$460B Military Bill Omits War Funds (AP)

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

$460B Military Bill Omits War Funds

Tuesday November 6, 2007 5:01 PM

By ANNE FLAHERTY

Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - House and Senate negotiators
agreed Tuesday on a $460 billion Pentagon bill that
bankrolls pricey weapons systems and bomb-resistant
vehicles for troops, but has little for Iraq and
Afghanistan.

Democrats said they wouldn't leave troops in the lurch,
but were reluctant to say when Congress might consider
President Bush's $196 billion request to pay expressly
for combat operations.

The nearly half-trillion dollar bill covers the 2008 budget
year, which began Oct. 1.

Republicans supported the spending measure, but said
the lack of war money would cause a tremendous strain
on the military. To keep the wars afloat, the Pentagon
would have to transfer money from less urgent accounts,
such as personnel and training programs.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-7054530,00.html

[OneBlueSky]

1. that's just obscene . . . a half trillion for "defense" and it doesn't even include the wars . . .

in Iraq and Afghanistan . . . not to mention prospective wars elsewhere (e.g. Iran) . . . the U.S. could comfortably cut that expenditure in half, remain protected, and meet pretty much all of our domestic needs . . . the people running this country are insane . . .