With bills piling up from the deepening war in Iraq, Republicans in Congress complained Wednesday that the Bush administration's plans to put off a request for more money until early next year is unrealistic.

The war is costing about $4.7 billion a month, officials said.

The complaints among Republicans that the administration has failed to own up to the soaring costs of the war reflect growing political strains over the war and the looming elections. If the administration is indeed forced to ask for more money, Republicans would prefer to see that happen while the election is months away.

In surprisingly sharp terms, members of the House Armed Services Committee criticized the administration's plan to wait to seek additional money until after the election.

Rep. Curt Weldon, R-Pa., said the Army had told his subcommittee that it had nearly $6 billion in unfunded budget requests. "I think the budget request that is provided to us is short-sighted and, in the case of the Army, I think it is outrageous," Weldon said.

Armed Services Chairman Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., told reporters after the hearing that he believed the administration should seek additional funding for Iraq before the current fiscal year ends in September. He said he was inclined to include an authorization for $20 billion in his committee's Pentagon authorization bill whether the administration requested it or not.


www.trinitydreams.com

dont worry, they will have their money

My fear is that if Kerry wins the election, our military is going to go into the toilet. We can't let that happen especially in light of all of the Al-Qaeda (and others) terrorism in the world. It will knock on our door again and the question is, will we be ready for it? Why is it so hard to get a 100% perfect candidate?! :D

so your saying that just becasue kerry was in vietnam that he wont automatically make the military his top priority as is the implication? how dare you question his patriotism!

I'm not questioning his patriotism...hell, I don't know what I'm questioning. We're going to get screwed either way - it's just which is the lesser of the two evils?? I'm just not so sure anymore. BRING ON THE INDEPENDENTS!

I'm not trying to be "Shaman" but here's an article about our Military that scares the bejesus out of me. (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4825948/)

what about it scares you?

It scares me that we aren't sending over the proper equipment that needs to be there. It scares me that our soldiers are driving Hummers that aren't armor equipped. It scares me that even after our government knows that its up against now, they aren't sending over our cream of the crop equipment. (i.e. more Bradleys less Mad Max) It also scares me that after this Iraq shit is all over, the next pres in office will say that our military is already well equipped and we'll really be in the toilet...simply over money concerns. It also scares me that my 11 year old son will be deciding whether to enlist or not in the next few years and what will our military be like then?

just to let you know, every army america has fielded has been under equiped and scrounging for parts, its the american way. dont think that this is something new. the left will try and get you to believe that bush isnt doing all he can to support the troops. the fact is that in war things break faster then they can be replaced, so duct tape and jimmy rigging is the order of the day. it is also widley known that after every war ameica downsizes its military significantly, and has to scramble to field an army when the need arises. Through all this, we prevail. American spirit and inginuety will overcome anything, we only need to look out for the nervous nellies nad naysayers in our midst.