Obama Asks for $192 Billion In War Spending

At a time we are headed toward the greatest deficit ever, and a freeze is being proposed on discretionary spending, President Obama is asking for $192 billion in war spending over the next 18 months.

The request reflects Obama’s recent decision to send 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan to blunt a growing insurgency. Despite doubts among many Americans, including those in his own political party, Obama sees the decision as critical to bringing the war to a conclusion.

…

The government has already shelled out a combined $1 trillion since 2001 for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Obama’s $192 billion war budget rivals the $245 billion request made in 2007 by President George W. Bush, after announcing that more than 20,000 combat troops would be sent to Baghdad.

…

The $192 billion request includes $33 billion to pay for the troop buildup this year. The remaining $159 billion would pay for overseas military operations in the government’s 2011 budget year, which begins Oct. 1.

…

Some $9 billion would go toward buying more helicopters, while $2 billion would be used to almost double – from 37 to 65 – the number of combat air patrols by sophisticated unmanned aerial vehicles.

The money also would go to U.S. allies. Obama calls for $2 billion for Pakistan to reimburse it for operations along its Afghan border, as well as $13.6 billion to train and equip security forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.

By: Alan

Alan Colmes is the publisher of Liberaland.