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Politics : Stockman Scott's Political Debate Porch -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Wharf Rat who wrote (43441)	4/22/2004 10:45:52 AM
From: Wharf Rat	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 89467

GOP congressmen angry at White House over Iraq Associated Press With bills piling up from the deepening war in Iraq, Republicans in Congress complained Wednesday that the Bush administration's plans to put off a request for more money until early next year is unrealistic. The war is costing about $4.7 billion a month, officials said. The complaints among Republicans that the administration has failed to own up to the soaring costs of the war reflect growing political strains over the war and the looming elections. If the administration is indeed forced to ask for more money, Republicans would prefer to see that happen while the election is months away. In surprisingly sharp terms, members of the House Armed Services Committee criticized the administration's plan to wait to seek additional money until after the election. Rep. Curt Weldon, R-Pa., said the Army had told his subcommittee that it had nearly $6 billion in unfunded budget requests. "I think the budget request that is provided to us is short-sighted and, in the case of the Army, I think it is outrageous," Weldon said. Armed Services Chairman Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., told reporters after the hearing that he believed the administration should seek additional funding for Iraq before the current fiscal year ends in September. He said he was inclined to include an authorization for $20 billion in his committee's Pentagon authorization bill whether the administration requested it or not. Investigation opens With the full weight of the Security Council behind him, former Federal Reserve chairman Paul Volcker opened an independent investigation Wednesday into allegations of corruption and kickbacks stemming from the U.N.'s humanitarian program in Iraq. His three-member panel will oversee investigators, accountants and legal advisers expected to pore through U.N. contracts awarded over the years to companies that did business with Baghdad. But Volcker's panel has no subpoena authority and must rely on voluntary cooperation from governments, U.N. staff and members of Saddam's regime who claim they have evidence of kickbacks from the oil-for-food program. Meeting of minds The United States wants to work with Spain on key international issues despite U.S. disappointment over the new Socialist government's decision to withdraw troops from Iraq, Spain's top diplomat said Wednesday. Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos said he and Secretary of State Colin Powell agreed during a luncheon meeting to cooperate in the fight against international terrorism. Moratinos told reporters the United States considers Spain's planned pullout of 1,300 troops from Iraq to be "a decision of yesterday." The United States, he said, "wants to look to the future" in relations with Spain. Every bit helps The House voted unanimously Wednesday to let financially pinched National Guard and Reserve troops tap into retirement savings without penalty, although some Democrats called the effort to support the troops "pathetic." The House voted 415-0 to waive the 10 percent penalty imposed on early withdrawals from retirement accounts and pensions for Guard and Reserve troops deployed six months or longer since 9/11. Those taking advantage of the waiver may still owe income taxes on withdrawn savings. Security forces failed About one in every 10 members of Iraq's security forces "actually worked against" U.S. troops during the recent militia violence, and another 40 percent walked off the job because of intimidation, said Maj. Gen. Mark Dempsey, commander of the 1st Armored Division. The militia violence aggravated underlying troubles in Iraq's new military and police forces -- the unfulfilled desire for "some Iraqi hierarchy in which to place their trust and confidence" and a reluctance by Iraqis to take up arms against their countrymen, he said. The failure of Iraqi security forces to perform is significant because it could hurt the United States' overall exit strategy, which is dependent on moving U.S. troops out of the cities and handing authority to Iraqis. Tribunal shapes up The names of the prosecutors and judges who will try Saddam Hussein and his Baath Party inner circle will remain secret until pretrial questioning begins, an official said Wednesday. One of the first Baath leaders to go on trial -- perhaps even before Saddam -- will be Ali Hassan al-Majid, who earned the name "Chemical Ali" for his campaign against the Kurds in 1980s in which chemical weapons were used. Tens of thousands of Kurds were killed in the attacks, said Salem Chalabi, the court's newly appointed top executive. Questioning of likely defendants could start in two or three months, though no date has been set for the trial itself, Chalabi said. Seven judges and four prosecutors have been named, but to protect them, their identities will not be revealed. startribune.com