the Sugar Conspiracy

Monday, September 08, 2003

Did I say $60 billion? I meant $87 billion!

President Bush said tonight that he would ask Congress for $87 billion in emergency spending for military operations and reconstruction in Iraq and Afghanistan, and that Iraq had now become "the central front" in the campaign against terrorism.

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Mr. Bush's request for $87 billion was on the high end of what Congress had expected. In recent days, administration officials have said they anticipated asking Congress for an additional $60 billion to $80 billion for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1. The financing, if approved by Congress, would significantly add to the federal government's deficit, which is approaching $500 billion.

He did leave a few things out though:

In his 18-minute speech, Mr. Bush did not mention Osama bin Laden, who has so far eluded American capture in Afghanistan. He also did not mention the failure so far to find any unconventional weapons in Iraq, the major stated reason that the United States went to war. Nor did Mr. Bush dwell on the conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians, which he once predicted would abate if Saddam Hussein was ousted from power in Iraq. That conflict has worsened.

And remember, there was NEVER any conclusive link between Iraq and Al Queda, despite Bush's assertions to the contrary. Iraq may now be the "central front" in the fight against terrorism, but that's largely because we've made such a mess of things over there and opened the floodgates for anyone with a grudge to cross the poorly defended borders and set up shop. Story here. And an analysis here.

posted by chris at 7:44 PM
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