Pentagon Spent $562,000 at GOP Convention
It cost the Pentagon about a half-million dollars to put on a military display in conjunction with the Republican National Convention in Philadelphia, officials say.
The Army has estimated it spent $280,000, the Navy $147,000, the Air Force $100,000 and the Marines $35,000, Pentagon officials and the individual services said Friday.
Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen, responding to press queries, last week denied that the deployment had political overtones and said he would approve a display for the Democratic convention as well, if asked.
Pentagon officials also said Defense Department lawyers decided the military’s participation in the convention would not violate the department’s policy against associating with partisan political events.
The display included aircraft, weapons and armored vehicles. It had been requested by Pennsylvania Reps. Curt Weldon, a Republican, and Bob Brady, a Democrat.
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