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John Ruckman of Lakewood writes:

The president is preparing to ask for yet another 50 billion dollar supplemental for Iraq. This has to stop. The tax money we have wasted there by contractors and government people, both American and Iraqi, so far would be enough to rebuild many worn out infrastructure projects in this country.
It is not that I do not support our troops. It is that unless Congress and the people put some controls on this never ending war, the country will be bankrupted. The reductions could easily be made without harming direct support for the troops. all that is required is for the administration to, at long last, begin to actually manage the war and all the contractors and other wasters in Iraq.
It is always unpopular to even suggest that we cut spending during a war, but the huge amounts that have gone for nothing in Iraq have not helped the troops—or anyone else.
In my judgment, the only way this will ever happen is if the Congress gets serious about control of the war and puts the necessary control mechanisms in place to assure all future moneys for Iraq are usefully and properly spent and a complete accounting is kept of these expenditures.
There will be a cry from some in the public and from the administration of unpatriotic actions and lack of troop support, but if it were to be done right there would be no harm to the troops or the war effort—and the money saved could far more usefully be utilized.
It is time to stop adding to our ever growing debt/deficit, not by cutting more programs at home, but by using some sound financial management of the money already appropriated in Iraq.

This letter has not been edited.

READER COMMENTS

I heartily agree. of the 2.7 trillion dollar budget from 2006, 600 billion was defense spending. The rest was entitlement spending. We should cut that out right now. Who is entitled to your money other than you?

Lets cut the budget!

People complain about the costs of illegal immigration and it is just a small fraction of what we are spending in Iraq. People are slow to admit their mistakes but this Administration is and has been a disaster. One mistake after another and generations to come will have to pay for it.

Want to read about out of control contracts, underhanded, illegal contract approvals and usage, and companies getting unbelievably rich contracts with no oversight? Go to http://www.alternet.org/story/60950/....I cant even describe how disgusted I was after reading this....

Story written by Matt Taibbi, RollingStone.com. Posted August 30, 2007.

I say we send the bill when it is finalized, to the Iraqi Government. If they had their $hit together, we would be out of there by now...

(I'm being a little facetious, but not totally).

john,obviously you didn't do any research.I can't understand how people like yourself can be so dense.

I just saw a complete idiot on TV.ron paul is actually a pussy un-informed liberal.

Keith,

Please list what is inaccurate in John's letter. Enlighten us with your in depth research regarding the subject. Inform us how the billions of $ are accounted for. Please unleash your mighty brain and shower us with your brilliance. Brought to you by Carl's Junior!!

mikey,first we have to fight this war.Al Qaeda attacked us.Now if clinton would of did his job we would not of been in this fight.If you would of done any research you would know this war is costing us about 3% of our GNP.WWII was about 53% GNP.If we don't fight to win this war like the liberals want us to do the will be massive amounts of Americans dying being killed by terrorist.Our economy will go to the dump just like 9/11.9/11 was avoidable if clinton would of takened Bin Laden after just one of his attacks.Thank God Bush wasn't a serve serving pussy like clinton or yourself.

Hey Ruckman-

Lets just give up right now huh? After all,sharia law wouldnt be that bad,right?

Mike B.-

Why don't you explain to us all again how Bush was behind 911 ?

Truther freak.

Ooh, ooh, teacher pick me.

I know.

Let's just take all our troops out of Iran tomorrow. We'll pull everybody out and we'll save the Americans a lot of money. That way Iraq will be returned to a state worse than what it was before we got there and our respect with other countries will truly plummet.

oops meant Iraq.

LOL, Harry how much 'respect' do you think the US has in today's world after invading a sovereign state and continuing to ram our ideals down their throats? We have no respect, but Bush has made sure we will alwys have plenty of enemies

With all of Iraqs oil riches why is this war costing US taxpayers? Why isnt Iraq paying for our help if they want our help?

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