Paulson: $70 Billion War Budget Is A ‘Placeholder,’ Will Need ‘Unknowable Amount’ Later
Paulson: $70 Billion War Budget Is A ‘Placeholder,’ Will Need ‘Unknowable Amount’ Later
In announcing his new budget yesterday, President Bush proclaimed that it “achieves balance by 2012.” Congress, however, pointed out that the budget didn’t include billions of dollars in Iraq-related spending.
In fact, Bush’s $70 billion budget for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars account for costs only up to the first half of FY2009. In a budget hearing today, Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson confirmed that the budget drastically lowballs Iraq war-related costs:
PAULSON: What we’ve got in terms of 2009, you have $70 billion which is a placeholder. And that will be needed to be updated when Gen. Petraeus comes back and reports and so on. In terms of what we’re going to spend this year, Congress, I believe, is yet to appropriate $108 billion which is going to be needed right now.
SEN. BINGAMAN: So we need the $108 billion plus we need the $70 billion plus we need whatever Gen. Petraeus says in his report in March? And the amount that Gen. Petraeus asked for is not included in the budget?
PAULSON: It’s an unknowable amount. … That’s a placeholder and it will change based on what the requirement is.
Watch it:
Bush’s proposed budget will likely lead to a deficit of over $400 billion by 2009, “just shy of the record $413 billion set four years ago.” While Bush foresees a balanced budget by 2012, the unaccounted war costs will lead to a “deficit that remains in the $200 billion range in 2012,” according to Rep. John Spratt (D-SC).
Today, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates also declined to specify the war costs, claiming there are “too many variables.” “There’s a lot of games, smoke, mirrors, incomplete numbers, basically there’s not much realism” in the budget, Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH), the Budget Committee’s top Republican, charged. “They’re playing the usual games.”
Read more in today’s Progress Report.
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But of course. God knows how much that war with Iran is gonna cost.
February 5th, 2008 at 5:00 pmThe crime will only be perpetuated if the Congress passes this monstrousity.
February 5th, 2008 at 5:04 pmHow can they possibly know ahead of time how many billions will end up “missing” in Iraq??? I mean, really. It’s not like the Pentagon can plan for that monumental level of incompetence.
This is the last year for the Bush admin to steal as much money and hand out as many no-bid contracts as possible. How can they possibly anticipate how much they can get their greedy hands on?
February 5th, 2008 at 5:10 pmThese people are such liars.
February 5th, 2008 at 5:10 pmInsanity, pure and simple. There isn’t enough gold in the universe to cover these figures, so now it’s Monopoli money.
February 5th, 2008 at 5:10 pmIf you looked in Bush’s head, you’d see a “placeholder” in place of an actual brain.
February 5th, 2008 at 5:14 pmSen. Judd Gregg (R-NH), the Budget Committee’s top Republican, charged. “They’re playing the usual games.â€
Of course our deluded watchers of FOX will say this guy is lying.
February 5th, 2008 at 5:14 pmSo what this tells me is that bush doesn’t have any idea what to do in Iraq. If there was a plan then there would be a budget. I guess we’re just letting the “terrorists” dictate to us. Heck of a job bushie!
February 5th, 2008 at 5:15 pmWhy won’t the democrats form a oversight committee to audit all of the Iraq war expenditures?
That would open some eyes for sure.
February 5th, 2008 at 5:19 pmSen. Judd Gregg (R-NH), the Budget Committee’s top Republican, charged. “They’re playing the usual games.â€
Well, may i suggest you don’t play along for a change?!?!
February 5th, 2008 at 5:19 pmEven with Rove out, they’re still gunning for that permanent war spending majority.
February 5th, 2008 at 5:21 pmOf course it’s a LOT of credit card money, but congress will not shirk its duty to give bush/cheney all they want then claim, they had no choice. What a joke!
February 5th, 2008 at 5:24 pmPAULSON: It’s an unknowable amount. … That’s a placeholder and it will change based on what the requirement is.
It’s a $70 billion known unknown.
February 5th, 2008 at 5:29 pmHow Much Is 3 Trillion?
The Associated Press explains: “A person given $1 million a year to spend would need 3 million years to blow $3 trillion. The United States, a government of sizable financial appetite, can do it in one. . . .
“If the money was split among the 300 million Americans, everyone would take home $10,000.
“Counting to 3 trillion at a rate of one number a second would take almost 95,000 years.
“Looking at it another way, one would have to circumvent the globe 120 million times to travel 3 trillion miles. Similarly, that would be some 17,000 round trips to the sun. The universe, 15 billion years old at the outside, would need another 200 such lifetimes to reach 3 trillion years
February 5th, 2008 at 5:30 pmCHENNEY AND BUSH BEHIND BARRS NOW!
February 5th, 2008 at 5:31 pmBush: “Is a trillion more than a brazilian? Can’t we just print some more money?”
February 5th, 2008 at 5:35 pmShell out the money with strings tied to withdrawal activities only.
If Bush vetoes it, let the pentagon figure it out.
February 5th, 2008 at 5:35 pm8So what this tells me is that bush doesn’t have any idea what to do in Iraq. If there was a plan then there would be a budget. I guess we’re just letting the “terrorists†dictate to us. Heck of a job bushie!
Comment by Bobwurst — February 5, 2008
February 5th, 2008 at 5:37 pmThe sole reazon for invading Iraq was given by this criminal administration was “will Saddam Husaein disarm (WMD)”. That was the alledged mission! When it became clear that there was no WMD, the WH and the media came with the “noble” reazoning of “Democracy promotion”. Today, when it is obvious the “Democracy promotion” was not the reazon they are occupying Iraq, they don’t talk about the mission anymore… WMD, programs of WMD, democracy promotion, Bench marks, and god knows what slogan they will invent next to substitute an illegal invasion and thier war crimes. All on american Tax payers money!
You must, however admit, that these fu(kers have brass balls the size of which King Kong would envy…
February 5th, 2008 at 5:37 pm“And the amount that Gen. Petraeus asked for is not included in the budget?”
I see. Now the mythical General Petraeus gets to ask Congress for however much money he wants to fight the war. Has he actually replaced Bush as the leader of the free world now?
February 5th, 2008 at 5:40 pmIf the dems have a spine, they’ll provide funding only to transfer U.S. forces and equipment to garrison, but of course thorough representation is bleak with 24%ers standing in the way.
February 5th, 2008 at 5:40 pm21 comments and still no idiot screaming “Freedom isn’t free”? Come on guys!
February 5th, 2008 at 5:41 pmI see. Now the mythical General Petraeus gets to ask Congress for however much money he wants to fight the war. Has he actually replaced Bush as the leader of the free world now?
Comment by VerbalKint
That’s cuz bush always listens to the troops, unles they’re the phoney kind who don’t think we should be in Iraq.
February 5th, 2008 at 5:42 pmThis is just UNFREAKING BELIEVABLE!!!
February 5th, 2008 at 5:44 pm21 comments and still no idiot screaming “Freedom isn’t free� Come on guys!
Comment by dbadass — February 5, 2008 @ 5:41 pm
Actually, it’s “our women will be forced to wear burkas.”
February 5th, 2008 at 5:46 pmFreedom isn’t free, it’s very $$$$$ expensive $$$$$
Sincerely,
Blackwater
P.S. — When the Dems cave and mail us the check, we’ll be in touch.
February 5th, 2008 at 5:47 pmVK, may I offer you the latest in troll blasting hardware?
The RUC*TU-31(troll unmoleculifyer) is on discount this week only!
February 5th, 2008 at 5:59 pmvk, forgot to mention, only one used unit left, used it on O.Bigfoot a couple of days ago…
February 5th, 2008 at 6:00 pmActually, it’s “our women will be forced to wear burkas”Comment by VerbalKint
February 5th, 2008 at 6:00 pmAnd,”we’ll be praying to the east 5 times a day,and be speakin’ mooslim”.
Also”It takes money to make money”or “birthin’ democracy ain’t cheap!” :)
I am trying to imagine how my boss would take it if I said the vast amounts of money and resources available would not allow me to even ‘guesstimate’ how much a project would cost. I would be gone before lunchtime.
This is YOUR money folks…YOUR MONEY!!!!!! If the people who Mr Bush selected cannot do their jobs – why are they still working in our government? Please call and email your representatives EVERYDAY. Make some noise and don’t ever give up. That is the only way we will take back our country. REMEMBER: THESE IDIOTS WORK FOR US – WE DON’T WORK FOR THEM.
February 5th, 2008 at 6:03 pm“used it on O.Bigfoot a couple of days ago…
Comment by RUCerious — February 5, 2008 @ 6:00 pm”
Yeah, well that alone has probably ruined it for good.
February 5th, 2008 at 6:03 pmspecialist f ~ troll fear has a most peculiar fetid stench…
February 5th, 2008 at 6:03 pmIsn’t it about time that Congress makes Bush put Iraq spending in the government’s budget and find a way to pay for it? It is totally ridiculous that this spending is still considered to be “emergency funding”.
That’s one way Congress can put the responsibility onto Bush’s shoulders rather than forcing the Democrats to find a way to pay for his mess in January of 2009.
February 5th, 2008 at 6:05 pmBy telling the terrorists how much we are spending on the war we might as well surrender. If they know how much we are spending they will know how close we are to going broke.
TELLING THE TERRORISTS HOW MUCH WE ARE SPENDING IS LIKE A FINANCIAL TIMETABLE (because our finances are finite)!!!
February 5th, 2008 at 6:37 pmYou know it’s a telling article when the trolls won’t even show up with a stupid comment, let alone a ’serious’ attempt to address the issue.
I mean really, who the hell would say that this war has been worth the immense amount of money it has cost us? And, as McJowls makes clear, there is absolutely no end in sight.
February 5th, 2008 at 6:50 pmComment by nakmario
February 5th, 2008 at 6:56 pmI hope you are being “Colbert-esque”. Yea, we need more secrecy in this crooked administration! Besides bush/co has done everything OBL wanted.
1)Bankrupt the treasury-CHECK.
2)Recruit and train more jihadists-CHECK.
3)Turn most of the rest of the world aganst us-CHECK.
4)Bankrupt our morality,i.e torture,rendition, illegal wiretapping-BIG FREAKING CHECK!
Heck-of-a-job shrub.
And I forgot about the breaking of our military by Commander Codpiece Guy.
February 5th, 2008 at 6:59 pm6 days, 6 weeks, not more than 6 months. Could cost 1 billion and we can get that in oil revenue.
Heck of a job Bushie
Bush/Cheney
Hague Trials ‘09
Buck Fush
February 5th, 2008 at 6:59 pm“They’re playing their usual games” pretty much defines the legacy of the Bush administration. Not an honorable person in the lot.
February 5th, 2008 at 7:04 pmIraq Group May Attack Outside Nation, McConnell Says (Update4)
February 5th, 2008 at 7:06 pmBloomberg – 1 hour ago
By Jeff Bliss and Tony Capaccio Feb. 5 (Bloomberg) — The terrorist group known as al-Qaeda in Iraq may try to attack targets around the world in response to US-led efforts to clamp down on it, the top US intelligence official said.
Also expect a new Bin-Laden tape, Katy. Got to ratchet up the fear so the neo-cons can protect us, well it works for the pee-soaked trolls.
February 5th, 2008 at 7:10 pmComment by dbadass — February 5, 2008 @ 5:41 pm
21 comments and still no idiot screaming “Freedom isn’t free� Come on guys!
The surge has worked! You libtards are too cheep to put up the $ to win this war! I know the truth! BUSH IS GREAT!
There. Happy now?
February 5th, 2008 at 7:20 pmAccording to JTA, Jewish & Israel News , Israel is getting raise in the new budget.
———————————————————————-
The Bush administration launched a new 30 billion dollars in defense spending budget to Israel proposed in 2009 budget.
The increase will be up from what Clinton administration budgeted for Israel in 1998 a ten year plan to pay Israel 2.4 billion dollars in military aid for its defense.
Bush raised this to 2.55 bilillions until year 2018.
That in addtion to what Israel normally gets in foreign aid -a total of 2.8 billion dollars annually-.
February 5th, 2008 at 7:46 pmSmoke and mirrors
February 5th, 2008 at 7:50 pmFunny thing about placeholders, if you don’t know the amount, proper protocol is to make your best, reasonable guess.
Otherwise its like saying I’m going to buy the Queen Mary this year and since I don’t know the cost, I’m putting in a raw number of $10.
Using that proceedure, I’ll never get that ship.
February 5th, 2008 at 8:40 pmOceania needs perpetual money to fight perpetual war against Eastasia. The proletariats, are kept sedate with vast quantities of cheap beer, widespread pornography, a national lottery, and Major Sports events.
Emmanuel “Osama” Bin Goldstein appears before every Inner Party election to remind the population of continual war, even though he may not even be alive.
February 5th, 2008 at 9:29 pmSome of George Bush’s goals:
1. bankrupt America,
2. Kill as many Middle Easterns as possible,
3. Pretend to be a pro-lifer,
4. Make sure that his rich friends get richer,
5. Hate gays and lesbians and anyone else that isn’t white, heterosexual (like Senator Craig) and rich.
Funny thing, I thought Bush was supposed to be a “good Christian”. Would Jesus do any of the above?
February 5th, 2008 at 10:16 pmFunny thing, I thought Bush was supposed to be a “good Christianâ€. Would Jesus do any of the above?
Comment by Willy — February 5, 2008 @ 10:16 pm
Well, Rove, Cheney, Bush Sr, Rumpsmell, Rice, Boykin, Gonzales, and Ashcroft are all “christians”.
So was St Paul, The Inquisitors, and Adolph Hitler.
No wonder people become Atheists and Pagans.
February 5th, 2008 at 10:56 pmBut, Not one more penny for those greedy little children in need of CHIP… You hear me. We have to pay insurgents not to kill our GI’s in Iraq.
February 6th, 2008 at 2:49 amBush’s definition of a “balances budget,” though, means billions of dollars worth of cuts in health care and domestic programs. So when his says America will have a balanced budget by 2012, he means almost all of our money will be sucked up by the Defense Department and the Iraq war.
February 6th, 2008 at 12:43 pmI wish I could run my household finances the way the government does. Just rack up billions in debt and live the good life. I especailly like the way the government is so concerned about all these ARM Mortgages and doing their little tsk tsk to people borrowing too much…um people in glass houses…
February 10th, 2008 at 3:03 pm