Bush wants $600 million for Iraq police; but cuts aid to U.S. cops

[laststeamtrain]

Bush wants $600 million for Iraq police; but cuts aid to U.S. cops
David Lightman | McClatchy Newspapers

last updated: May 27, 2008 05:36:11 PM

WASHINGTON — At the same time the Bush administration has been pushing for deep cuts in a popular crime-fighting program for states and cities, the White House has been fighting for approval of $603 million for the Iraqi police.

The White House earlier this year proposed slashing the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program, which helps local law enforcement officials deal with violent crime and serious offenders, to $200 million in the next fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1.

In 2002, the year before the Iraq war, the program received $900 million.

The administration and the Democratic-controlled Congress are headed for a showdown over the domestic money, probably next month. When the Senate last week passed the emergency Iraq war funding bill, it allotted an immediate $490 million for the domestic grants while keeping the Iraqi police funds intact.

The House is expected to consider the package when it returns from its Memorial Day recess next week. But the domestic grants are the kind of spending that's causing Bush to threaten a veto.

White House spokeswoman Dana Perino did not single out the Byrne grants but made it clear the president is not happy with items that don't deal with the war on terror.

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[Deja Q]

1. Forgive me, but wouldn't local police be a relevant factor in the war on terror?

The cut makes no sense.

[laststeamtrain]

2. Yes.

Also being able to have gang & drug task forces to stop the terrorism of meth weasels breaking into your house & stealing all your stuff.

One more thing the current Republican party is not, is the 'law & order' party.

[MindPilot]

5. Just one more piece of evidence that there is no "terror threat";

there is no al-Qeada, and the only thing Bush wants is to appease his hand-holding, spit-swapping Saudi butt-buddies.

[High Plains]

11. It's for narcs. The Byrne grants fund the drug task forces.

They're not looking for Osama, they're looking for pot growers.

[MindPilot]

3. That's Bush for you, cares more about Iraqis than Americans

Bush would gift the entire United States to Iraq if he could.

[magellan]

4. Over half a BILLION of our tax dollars for IRAQI police?

Well, when one looks at this from the Repub point of view, the returns on shoving another half BILLION $$ in Iraq far outweigh the returns on bolstering domestic crime-fighting. After all, our cops ain't got no oil or free market to hand over.

[MindPilot]

6. Yeah think about that the next time someone is breaking into you house

and the understaffed overworked cops take 45 minutes to show up. Take solace in knowing that Iraq has plenty of police. They probably are cops by day and laying roadside bombs by night, but hey, isn't someone else's infrastructure worth the sacrifice?

[ColbertWatcher]

7. Pfft.

The Iraq police funds are listed as money due to Iraq's Ministry of Interior. Also included in "new obligations" to the "Iraq Security Forces Fund" are $603 million for the Interior Ministry, $744 million for the Ministry of Defense and $153 million for "quick response."

So, the money is meant to go to Iraq's Minister of Interior, not necessarily the police. I wonder what the Iraqi word for "graft" is...

[Captain Angry]

8. That's what the local cops get for not being Blackwater.

If they would reorganize as a government contractor, they'd get the money.

If he were to spend on services here, it would make him a big government politician.

So he spends our money there, since it's not being spent ON government, it's different. Right?


What a schmuck.

[liberal N proud]

9. Keeping US safer?

[High Plains]

10. Cutting the Byrne Grants is about the one good thing Bush has done.

They mainly go to fund multi-jurisdictional anti-drug task forces. You know, those cowboys cops who go SWATting around busting drug offenders. I'm perfectly happy not seeing my tax dollars spent on that shit.

Make those narcs earn an honest living.

[High Plains]

12. It would be a shame for Democrats to demagogue this issue.

"We need more drug war, yay!"