Bush Will Seek $87 Billion for Iraq

Reuters via Washington Post ^ | 9-7-03

[dogbyte12]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush will announce on Sunday night that he plans to ask Congress for $87 billion to fund the U.S. military deployment in Iraq and pay for reconstruction, a Republican source said.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the money would fund U.S. military operations in Iraq and reconstruction over the coming budget year.

The figure includes assistance for Afghanistan. Bush was to make the request in an 8:30 p.m. EDT address to the nation, the source said.

The figure was at the high end of expectations. Some members of Congress said earlier they expected Bush to get what he asked for but wanted him to detail how long U.S. troops would remain in Iraq and outline a strategy for bringing them home. (snip)

[billbears]

President Bush is solving them,

No, he's not

my son is solving them

Indeed he is and you should be proud of him just as we should be proud of all the servicemen who serve this nation's defense. I have no problem with the Armed Forces, however I have problems when politicians use them more for political clout than in defense of this nation

.......and YOU are not.

I am. I am exercising the freedom given to me and responsibility required of me by the men who died defending this nation against the British by calling into question politicians who are not acting in the best interest of this nation of states over the long run

[mjaneangels@aolcom]

"Funny how Republicans are so very concerned about deficit spending when a Democrat is in the White House yet have no problem piling up the debt for their children when a Republican president goes on a spending spree."

Uh, no. Democrats are the ones concerned about deficit spending, that is why they always want to raise taxes. Republican are concerned about wasteful spending, that is why they concentrate on spending less.

Also, providing for the common defense is not a spending spree, it is the President's job.

[mjaneangels@aolcom]

"Ummm has anybody in Washinton ever thought of making Iraq pay for its own rebuilding, they have lots of oil ya know, we gave up american lives to get them shed of Sadam...its the least they could do?"

Yes, many have. The problem is that their main pipline keeps getting blown up. That is why they do not have much money to pay for their rebuilding at the moment. I think this $87 billion will end up being more of a loan than anything.

[ohioWfan]

You are NOT.

You're sitting at your computer griping about the President and doing nothing to solve the problems.

And if you have a problem with the MISSION, you have a problem with the Armed Forces. Don't pretend you support them, when you do anything but.....

You do NOT support my son, because you think what he is risking his life for is stupid. Don't hide behind the excuse of 'freedom.' You are a whiner, and nothing more.

Fortunately, my very young son is mature enough to know that his duty is to help protect and defend even those such as YOU who look down on his Commander in Chief, and ignore the threats to our safety that he is helping to end.

[mjaneangels@aolcom]

"How much of it is coming back? Many US companies will be participating in the rebuild, some of it goes to our troops, equipment manufacturers, and so on. Plus we will most likely be creating a new market for our products (which can be paid for via oil sales).

Yes it is a load of money, but if considered a long term investment it may not be such a bad deal (not to mention the above, much of it may be being recycled right back into American companies who will providing the services, which could result in some local job creation).

Time will tell the effect it will have and whether or not we come out ahead on the deal."

I agree with all the points you make here and would like to add that this could end up being a loan. The original plan seemed to be for Iraq oil sales to pay for the rebuilding costs, but that can not happen when the larger pipeline (the one in the north) keeps getting bombed.

[billbears]

You are NOT. You're sitting at your computer griping about the President and doing nothing to solve the problems.

What would you suggest I do? Support someone I don't believe is telling the whole truth? Support an action that I don't think the Founders of this nation would agree with? BTW, you have no idea what I am or am not doing in the real world. I speak out and my voice is heard. And several liberals I know are coming to the conservative way of thinking because of my arguments. Maybe not the Republican way, but the conservative way.

And if you have a problem with the MISSION, you have a problem with the Armed Forces. Don't pretend you support them, when you do anything but.....

That's really sad. I can support the Armed Forces and in one aspect of my real life position I do support the Armed Forces. Not in any big way, but it does give me the capability to speak to many soldiers who are defending our freedom in a Western state and to thank them for their service, which I have done from time to time when the opportunity presents itself. It also gives me the capability to speak to men and women from all walks of life that are serving. And many of them agreed with the President on Afghanistan as I did

You do NOT support my son, because you think what he is risking his life for is stupid. Don't hide behind the excuse of 'freedom.' You are a whiner, and nothing more.

Never said that and I'm sorry you feel that way. Never said what he was doing was stupid. Serving with honor and following orders given to you by superiors is never stupid. However for your argument to be true it would hold that all orders ever given by a commanding officer were wise. Are you willing to state that? I hope not

Fortunately, my very young son is mature enough to know that his duty is to help protect and defend even those such as YOU who look down on his Commander in Chief, and ignore the threats to our safety that he is helping to end.

The direct and immediate threats lie in three places. Saudi Arabia, North Korea, and our borders. What's being done about those?

[ohioWfan]

That's really sad.

Yeah, it's sad alright.

You, just like the peaceniks, CLAIM to support the Armed Forces, while failing to support what they are doing.

Sad, alright...... I don't believe them, and I don't believe you.

Go back and see what you've said about our mission in Iraq, and then see if you have the nerve to say you support my son who is there. Every nasty post you write is a slap in the face to the family members of those who PROUDLY serve there.

