Congressional Funding Stalemate Threatens Safety of Troops

Congressional funding stalemate threatens IED work
Stars and Stripes Mideast edition
ARLINGTON, Va. — Research into combating roadside bombs could be in jeopardy as lawmakers continue debate over the latest round of supplemental funding for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to a Pentagon official.
If Congress fails to pass this fiscal year’s Defense supplemental by the end of this month, the Defense Department would have to hold off funding “any new initiatives” to protect troops from roadside bombs, according to Defense Department spokesman Bryan Whitman. He defined new initiatives as “anything that requires new funding.”
House and Senate negotiators were scheduled to meet Tuesday night to craft compromise legislation on the supplemental funding issue.
The House’s emergency spending bill totals $93.2 billion, with about two-thirds of that to pay for military operations overseas. Another $20 billion would go for reconstruction efforts related to Hurricane Katrina.
In April, the Senate passed a $106.5 billion version, which included additional funds for things such as port security, agriculture disaster assistance and aid for industries affected by the hurricane.
The extra spending has come under fire from both the House and President Bush. Both versions call for $1.9 billion of additional funding for the Joint IED Defeat Organization, a group lead by retired Gen. Montgomery Meigs and tasked with combating the problem of roadside bombs in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Whitman said the Defense Department is close to its legal limit of transferring funds to fight the war on terrorism, but would not discuss other possible ways to fund the anti-IED efforts.

“We are squeezing money out of where we can and where we have sufficient authorities to do that,” Whitman said.

The Army has already announced spending cuts on spare parts, travel and transportation, and temporary civilian contractors due to the delay in the emergency spending bill’s passage.

Wild Thing’s comment…….
The enemy believes that life has no meaning. They are eager to sacrifice their own life and take the life of anyone (women, children, our troops, etc.) who does not support their beliefs.
In contrast, the brave men and women of our armed forces have much to live for, and wish to return home to their family and a positive future.
Our troops need to aggressively defend their lives, by killing anyone perceived to present a lethal threat to them or the rest of their troop. Thus our Government needs to back them up 100% with whatever equipment they need, money they need, supplies they need to protect themselves as well as fight the enemy.
It would be not only a disgrace NOT to give our military whatever they need, make funds possible for protection it would be a catastrophe to the lives of our troops.
Give them what they need you mental midgets in Washington!