Pentagon Says They Can Pay for War Through June, Despite Warnings From Bush and Cheney

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Apr 19, 1:42 PM EDT
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Pentagon says it has enough money to pay for the Iraq war through June, despite warnings from the White House that troops are being harmed by Congress' failure to quickly deliver more funds.

The Army is taking a series of "prudent measures" aimed at making sure delays in the bill financing the war do not harm troop readiness, according to instructions sent to Army commanders and budget officials April 14.

While $70 billion provided by Congress in September for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan has mostly run out, the Army has instructed department officials to slow the purchase of nonessential repair parts and other supplies, restrict the use of government charge cards, and limit travel.

The Army also will delay contracts for facilities repair and environmental restoration, according to instructions issued by Army Comptroller Nelson Ford. Ford said the accounting moves are "similar to those enacted last year" when Congress failed to deliver a war funding bill to Bush until mid-June.

More stringent steps would be taken in May, such as a hiring freeze and firing temporary employees, but exceptions are made for any war-related activities or anything that "would result immediately in the degradation of readiness standards" for troops in Iraq or those slated for deployment.

White House Deputy Press Secretary Dana Perino has called such steps "painful and unacceptable." The Army's assessment wasn't as dire.

more . . . .


http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_IRAQ?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2007-04-19-13-37-41

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1. so much for the attacks on Democrats . . .