Spending Bill Suggests Long Stay in Afghanistan

Walter Pincus
Washington Post
Monday, July 14, 2008

Congress has quietly used fiscal 2008 legislation on military construction to signal that it plans on a long-term military presence in Afghanistan.

In the recently approved supplemental funding bill for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, legislators approved construction of a $62 million ammunition storage facility at Afghanistan’s Bagram Air Base, where 12 planned “igloos” will support Army and Air Force needs.

“As a forward operating site, Bagram must be able to provide for a long term, steady state presence which is able to surge to meet theater contingency requirements,” the Army said in requesting the money.

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When he initially sought the funds last year, Adm. William J. Fallon, then commander of U.S. Central Command, described Bagram as “the centerpiece for the CENTCOM Master Plan for future access to and operations in Central Asia.”

In another sign that U.S. troops will be there a long time, the Army requested, and Congress provided, $41 million for a 30-megawatt power plant at Bagram. It is capable of generating enough electricity for a town of more than 20,000 homes.

On the other hand, Congress eliminated the Army’s request for $184 million to build power plants at five bases in Iraq. Those are to be among the final bases and support locations where troops, aircraft and equipment will be consolidated as the U.S. military presence is reduced.

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