Support Our Troops, But No Blank Check

The Bush administration yesterday requested a $25 billion reserve account for Iraq that includes virtually no congressional oversight. "Trust us," was the Bush administration's message. But Republican Sen. John McCain stated correctly, "This is a blank check." The administration has attempted to hide the rising cost of the war until after the elections and admitted it will request a "full" supplemental of at least $50 billion in early 2005. Congress should support the troops now, but must also verify specifically how the money is spent and how it supports military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

• We must give our troops everything they need. More than a year after the invasion, the troops in Iraq still do not have all the equipment and support they deserve. American soldiers complained to Defense Secretary Rumsfeld yesterday that body armor remains inadequate; the delivery of armored humvees is behind schedule; and the troops continue to experience problems with healthcare and pay.
• The funding shortfalls reflect the Bush administration's failure to plan comprehensively for post-war reconstruction and security. From the start, the administration has failed to grasp the scope of the challenge in Iraq. It miscalculated troop and supply needs, underestimated domestic resistance, overestimated oil revenues, and failed to provide any strategic blueprint for political transition. Congress is right to stand up to the administration's bungled efforts and provide much needed guidance.
• All future funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan must come from the general budget and include more congressional oversight. Amazingly, the Bush administration refused to include costs for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan in its 2005 budget and is now demanding more money and flexibility. The American people deserve to know the financial commitment they are being asked to shoulder in Iraq and how the Administration intends to pay for it. All future funding must be fully budgeted and controlled to protect American taxpayers from the administration's costly mistakes.

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