The Senate Budget Committee seeks answers on the timeline and total of 2009 war funding

The Senate Budget Committee held a hearing on the 2009 defense budget and war costs. Witnesses were Assistant Secretary of Defense Gordon England, Defense Controller Tina Jonas, and General James Cartwright, vice chairman of the joint chiefs of staff.

Ranking member Judd Gregg (R-NH) was not present. After chairman Kent Conrad's opening statement, Wayne Allard (R-CO) made a statement for the Republicans. Both senators mentioned the $70 billion in supplemental war funding as obviously incomplete and vaguely justified.

In his opening statement Conrad made a reference to an interview in the early days of the war where former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld where the former Defense secretary  said that the war was estimated at $50 billion.

The focus remained on the discrepancies between the base budget and the war funding which is separate. Both Conrad and Allard asked questions seeking a more realistic, long term projected figure. Secretary Robert Gates had made a statement with the number of $170 billion. But while England agreed with the secretary's estimate he said that both a final war funding figure and a date on which a funding figure for '09 would be known depended on what Gen. Petraeus says this spring and the appropriation of $102 billion from the 2008 war supplemental budget request.

Additionally changes in the labor market, such as a decline in manufacturing and the unpredictability of the market and government budgeting, came up as a concern. General Cartwright said that these things are "challenging" and he discussed the idea of budgeting for two years.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) asked outright whether parts of the procurement section the Defense Department budget was being aimed at a future conflict with China or Russia. Secretary England said that Russian and Chinese defense systems are considered in future Defense spending but as to specific threats being considered England said that he would have to speak in a more classified setting.

Conrad said that they hoped to bring the budget to the floor by the first or second week of March.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Hearing on Afghanistan

The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee met today to discuss policy in Afghanistan. Chairman of the committee Joe Biden (D-DE) began by saying that he is skeptical of the Bush Administration's message that the U.S. is turning a corner in Afghanistan. He said that the U.S. should make a commitment invest greater funds towards development. He called Afghan security officials "corrupt" and "ineffectual" and said that he believes the war is winnable but that the U.S. is not winning.

Panelist and Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Richard Boucher talked about narcotics trafficking and other concerns in Afghanistan but his testimony mainly highlighted positive aspects of the situation. He foresaw a positive outcome to the conflict but advocated for increased troop levels to help train Afghan police and provide stronger security. He said that roads and infrastructure offer the greatest opportunity for Afghans and he mentioned a new $200 million budget to bring more electricity there.



Biden and the Republican leader of the committee Dick Lugar (Ind.) criticized Boucher's testimony for painting a rosy image of Afghanistan. Boucher said that situation in Afghanistan is better than it was during the 1990s. According to him, Afghanistan has transformed from a failed state under Taliban rule to a state with great potential today.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee takes another look at Afghanistan

Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee John Kerry (D-MA) kicked off a hearing today to discuss strategies aimed at stabilizing Afghanistan. He began by reemphasizing the threats posed by al-Qaida and the Taleban in Afghanistan and warned that they are still planning attacks around the world including in the U.S. and in Europe. He cited studies showing that suicide attacks, poppy production, and insurgency have risen sharply in the last 3 years. Kerry also made reference to Vietnam saying that it proved that the U.S. can win every battle in Afghanistan but still lose the war.

Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN) spoke next proclaiming that failure in Afghanistan is unacceptable. He said that the U.S. has an obligation to win in Afghanistan and to understand the cause of conflict there. He said that optimism and energy was high in Kabul three years ago but that today the situation has become more difficult.

Co-chair of the Afghanistan Study Group Thomas Pickering listed some positive aspects in Afghanistan. Among them are economic growth, low inflation, and a stable currency but he did say the country is poised for a downhill slide. He said that the government in Afghanistan needs to gain legitimacy in the eyes of the Afghan people and he wants Afghanistan to forge a closer relationship with Pakistan.

Retired General James Jones said that Afghanistan holds international legitimacy and said that various groups and organizations are working inside of Afghanistan towards stabilizing the situation. He said that the U.S. should support military requests for equipment and soldiers but warned that an increased presence there would not be a longterm solution. He noted that narcotics trafficking is corrupting and criminalizing the society and that it provides insurgents with capital. He also said that the U.S. must recognize Pakistan as a part of the problem and said that the conflict in Afghanistan is regional, not local.

Pentagon PM Report

Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell held a press briefing. His opening statement concerned the defense authorization act which allows for an increase in pay raises for military personnel of 3.5 percent. He said that the Defense Department reiterates the president's request that Congress fully fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. He also commented on some new proposals that come out of the State of the Union address, particularly a preferential hiring option for military spouses across the government. Right now only the Department of Defense has preferential hiring for military spouses.

He announced a two day conference with the eight combatant commanders from Iraq, senior civilian leaders, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Secretary of State Condeleezza Rice was expected to speak to the conference group, which is also expected to meet with President Bush. Morrell answered a question about the president's figure of 20,000 troops to be withdrawn from Iraq, admitting that this is not the full surge force when support troops are considered. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has said that the rate of troop withdrawal will be conditions-based.



On Pakistan Morrell said that the U.S. stands ready to aid Pakistan militarily to fight terrorism, particularly in the Federally Administrated Tribal Areas of northern Pakistan. "But they have not asked at this point," he said.

Morrell said that the 2009 budget request was approximated at $70 billion dollars for the first quarter to cover the beginning of the Department of Defense fiscal year in October through the inauguration of a new president. After which Morrell said that the Defense Department will go back to request what will be needed at that time. He did emphasize that full funding had not been achieved for the fiscal 2008, "We're still about $102 billion short of what we need to do the job."

About an Army investigation into allegations that Iraqi detainees were killed after being captured on the battlefield last year Morrell was very cautious saying only that he could not comment very much on an ongoing investigation and that the military "takes all credible allegations seriously."

The Pentagon PM Report

Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell held a briefing with the press and began with an announcement about MRAPs or mine resistant, ambush protected vehicles, which have been ordered in almost non-stop production by the Secretary of Defense as the primary combat vehicle in Iraq.

Morrell reinforced the belief of Secretary of Defense Robert Gates that MRAPs are the safest, most live-saving vehicle choice in Iraq. This statement was made in response to a New York Times headline that suggested that MRAPs were being questioned by the Defense Department, after the first fatality in an MRAP caused by an IED (improvised explosive device) attack since the MRAP production program began. Morrell said that the Secretary of Defense has never been more convinced of the life saving quality of MRAPS than after the attack that took place over the weekend.

He also said that in retrospect the Pentagon is pleased on its decisions on a particular type of MRAP that will most likely be transferred to Afghanistan. One of the most lightweight designs ordered into ramped-up production, it turns out, is ideally suited for conditions on the ground in Afghanistan.

On the subject of Afghanistan Morrell said that the Secretary has commissioned a document that will take a look at the goals in Afghanistan for the next three to five years. It is a strategic document reflecting an overall vision for Afghanistan and is being constructed in cooperation with NATO allies. Morrell said that other U.S. government entities, such as the Department of State, will have a chance to collaborate as well.

ON the 2009 budget, Morrell said that there is a possibility that the 2009 war funding request for the military might be submitted to the Hill before the 2008 funding is passed. This does not seam likely to happen, but it is a possibility. Morell emphasized that the war is currently operating on a bridge fund passed by Congress before the intersession, but without continued movement on Capitol Hill in terms of war funding the DoD, would be forced to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with the budget for military bases.