any more money. And then, watch the shit hit the fan.

[dapper]

17. If I could recommend this!....

I would. It's true, technically the united states is in debt up to it's ears.

The US has also re-instated the 30 year bond recently... yikes. Gold really isn't my thing (I'm not a gold bug) but I'm kind of glad I bought a few ounces before it hit $400/oz

Dap

[Up2Late]

19. kick n/t

:kick:

[HuffleClaw]

20. its a damned money pit

how many times now has he 'asked' for mult-billion dollar sacks of money for this debacle? it seems like every month or so.

[bemildred]

21. Flush!

:hurts: