Gates: War Funding Fights Undercut Troops

(AP)  Paying for the wars in Iraq in Afghanistan in fits and starts undermines U.S. military planning and risks the gains made by U.S. troops over the past year, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Friday.

Congress this week approved $70 billion for combat operations, but that is only half of what President George W. Bush requested.

"We will again face the risk of running out of money," Gates said at a Pentagon news conference. He said the uncertainly of funding requires the Defense Department to make "short-term plans and short-term decisions."

Gates was cautiously optimistic about further troop reductions in Iraq beyond those already planned for through next summer, but declined to make any specific projection.

"We obviously want to sustain the gains that we have already made," Gates said.

In September Gates raised the possibility that U.S. troop levels could be reduced to 100,000 by the end of 2008 if conditions in Iraq continue to improve.

At the time, he had stressed that it was a hope, not a plan and that it would depend on how well the initial troop withdrawals go during the first half of the year.

On Friday Gates said it was a "lapse" on his part to give an "absolute number." Circumstances on the ground and the judgment of Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, will dictate further reductions.

Current plans call for reducing the 20 combat brigades to 15 by mid-2008, which would leave roughly 130,000 American troops in the country. Gates said the combat teams could be pared to 10 by the end of 2008 if violence in Iraq continues to ebb.

[toolmangler-2009]

Here is why they have no equipment, Mr. Gates
waste, pure, unadulterated criminal waste.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/12/21/eveningnews/main3640606.shtml

[Con Mohrat]

Gates has become a member of the neo-conmen.

He wants a lot of money for the military because they are building a $600 million embassy in the Green Zone, which will have large apartment buildings for the military. The reason is to control middle east oil. It will probably also house the usual AmEmb spies they usually have, like Army Attache, Air Attache, Naval Attache, Military Attache, US Agency for International Development (AID) and a host of new spies.
No wonder they are upset at the Islamic Republic of Iran for their non-cooperation in the schemes.

[prinzowhales]

If funding fights hurt the troops, then Gates should stop fighting for more funds...Gates, what happened to the $2.3 Trillion that Rumsfeld said was missing from Pentagon accounts on September 10, 2001?

[ioweign]

Gates: War Funding Fights Undercut Troops

Do what thousands of other Americans are doing.

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[hkommedal]

The lies of the "Bush-******" reminds us of Nazi - Goebbells "Propaganda-ministerium"

Fake enymies and real enymies over-hyped !

[hkommedal]

If ANY U.S. government wants to have any friends/allies left in the world, they better do 2 things:
Go in Afganistan in a similar way as the British (Ask FIRST shoot AFTER, not the other way!).
Get OUT of Iraq ! That war was based on LIES ONLY !
U.S.A. had an unpresidented GOODWILL after the 11th of sept. 2001 that was KEEPING UP during going into Afganistan (Co-operating with Afganistanis).
When U.S. went into Iraq (Tricking old allies to follow by sheer LIES !), THEN U.S. made themselves (and INNOCENT American citizens !) the WORLDS enimy No. 1
Result:
Some (Many) war-profiters made a few billions more.
American taxpayers ( Except the richest ones) had to pay the bill.
U.S. Federal trade-deficits and monitary-deficits (China now OWNS 1/2 U.S. and the arab nations STILL ows ca. 22% of ALL U.S. investvents)
made new records !
The Bush-****** made an UNPRESIDENTED EVERY YEAR NEW RECORD OF DEFECIT ! (1st record BEFORE 11th. of sept. 2001.
WHAT A MISERY !
The world outside U.S. (95% of the world) consider U.S. to be :
Biggest threat to world peace.
Totally UNRELIABLY inside NATO !
ANY "Information" from U.S. is believed to be a lie, even if it is true.
Europe (Oldest ally) has now MORE confidence in Russia !
And they want MORE MONEY fot war in IRAQ without asking China if they STILL hold back on what U.S. OWES China !
( China has been holding back their demands in U.S.$ for 6 years due to the falling rate of U.S.$ against all major currencies.)

[tbweb]

"Congress this week approved $70 billion for combat operations, but that is only half of what President George W. Bush requested."

I am actually surprised $70 billion was approved since its all borrowed money against America''s future, nothing but extra red ink adding to the $9 trillion deficit, so be happy with that! When is Iraq going to foot some of this bill? Iraqi Oil was suppose to pay for this War anyway, where is the pressure on Iraq to Ante Up? Put the pressure to pay on Iraq, not the U.S. Taxpayers!!

[tbweb]

Defense Secretary Richard Gates (pictured here in a file photo)

Richard Gates? I thought his name was Robert Gates? Does the Defense Secretary have a twin brother we don''t know about? LOL

[knyghtwolf]

We keep getting robbed by the shrubmonkey every FREAKING time it opens its whiny pathetic hole on its face. It takes the money loses half of it, pockets the other half and comes back and asks for more. WE are not the ones shortsheeting the troops, shrubbie is doing it. Congress has NO balls whatsoever, and is a waste of OUR time, money, and efforts. Bush just struts around with one thumb up his butte and the other in his mouth, rotating them every ten minutes. How much longer indeed will we wait? Congress has got to be sweating bullets by now because they KNOW the AMERICAN people have had ENOUGH of their lies and deceitfulness. Congress and bush are one and the same. Because of this fact, soon we will be just like the war torn countries in the middle east except it will be here in YOUR cities, towns, and streets. YOU will get to watch YOUR family, friends and children get blown up, burnt up or killed right before YOUR eyes. Keep supporting congress while they blow smoke up your collective buttes. The Constitution is only as good as those who enforce it. We need to fill the streets with as many as possible to be heard then see what happens. NO MORE BUSH

[watcher269-2009]

And giving into Bush and Cheney''s funding for this Illegal War Undercuts America and Americans!

Shut the Fu*k up Gates and go fight the War yourself - and use your Salary to fund it!

1 Trillion dollars has been spent on this illegal war with at least 400 Billion in Fraud - find that money and fund the war or SHUT THE FU*K UP!