Left I on the News

Tucked away in the military spending bill for this past year was $20 million to pay for a celebration in the nation's capital "for commemoration of success" in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Not surprising, the money was not spent.

Now, congressional Republicans are saying, in effect, maybe next year. A paragraph written into spending legislation and approved by the Senate and House allows the $20 million to be rolled over into 2007.

The original legislation empowered the president to designate "a day of celebration" to commemorate the success of the armed forces in Afghanistan and Iraq, and to "issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe that day with appropriate ceremonies and activities." (Source)

I wonder if the $20 million will cover another "Mission Accomplished" sign?

I ran this item under the "political humor of the day" title. Alas, the tens of thousands of Iraqis and Afghans who have died during the past year, and the hundreds of Americans who have also died in the same wars, aren't laughing, nor are their families.