You don't support my son. Be a man, and admit it.

[halley]

agree with every word...

[billbears]

Sad, alright...... I don't believe them, and I don't believe you.

Lady, frankly I'm to the point I could care less what you believe. I have attacked no one, merely stated my position and my belief. I have seen some of the most venomous posts from the side of 'right' I have seen on FR in a long time. Call me names, that's about all I've seen from some posters supporting the war. I present facts, I get back 'well the President said so' with no documentation other than perhaps Fox News, Rummy reports, and PNAC lackeys. I believe in this nation of states, however I believe in the document that established this nation moreso than a symbol, a moment, or one person. I have said nothing hateful or vengeful about the President of these United States other than call into question the reasoning and the arguments presented to the citizens of the respective states.

I have never had my conservatism called into question in real life. Unfortunately of late in the general public, I see conservatism is dead and has been for awhile. Partisanship is more important. "Our" guy's in so we believe anything he says. I stand for a conservatism that sad to say I believe is either gone from this nation of states for good or quickly on the way out. A centralized nationalism focused on one man, one imperfect man (whatever party) has taken its place. And Franklin rolls over in his grave

And FWIW, whether you believe me or not, I do hope your son comes home safely

[Fred Mertz]

FWIW, don't waste your keystrokes on the likes of that.

[Luis Gonzalez]

"...he WANTS to go back because his mission is not finished."

I forgot to tell you this last night, but when Bush spoke about those "standing in the front lines of freedom", I immediately thought about your Eric...and how proud you must have felt hearing those words from our President, knowing that he was talking about your son.

[dogbyte12]

You don't support my son. Be a man, and admit it.

You have finally done it. You have pissed me off. I respect your son's service. I served under Presidents Reagan and Bush I. I love my country, I love the soldiers. Some of my friends who stayed in are in Iraq. I am however offended by you waving your son around like a bloody flag in front of anybody who criticizes our Iraq policy.

It is disgraceful and disrespectful to your son, and what he is fighting for in the first place. We are a free country. If you want a leader who gets 99% approval at the ballot box for everything he does, Saddam used to get those numbers all the time.

I am sure that you said that every time Clinton used the military in Haiti, Somalia, Kosovo that it is wrong to question his policy because somebody's son is fighting there. You know that is B.S. yet you persist in spreading it. How dare you? Your son should be ashamed of your behaviour. He is fighting for freedom. He is not fighting for your right to cheer George Bush on uncritically no matter what he does.

There are 130,000 other sons and daughters out there other than your son. I hope your son gets on a plane back home very safely so you can quit using him as a battering ram to stifle any debate about Iraq.

Your son btw was told he was going to Iraq because Osama the fundamentalist a-hole was best friends with the butcher of Baghdad who was about as Islamic as Bill Clinton is christian. We were also told that we were about to get nuked or gassed with WMD's. $165 billion later, if this new request gets authorized, we still have no WMD, no Osama, No Saddam, and no anthrax killer. But because your son is in Iraq, we can't bring that point up.

Get off your high horse. I do pray that your son comes home safe, intact, and physically, mentally, spiritually wonderful. Just as I did for all the soldiers in Somalia, Haiti, Kosovo, Kuwait, Grenada, Panama.

Criticizing any of those actions does not mean you want OhioWfan's son to come into harm's way. Knock it off please. If you want us to pray for your son to be well, we will all do it. Don't you dare tell us to stifle our free speech though. It is anathema to everything he pledged when he was sworn into the military.

[Burkeman1]

"Our" guy's in so we believe anything he says. I stand for a conservatism that sad to say I believe is either gone from this nation of states for good or quickly on the way out. A centralized nationalism focused on one man, one imperfect man (whatever party) has taken its place. And Franklin rolls over in his grave And FWIW, whether you believe me or not, I do hope your son comes home safely

Here Here! It is every soldiers duty to "not ask why but to do or die". They rely on a free and educated citizenry to ask the "whys". Some just want us to blindly follow our imperial president without question. If Conservatism means worship of the DC "Leader" and blind following then count me out.

[Robert_Paulson2]

"Lady, frankly I'm to the point I could care less what you believe."

---

then leave her alone...

[Burkeman1]

Oh- what a knight in shining armour you are! She posted, he responded- drop the cheap act of coming to the rescue.

[ScrtAccess]

Why don't you take a long walk off a short pier. Meantime let me know when you have something of substance to say.

[Bella]

War? I thought the president said the war was over a few months ago..didn't you hear or see him on tv? Also, can you tell me how many funerals our president has attended and paid his respectes to their familys? NOT A ONE! Now, tonite I hear they've extended the reservists tours in Iraq for one yr, which means More dead americans. Where's all this money going to..who owns those companies! Open your eyes and stop twirling in the RWB..Why's it that many of us freepers are saying/seeing the same things as I and many others...What are you going to do when the shi* starts stinking more? All the news stations were talking about it tonite, every station..there's lots going on and let's not be fooled anymore than we were!

[Bella]

Congrats to you! :-) Awesome post, and telling it the way it is!

[Burkeman1]

Thank you for that post.

[Burkeman1]

Ping- check out this post.