Congress Should Suspend NASA Until the War in Iraq is Over

One of the biggest problems I have with the anti-war movement (which I am apart of) is the manner in which they protest. At an anti-war event you always hear at least one person go on about how the money being used for the war should be going to things such as health care, education, etc. I don't disagree with this person. It's just that, well, we've pretty much lost already. The war doesn't appear to be ending until most likely the end of the decade.

I think it's time that we, the movement, move on to a cause that may actually go somewhere in the next twelve months. I pondered for hours just what that cause might be. Then it hit me like a bolt from above. Not only is this a cause worth fighting for. It's one that has a real chance at succeeding.

I propose that we push our Congressional leaders to move to suspend NASA completely until the war in Iraq is over. I want to explain that I have always been an advocate of NASA. Space exploration is, in my opinion, quite possibly the most significant achievement the human race has ever accomplished. However, it's time that the United States finally make a decision on what is important and what can be put on the back burner.

At the beginning of 2007 it was reported that NASA's budget could be roughly $500 million less than what President Bush requested. NASA's budget would be slightly higher than $16 billion. If NASA were to simply be halted until the end of the war think of how that money could be used.

Half of that money could be used for the war effort. What we have to realize as a nation is that we are not just going to pull out of Iraq tomorrow. If and when it happens it will be a long and drawn out process that will take years. Until that day comes it would be nice to ensure that our troops are given the absolute best equipment and protection to ensure that American casualties are at a minimum. An extra $8 billion every year would be more than adequate.