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Obama seeks $83.4b war money on Iraq and Afghanistan
(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-04-10 08:06
Some Democrats were not pleased. "This funding will do two things - it will prolong our occupation of Iraq through at least the end of 2011, and it will deepen and expand our military presence in Afghanistan indefinitely," said anti-war Rep. Lynn Woolsey, D-Calif. "Instead of attempting to find military solutions to the problems we face in Iraq and Afghanistan, President Obama must fundamentally change the mission in both countries to focus on promoting reconciliation, economic development, humanitarian aid, and regional diplomatic efforts."
US Defense Secretary Robert Gates, a holdover from the Bush administration, said, "The reality is the alternative to the supplemental is a sudden and precipitous withdrawal of the United States from both places, and I don't know anybody who thinks that's a good idea." He said, "The reality is it would put everything we have achieved in Iraq at tremendous risk, and I believe it would greatly endanger our troops." Obama was a harsh critic of the Iraq war as a presidential candidate, a stance that attracted support from the Democratic Party's liberal base and helped him secure his party's nomination. He opposed an infusion of war funding in 2007 after Bush used a veto to force Congress to remove a withdrawal timeline from the US$99 billion measure. But he supported a war funding bill last year that also included about US$25 billion for domestic programs. Obama also voted for war funding in 2006, before he announced his candidacy for president. The request includes US$75.8 billion for the military and more than US$7 billion in foreign aid. Pakistan, a key ally in the fight against al-Qaida, will receive US$400 million in aid to combat insurgents. The upcoming debate in Congress is likely to provide an early test of Obama's efforts to remake the Pentagon and its much-criticized weapons procurement system. He is requesting four F-22 fighter jets costing about US$600 million as part of the war funding package but wants to shut the F-22 program down after that. Included in the special measure is US$400 million for the first installment of a new program to train and equip Pakistan's military. The Associated Press reported last week that the program would total as much as US$3 billion over the next five years and would include money for helicopters, night-vision goggles and communications equipment. Distribution of the funding will be controlled by the military and will be tightly focused on improving the ability of Pakistan's military, including its Frontier Corps, to better fight insurgents hiding in safe havens along the border. It also will allow commanders to provide humanitarian relief to people affected by military operations. The funding measure would include US$3.6 billion for the Afghanistan National Army. Obama is also seeking US$30 million in Justice Department funding to implement the shut down of the facility in Guantanamo Bay holding enemy combatants. Poor countries would receive US$448 million to help them deal with the global financial crisis. The White House wants the bill for the president's signature by Memorial Day, said a House Democratic aide. Obama warned lawmakers not to succumb to the temptation to use the must-pass war funding bill as a vehicle for other spending. "I want the Congress to send me a focused bill, and to do so quickly," he wrote. Obama announced plans in February to withdraw US troops from Iraq on a 19-month timetable. His new request would push the war and diplomatic money approved for 2009 to about US$150 billion. The totals were US$171 billion for 2007 and US$188 billion for 2008, the year Bush increased the tempo of military operations in a generally successful effort to quell the Iraq insurgency.
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