Defense Bill Will Continue To Fund Occupation Of Iraq
The following is a press release from May 20, 2004, by Kucinich's office in Congress
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Kucinich Says Defense Bill Will Continue To Fund Occupation Of Iraq; Will Lead Nation Down An Unsustainable Path
Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich (D-OH), Ranking Member of the Government Reform Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations, issued the following statement on the $422.2 billion FY ’05 Defense Authorization Bill passed today in the House:
“I cannot support the FY ’05 Defense Authorization Bill because, despite the growing number of US troops and innocent civilian causalities in Iraq, this bill provides the Department of Defense with $25 billion dollars to continue the occupation of Iraq and combat operations in Afghanistan. This Administration has no exit strategy for Iraq. This bill fails to acknowledge the truth—we are losing the battle for the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people. This bill fails to correct that fact that the US military occupation of Iraq is counterproductive.
“The bill before the House continues to fund an ineffective and wasteful defense strategy based on the Cold War. The bill presented to the House today represents a 36% increase in nominal defense spending in just four short years. With Defense spending now consuming over 50% of all federal non-discretionary funding, I believe it is now time to question what our nation’s priorities are. Our nation simple cannot sustain the current path we are on.
“Just a one day after the House passed a budget to slash funding for education, health care and veterans benefits this Defense Authorization Bill will continue to divert essential resources from our nation’s real needs.
“While our nation’s economy continues to struggle and deficits soar upwards this bill funds many Cold War relics that will do little to protect us from today’s threats. Included in this bill is $9 billion dollars for the President’s failed Ballistic Missile Defense program; $4.5 billion for the F/A-22 ‘Raptor’ fighter jet, a cold war fighter plane without an enemy to fight; and $1.6 billion for the V-22 ‘Osprey’ tilt rotor plane, a plane with a history of crashing and a unsafe safety record. Throwing more money at the Pentagon, and lining the pockets of defense contractors, does not make our nation safer.
“I voted against this bill because our nation can ill-afford to travel down the path that this bill leads. Our nation cannot continue to fund a war without an end and a Pentagon with no limits.”
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