In a story confirming
John Kerry's characterization that a "so-called coalition of the bribed, the coerced, the bought" is operating with U.S. troops in Iraq, President Bush asked for $400 million dollars in military aid to Poland, Ukraine, Hungary, the Baltic States and other nations that supported the misadventure in Iraq. The money would be included in the $80 Billion dollar off-budget supplemental.
Poland is set to receive $100 million US.
More from the AP:
President Bush is asking Congress to set up a $400 million fund to reward nations that have taken political and economic risks to join U.S.-led coalitions in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The White House announced the fund, dubbed the "solidarity initiative," after Bush's meeting yesterday with Aleksander Kwasniewski, the president of Poland, a nation that is to receive one-fourth of the money.
Hey, I'd get solid with the White House for $50,000 per troop in Iraq. U.S. soldiers only get $15,000 max to re-enlist for 6 years! I love Poland, Eastern Europe, and appreciate the great strides they have made for themselves and democracy in the 80s and 90s. That doesn't mean I want my tax dollars funding their military.
How about not doubling the prescription copayment for veterans and using this money to fund the Veterans Administration, Mr. President?