Not only is the war on terror over (j/k), but Congress has funded the victory party
Congress earmarks $20 million to throw a war victory party
Provision tucked into defense bill
By Anne Plummer Flaherty
ASSOCIATED PRESS
October 5, 2006
WASHINGTON – The military's top generals have warned that Iraq is on the cusp of civil war and that U.S. troops must remain in large numbers until at least next spring. But if the winds suddenly blow in a different direction, Congress is ready to celebrate with a $20 million victory party.
Lawmakers included language in this year's defense spending bill, approved last week, allowing them to spend the money.
The funds for “commemoration of success” in Iraq and Afghanistan were originally tucked into last year's defense measure, but they went unspent amid an increase in violence in both countries that forced the Pentagon to extend tours of duty for thousands of troops.
Senate Majority Whip Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is the original sponsor of the provision, which Democrats agreed to add to last year's defense bill. Senate Republicans kept the authorization in the 2007 bill.
With the midterm election five weeks away, Democrats are pointing to it as another example of where the GOP has gone astray in handling the war in Iraq.
“If the Bush administration is planning victory celebrations, Americans deserve to know what their plan is to get us to a victory in Iraq,” said Rebecca Kirszner, spokeswoman for Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.
McConnell's spokesman, Don Stewart, said he thought the finger-pointing by Democrats was silly because the provision was added last year by unanimous consent.
“Apparently they were for honoring the troops before they were against it,” Stewart said.
The overall legislation was approved in the Senate by unanimous consent and overwhelmingly in the House after a short debate, The New York Times reported.
Carolyn Weyforth, spokeswoman for Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., said, “Republicans are confident we will be victorious in the ongoing war in terror, and we look forward to a time when those funds can be used to honor the men and women who have risked and given their lives.”
Under the language, the president could “designate a day of celebration” to honor troops serving in the two wars. The president also could call on the nation “to observe that day with appropriate ceremonies and activities” and issue awards to service members who have served honorably.
The Pentagon could spend up to $20 million of its $532 billion budget in 2007 for the commemoration, minus any private contributions it might receive for such an event.
The money will be available for fiscal 2007, which began Sunday.
About 140,000 U.S. troops remain in Iraq, with a drawdown not expected until at least early next year. About 20,000 more are in Afghanistan.
Last year, Bush administration and Pentagon officials had hoped thousands of troops could be brought home before the Nov. 7 election.
Proclaiming victory in the Iraq war has already proved to be tricky business.
President Bush was slammed by critics for delivering his “Mission Accomplished” speech in May 2003 aboard an aircraft carrier off the coast of San Diego.
While troops had successfully stormed Iraq and toppled Saddam Hussein's regime, the fight against a violent insurgency had just begun.
Vice President Dick Cheney also was ridiculed for suggesting last year that the insurgency was in its “final throes.”