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Wingnut Arithmetic
Feb. 3rd, 2007 11:10 amThe Republicans, while still in the majority in Congress, never enacted the provisions of the 9/11 Commission Report, all of which are intended to provide real security in the wake of the attacks. The Democrats, when they came into the majority, intended to and have passed a bill that would enact ALL of the provisions of the report. These are real security, not the kind of security theater represented by preventing people from flying with their shampoo. They include screening cargo on both incoming cargo containers and in the belly of commercial aircraft and making real improvements in the communications of emergency responders.
A new report from congressional budget officials says that the cost of these provisions is expected to be approximately $21 billion over five years.
Meanwhile, President Dubya is expected to request another $100 billion this year, and $145 billion in 2008, for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Granted that we were correct to go into Afghanistan, it would have been nice if we'd completed even ONE of the two missions there (capture Osama Bin Laden and establish a stable democratic govenment in place of the Taliban, which was indeed sheltering terrorists). The completely unnecessary war in Iraq has perpetuated and accelerated terrorist action in the Middle East by providing yet another haven for terrorists, as well as motivation for individuals to join anti-US groups as they see what our country stands for under GWB and his inner circle's leadership. Torture, violations of human rights, incompetence, policies that disregard the will of the people for whom they theoretically work -- those sure win lots of friends and make the US more secure. Not.
Sure. Cavil over $4.2 billion per year for real security while champing at the bit to hand out upwards of $100 billion that in no way makes us more secure, and costs American lives (now more than 3,000 -- more than were lost on 9/11, and rising daily) as well as the money.
I recommend Rep. King gets a copy of Excel. Or at least a calculator, because his grasp of basic arithmetic is greatly lacking.
ETA: Jim Macdonald over at Making Light has written about exactly this contrast. He's clearer, more complete, and more rational in his recommendations than me. Go read.
A new report from congressional budget officials says that the cost of these provisions is expected to be approximately $21 billion over five years.
Rep. Peter King, R-New York., the ranking member of the Homeland Security Committee, said the report validated his opposition to the bill.
"This bill was rushed to the floor without the Democratic leadership giving us any indication of its massive cost -- and now we know why," King said in a written statement. "Had we known [the cost] before the bill was brought to the floor, it would have been a different story."
Meanwhile, President Dubya is expected to request another $100 billion this year, and $145 billion in 2008, for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Granted that we were correct to go into Afghanistan, it would have been nice if we'd completed even ONE of the two missions there (capture Osama Bin Laden and establish a stable democratic govenment in place of the Taliban, which was indeed sheltering terrorists). The completely unnecessary war in Iraq has perpetuated and accelerated terrorist action in the Middle East by providing yet another haven for terrorists, as well as motivation for individuals to join anti-US groups as they see what our country stands for under GWB and his inner circle's leadership. Torture, violations of human rights, incompetence, policies that disregard the will of the people for whom they theoretically work -- those sure win lots of friends and make the US more secure. Not.
Sure. Cavil over $4.2 billion per year for real security while champing at the bit to hand out upwards of $100 billion that in no way makes us more secure, and costs American lives (now more than 3,000 -- more than were lost on 9/11, and rising daily) as well as the money.
I recommend Rep. King gets a copy of Excel. Or at least a calculator, because his grasp of basic arithmetic is greatly lacking.
ETA: Jim Macdonald over at Making Light has written about exactly this contrast. He's clearer, more complete, and more rational in his recommendations than me. Go read.
