An Offer We Cannot Refuse

Someone has finally breathed new life into the Bush administration, and it has come for a most unlikely source: the Department of Defense. At last, an indication that someone on the inside is thinking clearly, speaking their made, willing to be honest with the people who sign their paychecks.

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has made an offer that I don't think anyone can refuse. In his testimony before the Senate Appropriations Committee yesterday, Secretary Gates commented that if the new Iraq war funding bill proposed by House Democrats, which would end funding of the war in July, is passed, he would be so short on funds that he would likely be forced to close at least part of the Pentagon in August or September, that he could not even issue paychecks to some employees.

Deal.

I think we have to take this offer, it might be the only one we get. The Iraq war has cost around $500 billion, (plus, of course, the 3,377 American troops killed and untold thousands or hundreds of thousands of Iraqis killed, many innocent bystanders) thus far (and could cost $1 trillion or even $2 trillion). Secretary Gates also just asked Congress to fund the Pentagon and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan in 2008. Plus, I shouldn't have to mention that the Department of Defense has at the very least "augmented" the catastrophe in the Middle East if it is not the outright cause of the problems in the Middle East. This department has clearly been quite pricey for the shareholders, and I'm for as small a government as the next guy. Maybe shutting down for a month or two might do everybody a bit of good. Give everyone a chance to unwind, reflect, refocus and re-energize so they can start fresh in October and re-open (start?) the hunt for bin what's his face.

Secretary Gates, we humbly accept your offer.