The Pentagon has announced today that it is seeking Congressional approval for a “shift” of $9.6 billion in approved spending, with most of the changes going to cope with the increased costs of the Afghan War.
The Pentagon has reportedly already been shifting money into the various “contingency funds” related to the war, but it convinced it will rapidly exceed the $7.5 billion cap on such transfers as the crisis worsens. Beyond this level they would need Congress to sign off.
Recent reports have indicated that the Pentagon’s “placeholder” estimates for Afghan War costs in upcoming years are much higher than expected, and Pentagon Comptroller Robert Hale has warned the costs may continue to rise “substantially.”
Though the per year appropriations for Afghanistan are still down from the levels spent at the peak of the surge, but previous estimates of savings from the drawdown have not panned out nearly to the level expected, with analysts saying that the military has yet to fully explain why the war is still so costly.
SHUT DOWN racist anti-american PUPPET SOUTH KOREA—SAVE BILLION$
Only crippling sanctions could a peaceful Pentagon make.
Ah, the Pentagon, where America's GNP goes to die–
"…has yet to fully explain why the war is still so costly"…
Simple. They continue to funnel shipping containers full of cash into Karzai's bank accounts, expecting some kind of "We love the Occupier!!" celebration with parties and peace…and what we get for our money is…growing Swiss bank accounts and corruption. Cut Karzai (and the rest of his family) loose, bite the bullet and bring everyone home. If the oil/natural resources companies want to stay, they can provide their own (paid for) security forces.
And its not just Karsai …. its every contractor who's got a 'cost-plus' contract who views the wars as what they are …. a tool for transferring money from tax payers to their pockets.
The Pentagon constantly reveals they can't do basic accounting and can't track their money. Then they act surprised they are spending more than they expect. Then of course, they come back to the tax payers and demand more and more and more and more and more.
Jefferson and friends were right. Large standing armies are the greatest threat to our liberties and freedom.
Iraq and Afghanistan….a $8 trillion nightmare that will haunt our grandchildren. Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld should be indicted for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
oh, the poor little aggressive warmongers.