Less for the troops, more for crappy toys.

The AP reports that the Senate is considering the president's emergency appropriation for spending on the war in Iraq, and is planning to cut money for the troops in order to add $231 million for the V-22 Osprey. [C-17] This is the Marine Corps. $18 billion boondoggle that takes off like a helicopter and crashes like a plane. Funding would be cut for "night-vision goggles, equipment for destroying mines and explosives, fire suppression systems for light armor vehicles," and for replacements for equipment that we're losing over there everyday.

Since the 1980's when production began, the Osprey has been better at killing passengers than at transporting Marines, but it's popular with politicians, especially those from the states that manufacture it. In particular those from Delaware, Pennsylvania and Texas. Way to support the troops!

Is this a part of all that transforming Rummy is doing in the pentagon that the generals are all worked up about?