Pentagon officials move ahead on layoff plans in anticipation of funds drying up. Democrats say they're exaggerating. By Peter Spiegel and Julian E. Barnes, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers November 21, 2007 WASHINGTON -- An increasingly bitter dispute between the Bush administration and Congress over war funding took an acrimonious turn Tuesday as Pentagon officials advanced plans to lay off 200,000 civilians because of budget shortfalls, prompting Democratic charges of fear-mongering.
President Bush requested $196 billion for war funding in 2008, which would make it the most expensive year to date. House Democrats last week countered with a bill providing partial funding tied to troop withdrawal goals. But political squabbling over the measure stalled passage in the Senate, and Congress left town for its two-week Thanksgiving vacation without approving new funding.
Seizing on the congressional stalemate, the White House has accused Democrats of failing to support soldiers and their families. As part of the offensive, the Pentagon announced Tuesday that Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates had ordered the Army and Marine Corps to begin planning for a near shutdown of bases early next year in anticipation of funds drying up.
In addition, Gates informed Congress that he intended to borrow $4.5 billion -- most of it from the payroll of the Air Force and Navy -- to fund the work of a roadside bomb task force into January. The head of the task force insisted that without an infusion of cash from Congress, the group would be forced to a standstill.
Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said: "These are highly regrettable but entirely avoidable measures that we have to take due to Congress' inaction."
posted
i dunno how they plan to legally layoff 200,000 civil servants, but if you think the economy is in trouble now? that will be crippling. it's a political ploy (lie)....
-------------------- Don't envy the happiness of those who live in a fool's paradise. Posts: 36378 | From: USA | Registered: Sep 2003
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I am not one that thinks Gates is either competent or apolitical. He is a pure Party first loyalist, thus destroying any chance for competence, and, as is the sentiment of such people, to Hell with the Nation.
Posts: 11304 | From: Fort Worth, Texas | Registered: Mar 2005
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do you ever talk to people that have been over there?
the politicians over there are another story entirely. the politcal situation is worse, and it appears the insurgents are up in the north now, POSSIBLY trying to get Turkey riled up enough to invade.. that would bring oil to 125$ in one trading session... i am really beginning to wonder if the terrorists aren't just mercenaries working for the oil producers... it's the one thing that makes sense...
-------------------- Don't envy the happiness of those who live in a fool's paradise. Posts: 36378 | From: USA | Registered: Sep 2003
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posted
"do you ever talk to people that have been over there?"
Yes.
"the politicians over there are another story entirely. the political situation is worse,"
Yes again. And that is part of the problem. The claim was that the "surge" would allow the Iraqi politicians to concern themselves with cleaning up the political situation. It has not. They haven't so much as bothered. Indeed, it seems to have made it even worse. It only shows improvement when and where the added U.S. troops are and then only with respect to how many Iraqis kill Iraqis where the troops are. Just as before there was a surge, when and if U.S. troops are no longer there, back come the bombing and the unrest.
But Gates is running here and there claiming the surge is working. That is so much Party line BS. It would be working if, as promised, it had caused the Iraqis to deal with the political realities. They have not and are not about to start. Gates seems to have forgotten what was the purpose of the surge and that doesn't indicate competence.
Posts: 11304 | From: Fort Worth, Texas | Registered: Mar 2005
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you know that old saying about leading a horse to water? it's really true... those politicians have no intention of settling any differences between them. the Saudi Royals seem to be liking the Iraq insurgency too since it keep the price of oil high...
the Dems need to get off their azzes and start prosecuting the criminals that are stealin' our tax dollars, and we need to turn Iraq into a peaceful state, even if that means setting up another dicktater... if we leave in an irresponsible fashion? things will get worse.
i acknowledge that Bush and anybody working for him won't be able to solve the problems because Dubya is clueless when it comes to , well just about anything other than pardoning turkeys...
-------------------- Don't envy the happiness of those who live in a fool's paradise. Posts: 36378 | From: USA | Registered: Sep 2003
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posted
less peopel are dying. that's better. that's a fact. even the most liberal journalists agree on that point.. everybody but you...
as i said before? it's not good enough, and if we just pull out and leave tomorrow? it'll get worse again...
Iraq is a historically "conglomerate state" and just can't be made into one uniform state. the Kurds and th eSunni's and hte Shia are never going to settle thier differences peacefully..
no matter how much Dubya "prays" (LOL) over them... Joe Biden has it right IMO; three states could bring peace to the area...
-------------------- Don't envy the happiness of those who live in a fool's paradise. Posts: 36378 | From: USA | Registered: Sep 2003
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posted
Biden packs more moxie in his little finger than the sum total of the wit and wisdom of the entire collection of this Administration's Party loyal lackeys (and that sum total includes the contribution of Gates).
But, of course, Biden is but one of multitudes that appear as geniuses when compared with Gates or anyone else hampered by a conviction to make decisions or statements to aggrandize the policies and efforts of this Administration in the east (or elsewhere, for that matter).
Posts: 11304 | From: Fort Worth, Texas | Registered: Mar 2005
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posted
Yes, it would be a real loss if we no longer had his mind working on our problems, but a Secretary of State can work so much more effectively.
Posts: 11304 | From: Fort Worth, Texas | Registered: Mar 2005
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