Obama to Ask Congress For $33 Billion More to Fight Wars

By Jeralyn, Section Afghanistan 2009
Posted on Wed Jan 13, 2010 at 07:56:00 AM EST
Tags: military funding, war on terror, Afghanistan (all tags)

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Apparently, $708 billion isn't enough for the Defense Department for the coming year. The AP reports that military commanders briefed on an upcoming report say President Obama will ask Congress to approve another $33 billion when it submits its budget request in February.

What for? Supposedly for beefing up the war in Afghanistan, but it sounds more like the global war on terror, even though Obama insists on not using that phrase.

The administration also plans to tell Congress next month that its central military objectives for the next four years will include winning the current wars while preventing new ones and that its core missions will include both counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operations.

[More..]

The pilotless drones used for surveillance and attack missions in Afghanistan and Pakistan are a priority, with a goal of speeding up the purchase of new Reaper drones and expansion of Predator and Reaper drone flights through 2013.

...For the current wars, the policy statement focuses on efforts to refocus money and talent on beefing up special operations forces, countering weapons of mass destruction and terrorism threats and on cyber security and warfare.

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Obama to Ask Congress For $33 Billion More to Fight Wars | 30 comments (30 topical)

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Over at Osatan.... (5.00 / 1) (#1)
by Salo on Wed Jan 13, 2010 at 12:41:55 AM EST

...I suggested that Gordon Brown ought to tax the NHS to pay for the Royal Marines in Afghanistan. It seems that Obama is taxing health benefits to pay for US Marines in Afghanistan. My powers or sarcasm cannot keep up.

But who will pay for this (5.00 / 0) (#3)
by Militarytracy on Wed Jan 13, 2010 at 07:54:29 AM EST

and how and when? I know, military spending goes to the magic place. Health care spending will destroy us though. It will blow up the whole world. It is my assumption that 33 billion is actually going for additional strike strength in Yemen and where ever else they will go to strike popping up Al Qaeda. They are so sneaky these days about how they classify things too. My husband isn't actually deployed on any paperwork that you'll ever see :). He works for an outfit within the military that doesn't "deploy" even though soldiers working for them are all over the world right now. They are never technically deployed though to a specific theater, and I'm pretty sure this is some extra they need :)

Who will pay? (5.00 / 6) (#4)
by kdog on Wed Jan 13, 2010 at 08:00:14 AM EST

I don't know...maybe China, then our grandkids? Don't ask me cuz all I know is one minute we're broke and when the Defense Dept. comes calling we're rolling in it all of a sudden.

I do know who will get paid...killer drone manufacturers. And paid well. If Eisenhower could see us now he'd feel like Nostradamus.


This captures perfectly (5.00 / 4) (#10)
by Cream City on Wed Jan 13, 2010 at 09:01:04 AM EST

my reaction as well. Kudos.

One minute we're broke and when the Defense Dept. comes calling we're rolling in it all of a sudden.

I now do not want to hear another word, not another word from this president about us not having the funding for jobs programs. Period.


: Gold star from the prof! (5.00 / 1) (#13)
by kdog on Wed Jan 13, 2010 at 09:26:36 AM EST
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