Regardless of whether the ongoing struggle against terrorists and
the regime of Saddam Hussein escalates or subsides, the high price Americans
pay for the actions of their leaders is most evident in the details
of the federal budget. If Congress agrees with Defense Secretary Rumsfeld,
his Department will get $399 billion, or 17 percent, of the $2.23 trillion
budget for 2004. The 4.2 percent increase over the previous budget does
not include at least $30 billion for the ongoing war on terrorism and
at least $100 billion for the anticipated war on Iraq. An additional
$17 billion goes to the Energy Department's nuclear weapons programs.
Contrary to earlier plans, the Pentagon wants all three next-generation
fighter plane programs funded. $544 million are to be spent on working
the kinks out of the accident-plagued V-22 Osprey, the Marine Corps'
helicopter-airplane hybrid. Eleven new Ospreys included in the budget
will cost another $1.1 billion. Wherever possible, former air force
pilot Rumsfeld hopes to take more pilots out of planes. For the new,
unmanned Global Hawk high-altitude surveillance plane, he wants $610
million, and $275 million for the development of an attack drone. He
also requests 14 more unmanned Predator reconnaissance aircraft at $250
million a piece.
$7.7 billion are again being allotted for the development of missile
defense, both ground- and space-based. For $1.5 billion each, the Air
Force is to get 11 more C-17 transport planes and the Navy another aircraft
carrier. Let's not forget that the IRS needs to collect $1 million dollars
1,000 times to come up with just $1 billion.
The State Department's budget requests also reflect changed priorities
in response to the threat of terrorism. As part of the programs to counter
anti-American attitudes, non-military foreign aid is to be increased
to $12.5 billion. Roughly $250 million are earmarked for improved security
at American embassies. $30 million are to create a Middle East Television
Network, while the funds for the Voice of America to Indonesia are to
be doubled. A new program, the Millennium Challenge Account, reflects
the President's strong belief that aid to developing countries should
be tied to progress in the kind of political and economic reforms he
approves. Whether any governments of poor countries will want to compete
for the projected $1.3 billion in American handouts for improved behavior
remains to be seen. Mr. Bush is certainly to be commended for allotting
$2 billion as America's contribution to combating AIDS in Africa and
the Caribbean, as well as for designating $1.2 billion to research on
environmentally sounder hydrogen-powered cars.
While America's homeland defense will have to make do with $24 billion,
Israel's Sharon government has no qualms asking Americans for $12 billion
in aid, more than ever before, and $400 million more than the $11.6
billion budgeted last year for all other aid-receiving countries world-wide.
The budget for 2004 provides no funds for the Iraqi opposition. "I'm
not too worried," the Washington adviser to the Iraqi National
Congress commented, "we'll be in Baghdad by then."
Even though hundreds of non-military programs will be squeezed, the
federal deficit will still rise to an estimated $304 billion in 2004,
and to $1,008 billion, i.e., $1.08 trillion, within five years. In fairness
to the President, it has to be acknowledged, that the terrorist assaults
on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon saddled him with a burden
no other president has ever faced. In the Middle East, however, he aggravated
the anti-American mood by his failure to be even-handed and use America's
power to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Under Mr. Bush's watch, federal tax revenue has fallen two years in
a row, for the first time since the early sixties. Tax cuts and the
demise of Saddam dominate the President's wishful thinking. While the
end of Saddam's regime is surely within his reach, the success of his
tax cuts is anything but certain.