Trump plans military parade to showcase might of America Afghan war costs $ 45bn a year: US

■ Pentagon confirms move inspired by France’s Bastille Day

Washington, Feb 7: US President Donald Trump has asked for a large- scale military parade, the White House said on Tuesday, an unconventional move that will showcase American muscle and underscore his role as commander- inchief.

Mr Trump — who has toyed with the idea of a parade in Washington since before being sworn in — has made the request to top officers, who are looking for a date.

“President Trump is incredibly supportive of America’s great service members who risk their lives every day to keep our country safe,” White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said.

“He has asked the Department of Defence to explore a celebration at which all Americans can show their appreciation.”

The Pentagon confirmed it was “in the process of determining specific details.”

Trump’s new request, first reported by The Washington Post, immediately fuelled comparisons to similar events in more autocratic countries.

“What an absurd waste of money! Trump acts more like dictator than president. Americans deserve better,” said Democratic Congressman Jim McGovern.

The idea has had a long gestation period. When Trump visited Paris last July for Bastille Day, he made no secret of his awe Washington, Feb. 7: Forty- five billion dollars. That’s how much the Pentagon says the Afghan war is costing American taxpayers, and with no end in sight they may have to keep footing that bill for years to come. Lawmakers, skeptical about the prospects of victory, grilled the Tru- mp administration on Tuesday on the direction of the nation’s longest- running war, now in its 17th year.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing comes after militant attacks in Kabul that killed more than 200 people.

Randall Schriver, the Defence Department’s top Asia official, said the $ 45 billion total for the year includes $ 5 billion for Afghan forces and $ 13 billion for US forces inside Afghanistan. Much of the rest is for logistical support. Some $ 780 million goes toward economic aid.

The costs now are still significantly lower than during the high point of the war in Afghanistan. From 2010 to 2012, when the US had as many as 100,000 soldiers in the country, the price for American taxpayers surpassed $ 100 billion each year. There are currently around 16,000 US troops in Afghanistan.

Both Republican and Democratic senators highlighted the scale of the continuing outlay from US. Tens of billions are “just being thrown down a hatch in Kabul,” said Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky. “We’re in an impossible situation. I see no hope for it.” for the pomp and ceremony of the occasion.

Sitting on the ChampsElysees, the American president marvelled at the Republican Guard on horseback and jets flying overhead, and greeted President Emmanuel Macron, who arrived in an open- topped camouflaged military jeep.

Trump has asked the Department of Defence to explore a celebration at which all Americans can show their appreciation — SARAH SANDERS, White House spokeswoman