Iraq war is costing $100,000 per minute

How much longer will this inept and deceitful administration be allowed to squander the blood and money of this nation while Congress either stands idly by or, indeed, enables them in the process? The following headline and article in the Seattle Times (February 3, 2006) should be a slap in the face to any concerned and patriotic American:

Iraq war is costing $100,000 per minute
By Mark Mazzetti and Joel Havemann
Los Angeles Times

WASHINGTON — The White House said Thursday that it plans to ask Congress for an additional $70 billion to pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, driving the cost of military operations in the two countries to $120 billion this year, the highest ever....

...The additional spending, along with other war funding the Bush administration will seek separately in its regular budget next week, would push the price tag for combat and nation-building since Sept. 11, 2001, to nearly a half-trillion dollars (Emphasis added, TLS), approaching the inflation-adjusted cost of the 13-year Vietnam War...

The magnitude of this story should, in itself, be stunning. Yet, when taken in the context of a non-binding Senate Resolution requesting future war funding requests be placed on budget (passed by strong bi-partisan vote during the September, 2005 budget process) it should set off many alarms:

From Senate Amendment 464 to H.R. 1268, making emergency supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005:

(2) The budget for fiscal year 2006 submitted to Congress by the President on February 7, 2005, requests no funds for fiscal year 2006 for ongoing military operations in Iraq or Afghanistan. (Emphasis added, TLS)

(3) According to the Congressional Research Service, there exists historical precedent for including the cost of ongoing military operations in the annual budget requests of the President following initial funding for such operations by emergency or supplemental appropriations Acts, including--

(A) funds for Operation Noble Eagle, beginning in the budget request of President George W. Bush for fiscal year 2005;

(B) funds for operations in Kosovo, beginning in the budget request of President George W. Bush for fiscal year 2001;

(C) funds for operations in Bosnia, beginning in budget request of President Clinton for fiscal year 1997;

(D) funds for operations in Southwest Asia, beginning in the budget request of President Clinton for fiscal year 1997;

(E) funds for operations in Vietnam, beginning in the budget request of President Johnson for fiscal year 1966; and

(F) funds for World War II, beginning in the budget request of President Roosevelt for fiscal year 1943.

Even when confronted with this information from a bi-partisan majority of the U.S. Senate, the Bush Administration still has no idea of military planning. But there is more evidence of their incompetence. In an open letter to George Bush and his administration, Rep. John Murtha points out the following:

“This March will mark the beginning of the 4th year of the war in Iraq. In contrast, U.S. involvement in WWI came to an end after 19 months. Victory in Europe was declared in WWII after 3 years 5 months. In the Korean War, a cease-fire was signed after 3 years and 1 month. But after more than three and a half years into the war in Iraq, your administration finally produced what is called a "Plan for Victory" in Iraq.”

In other words, an administration, equipped with the most modern and lethal military in the history of the world, has sent over 2250 American troops off to their deaths in a country that had been so decimated by previous military conflict and draconian economic sanctions that they never posed any serious military threat to the region nor, especially, the United States; all of this with the continued blessing of the United States Congress. Further, they have yet to produce an exit strategy that has any bearing in real world terms.

It is long past time for the congress to begin exercising their responsibility to the American people and start holding this administration accountable for their lack of planning and execution in this war of choice. Even those who hold the belief that this war was justified based on the information they were given should, by now, be recognizing that this administration has no clue about what they are doing and our troops should not be the ones who continue to pay the ultimate price for this incompetence.

Peace,

Chad (The Left) Shue