As if the price of American lives wasn't already too much to pay for the Bush administration's war with Iraq, now the president is asking Congress for billions of dollars the country doesn't have to finance the endeavor.
President Bush is seeking $74.7 billion as a down payment for the war with Iraq.
The price is based on the assumption the campaign will last only 30 days.
The president's proposed war budget is dominated by $62.6 billion for the Department of Defense and, of that, $59.9 billion is earmarked for an emergency reserve fund the Pentagon could largely spend with limited input from Congress.
Bush's price tag is too lofty for a turbulent American economy that many financial experts have said cannot afford a war.
The president also is on course to continue pushing for his proposed $724-billion tax cut that was somewhat responsibly slashed to $350 billion by the Senate on Tuesday.
Bush's economic recovery plan looks more and more like an effort to break America's bankbook every day in light of his war effort.
It's a wonder why the president continues to be so intent on throwing money at the military while countless American children are still being "left behind."
But, perhaps, the most interesting point of the president's war-financing proposal is that of the total $74.7 billion he hopes to set aside to level Iraq, only $543 million is set aside for humanitarian aid, $1.7 billion is earmarked to help rebuild the country and nothing is set aside for peacekeeping efforts after the war.
This dollar-doling proposal leads one to wonder where the president's true goals are in dealing with Iraq.
It seems, from these numbers, he is more intent on destruction than liberation.
The bottom line is America is about to be dealt a kick in the wallet like it has never felt before.
In the first Gulf War, a grand coalition of allies shared the financial burden of protecting Kuwait.
Gulf War II isn't bolstering the same support and since America has chosen to go alone on the battlefield, it will have to go alone to the bank.
And for those who thought the recession of 2001 was bad, be prepared for worse.
History has taught us that as much as Americans love to fight for freedom, they hate to pay for wars.
But the bad news for Washington is the world wouldn't look too kindly on America imposing stamp and tea taxes on the Iraqi people upon gaining occupancy of the country.
Americans are being asked to pay too much for the president's campaign against Iraq. Our dollars and lives aren't worth it.
The economy of the home front needs our fighting attention more than a war in the Middle East.
