What's another $82 billion between friends. Well, make that a total of $300 billion so far in the War on Terra.
AP story here
Some quotes:
"President Bush on Monday urged Congress to approve quickly his request for $82 billion to cover the costs of military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and a myriad of other internationally related expenses, such as training Iraqi security forces, aiding tsunami victims and helping military forces in other nations."
...
"Included in the request is $74.9 billion for the Defense Department. About $5 billion is for reorganizing Army divisions and brigades and $5.7 billion for training and equipping Iraqi military and police, according to a federal official familiar with the request.
The remaining money in the supplemental request includes:
-- $2.242 billion to counter drugs, pay for security, and support democracy and reconstruction in Afghanistan.
-- $950 million to help areas affected by the recent tsunami in the Indian Ocean.
-- $660 million for construction of a U.S. embassy in Baghdad.
-- $400 million to reward nations that have taken political and economic risks to join the U.S.-led coalitions in Iraq and Afghanistan.
-- $242 million for the Darfur region of western Sudan where a two-year civil conflict has left tens of thousands of people dead and more than 2 million displaced.
-- $200 million in education and border security aid for the Palestinians.
-- $200 million for economic and military aid in Jordan.
-- $150 million in military aid for Pakistan.
-- $100 million for southern Sudan where a treaty recently was signed to end a 22-year civil war.
-- $60 million for Ukraine, which recently elected Viktor Yushchenko president."
...
"Congress approved $25 billion for the wars last summer. Using figures compiled by the Congressional Research Service, which prepares reports for lawmakers, the new request would push the totals provided for the conflicts and worldwide efforts against terrorism past $300 billion. That includes $25 billion already provided for rebuilding Iraq and Afghanistan."
Of course they include $$ for Sudan/Darfur and Tsunami aid. Who can vote against that?