Pay for This War

The president promised the nation Tuesday night that a "blank check" for Afghanistan's government will not be part of a U.S. troop buildup to cripple the Taliban and al-Qaida.

That's imperative. U.S. troops shouldn't risk their lives to prop up corruption and ineptitude, the hallmarks so far of a Karzai government that has only a tenuous claim to legitimacy, given the last fraud-ridden election.

But there is another equally compelling reason for this condition: The United States writes checks these days mostly with the help of its credit cards. Which is to say that any check, blank or otherwise, should be written only if there is a clear understanding of where the money is coming from.

We support the president's decision to send 30,000 more U.S. troops to Afghanistan. We do this reluctantly but are brought to this position because the president's plan comes with clearer goals than have existed and has all the earmarks of an exit plan, with a 2011 date given for the beginning of troop withdrawal, should conditions allow.

It's the definition of "should conditions allow" that causes some pause. We can envision a day in 2011 when progress or lack of it — whichever is more convenient — are cited as reasons to stay and "surge" again.

This is how quagmires are made.

Just as this country must insist on no open-ended commitment to Afghanistan, it must insist on the same when it comes to its approval for this president to wage this war.

This brings us to the other skepticism we harbor. The president made a compelling case for the necessity for the war. If it's that necessary, it's just as necessary to pay for it, with shared sacrifice.

Charging war on the credit card is not sacrifice. Rep. David Obey (D-Wis.) and others propose a graduated surtax to pay for the war. As envisioned, everyone pays except combat veterans, those slain and their families. If we understand "graduated," some will pay more than others, and this tax would be delayed if the economy would suffer.

Obey, the powerful chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, has opposed sending more troops. But the concept is sound. No more smoke and mirrors. Pay for the war.

The president says he will work with Congress to do just that — above board and transparently. Maybe a surtax isn't the way to do that, but it should not be dismissed.

A previous administration told us we could have two wars and tax cuts. We couldn't. And we still shouldn't write war checks without certainty about where the money comes from.

Yes — for now and reluctantly — to the troop buildup. But, Mr. President, no blank check for Afghanistan — or you on this war.

REPRINTED FROM THE MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL.

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