War Tax

[philw]

WTF  is happening there  

I heard this on the radio this morning while driving in to work

Audio version
http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/news/audio/am/200912/20091202-am6-troopnumber-preview.mp3

http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2009/s2759255.htm

TONY EASTLEY: The US President Barack Obama will tell war weary Americans tonight he intends to send more than 30,000 extra troops to Afghanistan.

The new troops will be sent into battle sooner rather than later, some will be in Afghanistan by Christmas.

His decision is causing alarm amongst Democrats and there's talk now of introducing a war tax.

From Washington John Shovelan reports the President is borrowing a leaf from his predecessor George W. Bush's political play book by making the announcement at West Point Military Academy.

JOHN SHOVELAN: President Obama's sales pitch will tie his bigger and vastly more expensive Afghan war plan to an exit strategy.

His challenge is to sell to a sceptical public escalation and exit all at once.

Administration officials are saying President Obama will say that Afghan troops will take the lead and US troops will start leaving Afghanistan well before the end of his first term.

His administration argues deploying more troops is the swiftest way to end the eight year old war.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs today emphasized that exit strategy.

ROBERT GIBBS: This will not be nation building. This is not an open ended commitment. What we're doing is putting forth a comprehensive strategy and an end game in Afghanistan.

JOHN SHOVELAN: It's understood after an initial surge the deployment schedule for additional troops will be conditional on the Afghan Government of Hamid Karzai meeting benchmarks.

Far from being what President Obama called a national security war of necessity, he's now placing strict conditions on the continuing level of US involvement.

Laying out the exit strategy with a broad time frame, the President is acknowledging the public resistance to fighting a war while the US economy and standard of living has been in a steep decline.

Chief of staff of the President's National Security Council Denis McDonough said that Americans want to see progress.

DENIS MCDONOUGH: We're investing additional resources here in the short term to create the space to make that progress.

JOHN SHOVELAN: The White House estimates each soldier costs about $1.1 million a year while deployed, making the cost of the escalation in treasure alone over $30 billion.

With the national debt about $12 trillion, Democrats are proposing a war tax to pay for the escalation.

Democrat David Obey, chair of the House Appropriations Committee, is opposed to the additional troop deployment.

DAVID OBEY: I don't think we have the tools in the Afghan Government and until we do I think that much of what we do is a fool's errand.

JOHN SHOVELAN: He has drafted a bill that would see high income earners paying a 5 per cent war surcharge while low income earners would have to pay a 1 per cent charge.

DAVID OBEY: The only people being asked to sacrifice are military families. They've had to go to the well again and again and again.

JOHN SHOVELAN: Some Liberal Democrats will defect and won't support funding for the expansion of the war.

The additional US forces and the contribution from NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) allies and other countries will allow the administration to argue they have granted the wishes of their commander in the field, General Stanley McChrystal, who asked for another 40,000 troops.

John Shovelan Washington.

[Badgersmilk]

"The White House estimates each soldier costs about $1.1 million a year while deployed"

Rolling in the cost of aircraft, tanks, satellites, and ships in with them?  Give the average soldier that money and watch how much more he can get done without all that BS!!!  Oh, yeah...  Blackwater.

[Pathfinder]

This idea of a war tax has been bouncing around for a few months now. The kommies in kongress want any and all taxes they can get. For example, this one, a "soak the rich" tax. Once it's in place, let's say 5% on all incomes over $500,000. How hard will it be to drop that floor in the future, say to $400,00, and then maybe to $250,000, and finally to $100,00, thereby taxing a huge percentage of the US. This is called incrementalism, and all they want right now - "for the best possible reasons" of course - is to get a foot in the door.

      

[tt11758]

BOHICA

[PegLeg45]

BOHICA

+1.........Take sand with your vaseline?

[Sponsor]

[tombogan03884]

Actually I'd like a LITTLE vaseline with the broken glass
                                                                 

[JC5123]

Has anyone looked at this? I can already see the exemption for congressmen and senators. 

I am officially starting my campaign right here, right now. New amendment to the Constitution. Elected officials cannot exempt themselves from legislation that the create. If it's good enough for us, then it's damn sure good enough for them. And while I'm at it, how about letting the voters decide on congressional pay. I wish I could vote myself a raise.

[BAC]

Has anyone looked at this? I can already see the exemption for congressmen and senators. 

I am officially starting my campaign right here, right now. New amendment to the Constitution. Elected officials cannot exempt themselves from legislation that the create. If it's good enough for us, then it's damn sure good enough for them. And while I'm at it, how about letting the voters decide on congressional pay. I wish I could vote myself a raise.

Great ideas!

How about we take it a step further and demand that ALL laws must apply to ALL Americans equally?  Giving subsidies to farmers to NOT grow crops.  Hell, I don't grow them either, where's my money?   

[garand4life]

"The White House estimates each soldier costs about $1.1 million a year while deployed"

Rolling in the cost of aircraft, tanks, satellites, and ships in with them?  Give the average soldier that money and watch how much more he can get done without all that BS!!!  Oh, yeah...  Blackwater.

Just curios is Blackwater still working in Iraq?... It's hard to separate fact from fiction from what I've read considering the attacks on them for "misconduct".

[tombogan03884]

Just curios is Blackwater still working in Iraq?... It's hard to separate fact from fiction from what I've read considering the attacks on them for ALLEGED, BUT DISPROVEN "misconduct".

Needed to be edited since like the Haditha Marines they have been forced to drop charges or acquit all the accused so far.
More anti American propaganda from our enemies. You know who THEY are, Democrats and RINO's.