Bush: Troops Need Funds, Resources, Equipment to do Their Jobs

American Forces Press Service ^ | Melinda L. Larson

[SandRat]

WASHINGTON, April 7, 2007 – One of our greatest blessings as Americans is that we have brave citizens who step forward to defend us, President Bush said during his weekly radio address today.

“Every man or woman who wears our nation’s uniform is a volunteer, a patriot who has made the noble decision to serve a cause larger than self,” Bush said the day before Easter. “This weekend, many of our service men and women are celebrating the holidays far from home.”

Noting that men and women in uniform deserve the gratitude of every American, Bush stressed military members need the funds, resources, and equipment to do their jobs. An emergency war spending bill will provide the funds troops urgently need, he said.

Bush submitted a defense budget request Feb. 5 that includes a $93.4 billion emergency supplemental measure to cover the cost of operations in the war on terror for fiscal year 2007. Congress subsequently added several additional spending measures to the bill.

“Yet for our men and women in uniform, this emergency war spending bill is not a political statement it is a source of critical funding that has a direct impact on their daily lives,” Bush said.

Bush said Marine Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, recently testified before Congress and warned the military will be forced to make cuts in other areas if troops on the front lines are not funded.

“The Army will be forced to consider slowing or even freezing funding for depots where pivotal equipment is repaired, delaying or curtailing the training of some active duty forces, and delaying the formation of new brigade combat teams,” Bush said.

Noting that a delay in funding could mean a delay in troops coming home, Bush called it “unacceptable.”

“The bottom line is that Congress’s failure to fund our troops will mean that some of our military families could wait longer for their loved ones to return from the front lines. And others could see their loved ones headed back to war sooner than they need to,” Bush said. “That is unacceptable to me, and I believe it is unacceptable to the American people.”

Bush added that he will veto a bill that imposes restrictions on military commanders, sets an arbitrary date for withdrawal from Iraq, and funds domestic spending that has nothing to do with the war. Congress needs to work on a bill that gives troops the funds they need, without strings and without further delay, he said.

“We have our differences in Washington, D.C., but our troops should not be caught in the middle. All who serve in elected office have a solemn responsibility to provide for our men and women in uniform. We need to put partisan politics aside, and do our duty to those who defend us,” Bush concluded.

Related Sites:
Transcript President's Radio Address

[SandRat]

FR WAR NEWS!

WAR News at Home and Abroad You'll Hear Nowhere Else!

All the News the MSM refuses to use!

Or if they do report it, without the anti-War Agenda Spin!

[Dallas59]

Needed it since 2004.

[I see my hands]

To: W: Great Man, Historic Leader

Shrug us.

[James W. Fannin]

Troops Need Funds, Resources, Equipment to do Their Jobs

And that's just on the American borders and coastal areas.

But seriously, I do hope Americans pay attention to what he's saying. This isn't a war that will go away because we wish we could bring the troops home.

[mjaneangels@aolcom]

“Troops Need Funds, Resources, Equipment to do Their Jobs
And that’s just on the American borders and coastal areas.

But seriously, I do hope Americans pay attention to what he’s saying. This isn’t a war that will go away because we wish we could bring the troops home.”

I agree. This is backwards. First we need to solve the war. When that is done we will be able to bring our troops home. I would love for us to be able to bring our troops home, but not at the cost of this war coming back to haunt the citizens of this country and our troops here at home, then have the troops sent back out again. That makes not sense. It would cost more in blood and money.