Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
New York Daily News
November 27, 2006
Pg. 18
WASHINGTON — Politicians on both sides of the aisle compared Iraq to Vietnam yesterday, signaling they’ll take a hard look when President Bush asks soon for as much as $160 billion in emergency funds to keep footing the bill for the war.
Democrats, who take control of Congress in January, have said they will not cut off money for the ever-more unpopular war, but Bush’s expected request will push the cost well over $400 billion.
The total cost for the war on terror, including the conflict in Afghanistan, will be well over $500 billion and surpass the cost of Vietnam, adjusted for inflation.
Democrats and Republicans alike were critical of how that money is being spent.
“Clearly, we need to have some accountability,” said Senator-elect Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) on CBS’ “Face the Nation.” “People have gotten rich off this war. I want to make sure that we put a stop to that.”
McCaskill was echoed by Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.), who said the administration has been funding the war “dishonestly” with so-called “supplemental appropriations” to pay for war efforts outside the regular budget process.
But Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) said on CNN that one way to improve oversight of the President is to increase the size of the armed forces and take into account the war on terror.
--Michael McAuliff
November 27, 2006
Pg. 18
WASHINGTON — Politicians on both sides of the aisle compared Iraq to Vietnam yesterday, signaling they’ll take a hard look when President Bush asks soon for as much as $160 billion in emergency funds to keep footing the bill for the war.
Democrats, who take control of Congress in January, have said they will not cut off money for the ever-more unpopular war, but Bush’s expected request will push the cost well over $400 billion.
The total cost for the war on terror, including the conflict in Afghanistan, will be well over $500 billion and surpass the cost of Vietnam, adjusted for inflation.
Democrats and Republicans alike were critical of how that money is being spent.
“Clearly, we need to have some accountability,” said Senator-elect Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) on CBS’ “Face the Nation.” “People have gotten rich off this war. I want to make sure that we put a stop to that.”
McCaskill was echoed by Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.), who said the administration has been funding the war “dishonestly” with so-called “supplemental appropriations” to pay for war efforts outside the regular budget process.
But Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) said on CNN that one way to improve oversight of the President is to increase the size of the armed forces and take into account the war on terror.
--Michael McAuliff
