I am truly amazed at this news story. This is from the same people that blasted Kerry for his "He voted for it before he voted against it" on the first supplemental bill for the Iraq war.
Here we can see how they feel planes that are over budget, restructuring the forces, is now more important than night vision devices, and other equipment the troops in harm's way need to survive.
Exactly what is this administrations position on taking care of the soldier's? Is it just lip service for political campaign's? How about some of this extra money in the "supplemental" for the VA, after all there are now double the amount of veterans waiting for thier first VA appointment than there was one year ago, what's up with that?
Here is a link to the AP story on how the soldiers get short changed by the DOD so they can play thier games, out of the new supplemental request.
http://www.military.com/...
"WASHINGTON - A Senate measure to fund the war in Iraq would chop money for troops' night vision equipment and new battle vehicles but add $230 million for a tilt-rotor aircraft that has already cost $18 billion and is still facing safety questions."
" To pay for the Ospreys, the Senate Appropriations Committee - guided by the Corps - cut into funding for night vision goggles, equipment for destroying mines and explosives, fire suppression systems for light armored vehicles and new vehicles that can be transported into battle inside the V-22.
The panel insists the equipment cuts won't affect readiness.
"They've hijacked the bill to spend money on their toys," said Steve Ellis of Taxpayers for Common Sense, a budget watchdog group. "You have the V-22, which isn't even ready for fielding and it's getting money in the supplemental."
For example, there's more than $3 billion in funding for an ongoing overhaul of the Army that the Pentagon admits isn't directly related to fighting the war.
I don't know about the rest of you, but as an old soldier, all I see here is a Department of Defense taking money away from combat troops, to enlarge the pocketbook to play their games with, how does all this waste, help the soldier in Iraq fighting THIS war?
Does Bush and company really expect the American public to accept the fact that DOD has uncontrollable spending urges, President Bush, maybe it's time you put them on an allowance, and only buy things they really need.....