The Senate Appropriation Committee on Thursday September 10 approved President Obama's request of $128 billion for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan for the budget year that begins 10/1/09. The committee also approved next years Pentagon military budget of $636 billion. The war funding will implement Obama's order earlier this year to add 21,000 troops to Afghanistan according to the associated press.
The budget year beginnining 10/1/09 represents President Obama's first budget. Financing both wars are part of the budget process under his administration. The two wars were handled outside the budget process during the Bush administration and added almost a trillion dollars to the record budget deficits and debt the Bush administration ran for 8 straight years.
President Obama and his advisers are looking over an on the ground assessment of the military situation in Afghanistan that was delivered to the white house last week according to the associated press. The President will use this information to come to a conclusion about how to procede in that country. It is believed the military will ask for more U.S. troops. Some democratic members of congress are already on record as opposing more U.S. troops at this time.
World wars I and II lasted 4 years each; The Korean war lasted 3 years; The Viet Nam war lasted 10 years; The Iraq war is 6 years and 6 months and still counting; The Afghan war will start its 8th year next month. The President's decision should not be a repeat of Mr. Bush's decisions concerning those wars. The President needs to have the wisdom and see the big picture of how to deal with the problem of Afghanistan and the real threat from that country.
We know Iraq posed no threat to the national security of our country and the cost in lives and money to our people and the country must not be repeated in Afghanistan. Like Iraq, there are those who would like to see the U.S. in Afghanistan forever. The military-industrial complex and those who like to talk tough are among them. A country who spends over $600 billion a year on national defense can surly come up with a way to keep America safe without fighting a never ending war.
After almost 8 years of war in Afghanistan we are being told the Taliban are stronger than ever. That is a devastating revelation. Hopefully the President will recall our past mistakes and not travel down that same path. The President needs to remember that military brass in the past have not always given the best advise concerning war and peace. A good example was the 1962 Cuban missile crisis when the joint chiefs of staff wanted the military to strike first and invade Cuba. That is the situation they wanted. President Kennedy had the wisdom to see and seek other options to keep America safe. The President needs to make sure his circle of advisers are large enough to see the big picture and various options that are in the best interest of our country and our men and women in uniform.
The President should also make sure we are out of Iraq on schedule and hopefully sooner. It is a must to end that unnecessary war and occupation.
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