Another 70 billion for the war . . .

[billvon 3,116]

Increase In War Funding Sought
Bush to Request Another $70 Billion

Tuesday, October 26, 2004

The Bush administration intends to seek about $70 billion in emergency funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan early next year, pushing total war costs close to $225 billion since the invasion of Iraq early last year, Pentagon and congressional officials said yesterday.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A62554-2004Oct25.html?sub=AR

------------------------

Now, I know what you're all thinking. $70 billion? Spare change compared to the national debt. But you drop 70 billion here and 87 billion there, and pretty soon you're talking serious money. Oh, for those halcyon days of yesteryear when we thought the war would come in under $60 billion, and we could just fire people who said it might cost more.

[Gravitymaster 0]

I thought you Libs were always bitching about Bush not creating jobs? That money will be spent on contractors to help put people to work. Don't you guys ever give it a rest?

[quade 4]

Quote

I thought you Libs were always bitching about Bush not creating jobs? That money will be spent on contractors to help put people to work.

Another example of outsourcing?

Wouldn't that money be better spent on jobs IN the U.S.?

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[Gravitymaster 0]

Quote

Quote

I thought you Libs were always bitching about Bush not creating jobs? That money will be spent on contractors to help put people to work.

Another example of outsourcing?

Wouldn't that money be better spent on jobs IN the U.S.?

I'm sure it does employ many in the US. Somebody's got to make all that plywood, shingles, cement, plumbing pipe etc. Why do you automatically assume it only creates jobs for Iraqis'?
Since you are "Mr. Googles", why don't you give it a click and lets find out.

[quade 4]

I assume that a fraction of the money going to US citizens is better than no fraction of it.

I further assume that 100 percent would be better.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[Gravitymaster 0]

Quote

I assume that a fraction of the money going to US citizens is better than no fraction of it.

I further assume that 100 percent would be better.

Since the left is so quick to blame anything they can on GWB including the loss of jobs (btw, I don't happen to believe the President can "create jobs")how would you propose GWB create them if not thru awarding contracts to American Companies? What could he do that would satisfy you?

[quade 4]

So, lemme get this straight . . . you see waging war as good for the economy and therefore justifiable on those grounds?

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[billvon 3,116]

>That money will be spent on contractors . . .

By Jove, you're right! I am sure Halliburton will make out like bandits with all that money. Of course the bad part of making out like bandits is sometimes you get caught:

-------------------------------------------------------

Army Faces Probe on No-Bid Deals With KBR
Mon Oct 25

WASHINGTON - The Pentagon (news - web sites)'s internal watchdog is looking into claims by a top Army contracting official that a Halliburton Co. subsidiary unfairly won no-bid contracts worth billions of dollars for support services in Iraq (news - web sites) and the Balkans.

The complaint alleges that the award of contracts without competition to restore Iraq's oil industry and to supply and feed U.S. troops in the Balkans puts at risk "the integrity of the federal contracting program as it relates to a major defense contractor."

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20041025/ap_on_bi_ge/halliburton_contracts_16

------------------------------------------------------

[Gravitymaster 0]

Quote

So, lemme get this straight . . . you see waging war as good for the economy and therefore justifiable on those grounds?

That is a sad reality, but it's true. I'm not saying it's justifiable, just that it's a fact. I'm asking you what the President could do to "create jobs" that would satisfy you.

[Gravitymaster 0]

Quote

>That money will be spent on contractors . . .

By Jove, you're right! I am sure Halliburton will make out like bandits with all that money. Of course the bad part of making out like bandits is sometimes you get caught:

-------------------------------------------------------

Army Faces Probe on No-Bid Deals With KBR
Mon Oct 25

WASHINGTON - The Pentagon (news - web sites)'s internal watchdog is looking into claims by a top Army contracting official that a Halliburton Co. subsidiary unfairly won no-bid contracts worth billions of dollars for support services in Iraq (news - web sites) and the Balkans.

The complaint alleges that the award of contracts without competition to restore Iraq's oil industry and to supply and feed U.S. troops in the Balkans puts at risk "the integrity of the federal contracting program as it relates to a major defense contractor."

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20041025/ap_on_bi_ge/halliburton_contracts_16

------------------------------------------------------

Says there are "allegations" of course thats apparently good enough these days.

[nacmacfeegle 0]

From the linked article..
"The complaint said Greenhouse objected to the five-year term, asking why the certainty that the emergency would continue that long."

