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American Morning

Military in Afghanistan Comments on Defense Budget

Aired February 04, 2002 - 08:32   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: As we have been reporting, the president is sending his $2 trillion budget to Capitol Hill today. The budget calls for a huge increase in defense spending. It calls for the biggest military build-up since the Cold War.

Martin Savidge has been talking about the military budget with U.S. forces serving in Afghanistan, to get their thoughts, and he joins us now this morning -- Martin.

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Morning to you, Anderson.

And in the background, you may see the C-130 loading up, the last of the Marines heading out. We talked to some of these Marines, also talked to some of those in the 101st Airborne.

Keep in mind, as we pointed out to you, there really is a news black hole in this part of the world. They don't get a lot of information, so first we had to tell the soldiers about the president's budget proposal for the military before we could get their reaction.

However, having done so, every single soldier that we spoke to was very much in favor of it, not only because they say it will give them tools and the weapons they need to get the job done here in Afghanistan or wherever else the war on terrorism may lead them, but also it might end up with more money in their pockets. Commanders here were reticent to talk about it, because they too would like to study it further, but one of the things that they do point out is that anything that encourages those in the military to remain in the military saves money in the long run because they don't have to keep training soldiers every couple of years, and it means a better fighting force. The word on the ground from Kandahar here is they are all for it. A little skepticism that maybe Congress won't go along with it, but that they're hoping that the president's approval rating will bring it on home to them -- Anderson.

COOPER: Martin, a lot of this budget goes toward pay raises for soldiers. I imagine that's something that is very popular among the troops there.

SAVIDGE: Well, absolutely. Now already, they were in line for a 4 percent pay raise. Some of the other things that have been talked about here is raising the allowance for off-site or off-base living. That's very important for people who are stationed overseas, very important for people who have families. In other words, the career military personnel that the military would like to keep. Also, extended health benefits for those who remain in the military for the full 20 years.

So these are all things that the soldiers like to hear. Yeah, they like jets, they like new equipment, but they also want to make sure that their families are looked after, because that is the reason that they have the job, as well as looking out for the defense of the nation.

COOPER: Is there any sense you get from talking to soldiers there -- I mean, how happy are they with the equipment they have, with the clothing, all the weaponry, and spare parts for keeping machines operating?

SAVIDGE: Well, let's be honest. There is no soldier that's worth his salt that is going in front of a television camera and complain about any shortage, or lack of the proper equipment for the battle in Afghanistan, not with the people in the Pentagon watching. However, there are problems here, but the problems are not money- related. They are problems essentially associated with fighting a war in a very distant place. Right now they claim on camera they have what they need. It's the future they wonder about. It's the future that they hope is being prepared for them.

COOPER: All right, thanks, Martin Savidge, joining us from Afghanistan. Thanks very much.

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