[SailorMitch]

Originally Posted by camaraderie

Mitch...my numbers INCLUDE the war costs of suppemental appropriations. I assume VA costs are included in social service costs but cannot imagine this cost being anything but miniscule given the numbers involved.
YES...many RINO's were agaist the surge too since this was a popular position to have and they wanted re-election. McCain put his WHOLE presidential future on the line to take an unpopular position at a time when most believed we could not win. For this he has my respect...even though I disagree with many other positions he takes....at least I know his national security positions will be well thought out and the result of a lifetime of experience and not the result of the latest Gallup poll.

For the record:
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Bush Administration has requested $483 billion to cover the peacetime costs of theDepartment of Defense (DoD) in fiscal year (FY) 2008. In addition to this funding in DoD’s “base” budget, the administration’s request also includes $141.7 billion to cover the FY 2008 costs of the Global War on Terror (GWOT), including military operations in Iraq and
Afghanistan. Thus, altogether, under the new plan DoD is projected to receive some $624.6
billion in FY 2008.
This would bring total DoD funding to its highest level in real (inflation-adjusted) terms since FY 1946, the last budget to reflect substantial spending related to World War II. Assuming the
administration’s request is approved, total funding for DoD would surpass the peak years of the Korean and Vietnam wars by, respectively, some $36 billion and $126 billion (in FY 2008 dollars). However, as a share of the economy, defense spending would remain well below the
levels sustained in these past wars.
Source: Center for Strategic Budgetary Assessments
http://www.csbaonline.org/4Publicati..._of_the_FY.pdf

cam-- thanks. as i said in my post I didn't think using the correct total figures would change the GDP percentage. at least you and sway now understand that these war costs are being handled as supplemental appropriations to the regular budget process in which the president traditionally sends his budget to congress for action right after the state of the union speech.