Page 2 - ARUBA TODAY

A2 UP FRONT
Wednesday 21 november 2018

Pentagon says troops at U.S. border to cost about $210 million

By ROBERT BURNS der mission, even though
AP National Security Writer it means being away from
WASHINGTON (AP) — Us- home over Thanksgiving.
ing thousands of military “Don’t worry about the
troops to help secure the Thanksgiving. These are
Southwest border will cost tough people,” Trump
an estimated $210 million told reporters before fly-
under current plans, the ing to Florida for the holi-
Pentagon told Congress on day. “They know what
Tuesday, even as questions they’re doing and they’re
arose about the scope and great and they’ve done a
duration of the controver- great job. You’re so wor-
sial mission. ried about the Thanksgiv-
The total includes $72 mil- ing holiday for them. They
lion for approximately 5,900 are so proud to be repre-
active-duty troops provid- senting our country on the
ing support to Customs border where if you look at
and Border Protection, plus what’s happening, Mexico,
$138 million so far for 2,100 the people from Tijuana
National Guard troops who In this Nov. 16, 2018, photo, members of the U.S. military install multiple tiers of concertina wire are saying, wow these
have been performing a along the banks of the Rio Grande near the Juarez-Lincoln Bridge at the U.S.-Mexico border in are tough people. They’re
separate border mission Laredo, Texas. fighting us.”If, as expected,
since April, according to a Associated Press the mission is extended be-
report sent to Congress on A copy of the report was lished its story the Penta- Central American migrants yond Dec. 14, at least some
Tuesday but not released obtained by The Associat- gon released a statement into Mexico in October of the troops are likely also
by the Pentagon. ed Press. After the AP pub- confirming the active-duty was the stated reason that to be away for Christmas.
portion of the deployments President Donald Trump “We can estimate costs all
is estimated at $72 million. ordered the military to pro- we want, I’d prefer to give
It did not mention the $138 vide support for Customs you real costs. Right now,
million in National Guard and Border Protection. I can’t give that to you,”
costs. Trump, who called the mi- Mattis told reporters last
The total would grow be- grant caravan an “inva- Wednesday when he flew
yond the current combined sion,” has been accused to Texas to see the military’s
estimate of $210 million if by critics, including some work. “It’s the cost of de-
the active-duty mission is retired military officers, of ploying them, it’s the cost
extended beyond the cur- using the military deploy- of transferring their equip-
rent completion date of ment as a political tool in ment to the border, it’s fuel
Dec. 15. Officials said an the run-up to the Nov. 6 costs, it’s all those kinds of
extension appeared like- midterm elections. costs. So, I just don’t want
ly but had not yet been Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a to get into something I
agreed upon. California Democrat, said can’t give you what I be-
The Pentagon also was Tuesday the Pentagon’s lieve confidently is accu-
working on a potential ad- cost report shows the mis- rate.”
justment to the mission that sion was a “charade.” In its report to Congress
would give the active-duty “These soldiers spent weeks on Tuesday, the Pentagon
troops who are operat- away from home and the said it expects the deploy-
ing in Texas, Arizona and Pentagon wasted millions ment of 5,900 active-duty
California the authority to of taxpayer dollars so Presi- troops through Dec. 15 to
defend Customs and Bor- dent Trump could stoke cost $72 million, while add-
der Protection personnel if fears of asylum seekers and ing that the mission, which
necessary. The troops, who try to influence election re- is now three weeks old, is
include military police, are sults,” she said. “Using our still being refined. The cost
currently authorized to de- military men and women as includes $19 million for per-
fend themselves. political pawns to support sonnel, $20 million for trans-
About 2,800 of the active- an anti-immigrant agenda portation of personnel,
duty troops are in South is a low point, even for this equipment and supplies,
Texas, far from the main president.” $28 in operating expenses
migrant caravan in Tijuana, On Tuesday, Trump said and $5 million for concer-
Mexico, south of Califor- he was sure the troops are tina wire and other border
nia. The movement of the happy to be on the bor- barrier materials.q