Past and present are converging in an Afghanistan war funding bill as the White House seeks to add billions to pay medical claims owed to veterans exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War.
The irony is hard to miss for this administration, already defensive about any link between its Afghan policy and the much bloodier U.S. involvement in Indochina that so damaged President Lyndon B. Johnson.
And with the wartime bill now approaching $55 billion, the higher costs make it a bigger target in Washington’s latest firefight over deficits and debt.
Full story: War bill adds to looming debt fight – David Rogers – POLITICO.com