Actually 5 years is beginning to look optimistic.

Hasn't this all been looked into before, and found to be legal, if somewhat morally suspect, given the VP's links to Halliburton.

Or is there a cover-up/conspiracy at work here?

--------------------

He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me. Thomas Jefferson

[kelpdiver 2]

So what's your solution going forward, Bill? After next Tuesday, you can stop the bitching and moaning about how we shouldn't have done it, doesn't accomplish anything. What now?

Long time back I said our political objectives were accomplished by removing Saddam and crushing the regime. A continuation of the message sent by smashing the Taliban. We didn't need to make a nation state, esp if the Iraqis didn't really want us to. You said it was our obligation to see it through. You and Bush apparently agree on the need for this additional 70B.

So do you propose we follow Nixon's solution of Vietnamization? Or what? If Kerry pulls off the upset, he's going to be stuck with this situation.

[nacmacfeegle 0]

"Long time back I said our political objectives were accomplished by removing Saddam and crushing the regime. A continuation of the message sent by smashing the Taliban."

The message I'm getting in Cynic Central Command is "hey, good work, but where's OBL?"

--------------------

He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me. Thomas Jefferson

[kelpdiver 2]

Another good reason to bail on Iraq and go searching elsewhere.

[skreamer 1]

Quote

(btw, I don't happen to believe the President can "create jobs")

Roosevelt during the Great Depression?

Of course now you have a leader who creates wars. But no worries, next week you have the chance to change that.

• Quote

[kelpdiver 2]

Quote

Quote

(btw, I don't happen to believe the President can "create jobs")

Roosevelt during the Great Depression?
Of course now you have a leader who creates wars. But no worries, next week you have the chance to change that.

Did it really make a difference before WW2 came along? America made a great living off the European wars. Without it I'm not sure the deficit spending of the New Deal was enough to get it done.

[skreamer 1]

Quote

Did it really make a difference before WW2 came along?

You are talking about a period of 7 years (1932 to 1939), I understand it made quite a big difference to the people who needed help the most.

[kelpdiver 2]

Quote

Quote

Did it really make a difference before WW2 came along?

You are talking about a period of 7 years (1932 to 1939), I understand it made quite a big difference to the people who needed help the most.

If that's the only criteria, then surely lots of people have benefitted from Bush's return to a wartime economy.

[Gravitymaster 0]

Quote

The message I'm getting in Cynic Central Command is "hey, good work, but where's OBL?"

Considering the huge number of radical Islamists within the Pakistani Govt, have you considered the destabilizing effect OBL's capture inside Pakistan would have? Remember, Musharaff has already survived 3 assassination attempts. Pakistan has nuclear weapons. There may be more going on than your local newspaper and favotite web sites have information on. Just a thought.

[nacmacfeegle 0]

LOL, my local newspaper doesn't even report on Iraq, Pakistan, or Afghanistan, it is a source of knowledge on the movements of the WRI though.

So, OBL is in Pakistan is he?

"have you considered the destabilizing effect OBL's capture inside Pakistan would have? "

I like your new sense of humour.

--------------------

He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me. Thomas Jefferson

[skreamer 1]

Could you please elaborate, I don't follow your line of reasoning.

[billvon 3,116]

>Says there are "allegations" of course thats apparently good enough these days.

It's been good enough at least twice already; they've already pled guilty and paid millions in fines for defrauding the government and supplying terrorist countries.

Of course, maybe they've turned over a new leaf, and this time they're innocent. After all, they may have to compete honestly in four months.

[kallend 2,148]

Good job we can borrow the money from our children and their children. Now, where's my tax cut?

...

The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[billvon 3,116]

> So what's your solution going forward, Bill?

Keep paying through the nose. We're looking at hundreds of billions to pay for the war; there's no way around that. About the only thing we can do is make sure we don't make the same mistakes again. To do that we have to realize that we DID make those mistakes.

>So do you propose we follow Nixon's solution of Vietnamization? Or what?

Isn't that the plan? Train Iraqi troops and turn the war over to them? Problem is that it's not working any better than Nixon's plan.

>If Kerry pulls off the upset, he's going to be stuck with this situation.

Agreed there. But look at the bright side - all the right wingers will be able to complain bitterly about all the spending on the war.

[SkyDekker 1,465]

Quote

If Kerry pulls off the upset, he's going to be stuck with this situation.

True, but the stock market has always preformed better under a Democrat than a Republican.....maybe US industry can earn some of that money back......