A Republican senator has cleared the way for the United States to spend $750 million on a military mission to help combat the Ebola virus in West Africa.
Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said in a statement Friday that the rapid spread of Ebola in Africa now requires U.S. intervention, but he won’t back the mission indefinitely.
“I believe the outbreak has reached a point that the only organization in the world able to provide the capabilities and speed necessary to respond to this crisis is the U.S. military,” Inhofe said.
House leaders approved the funding on Thursday.
Inhofe initially objected to a move by the Department of Defense to shift money in its budget to pay for the mission, which requires congressional approval.
“I raised numerous concerns about the lack of a coherent strategy, insufficient details on how our men and women in uniform would be protected, and a failure to consider a transition of financial and operational responsibility from our military to a more appropriate entity,” Inhofe said.
The Defense Department officials provided more information, which prompted Inhofe to change his mind, he said.
The Defense Department is planning to deploy 4,000 troops to Ebola-stricken nations, which so far include Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea.
The money will pay for the mission for six months.
