WP: War Funds Dwindling, GAO Warns

[kskiska]

Pentagon Needs Billions More This Year in Iraq, Afghanistan

Thursday, July 22, 2004; Page A01

The U.S. military has spent most of the $65 billion that Congress approved for fighting the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and is scrambling to find $12.3 billion more from within the Defense Department to finance the wars through the end of the fiscal year, federal investigators said yesterday.

The report from the Government Accountability Office, Congress's independent investigative arm, warned that the budget crunch is having an adverse impact on the military as it shifts resources to Iraq and away from training and maintenance in other parts of the world. The study -- the most detailed examination to date of the military's funding problems -- appears to contradict White House assurances that the services have enough money to get through the calendar year.

Already, the GAO said, the services have deferred the repair of equipment used in Iraq, grounded some Air Force and Navy pilots, canceled training exercises, and delayed facility-restoration projects. The Air Force is straining to cover the cost of body armor for airmen in combat areas, night-vision gear and surveillance equipment, according to the report.

The Army, which is overspending its budget by $10.2 billion for operations and maintenance, is asking the Marines and the Air Force to help cover the escalating costs of its logistics contract with Halliburton Co. But the Air Force is also exceeding its budget by $1.4 billion, while the Marines are coming up $500 million short. The Army is even having trouble paying the contractors guarding its garrisons outside the war zones, the report said.

more…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A4065-2004Jul21.html

[REVOLT823]

1. All this while Bush is airing attack ads saying

Kerry doesn't support the troops. What a fucking hypocrite!!

[fishnfla]

2. out of money, out of bullets too?

"send lawyers,guns and money"

[Wickerman]

5. ..Dad, get me out of this"

such true words.

[salin]

3. Dems note: in the push for Bush's next tax cut... use the mantra

at what cost... ? Do we keep sending our brave into battle without adequate supplies - because we have run out of money? Or variations of the millionaire who has benefited richly from the tax cuts... contrasted with pics of those in the service who have to buy there own basic necessities to carry out their mission. And what the heck - throw an image or two of the luxurious conditions (at the tax payers expense) of the Halliburton contractors in Kuwait contrasted with the conditions of our troops (with a running text line that documents the known cases of gouging for costs done by Halliburton.)

[Zech Marquis]

4. no food, no bullets, and no money

oh yeah, that;s how we support our troops, now wave those flags and cheer :argh:

Meanwhile, those Hallibuton guys sure are living large over there... :eyes:

[cliss]

6. The one thing that will stop them. Money.

Or, the lack of it. It's really unfortunate that these animals have to bankrupt us, but it seems this is the only thing that will stop them.

[lovuian]

7. Warning Will Robinson Warning!!! War costs Billions & Billions

Isn't it fun spending our children's money ....Republicans

[Media_Lies_Daily]

8. And how much was spent sending the 7 carrier battle groups....

...into the Pacific?

Now they want to cry "poor me"??

[lazarus]

9. dupe

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=701210