Pentagon spends $600,000 on a frog statue?

Is this really worth $600,000? Maybe. Is it really worth $600,000 in taxpayer money? I really don't think so.

According to US News & World Report, the Pentagon is spending $600k on a gurgling toad fountain sculpture that features a 10-foot fairy on its back to greet workers at its new $700 million Mark Center facility in Alexandria, Va.

Decried as wasteful spending that will be seen by just a couple thousand of daily workers who arrive on bus shuttles, foes have tried to delay the decision, expected tomorrow, April 1. But in an E-mail, an Army Corps of Engineers official said that the decision can't be held up because it would impact completion of the huge project.

The City of Alexandria just announced that there are four works of art being considered and that a final decision needs to be made fast. The artwork was put on display for public comment from March 24 to today. The Alexandria News first reported the hasty announcement to decide a winner. ...

The four art proposals for the bus terminal include works for a wall and sculpture. But the one drawing most attention is the fairy and frog from artist Cheryl Foster. Her proposals describes the sculpture this way: "A 10-foot fairy, using an American Toad as 'transportation,' scurries to the entrance of the station. The interior of the toad is illuminated and the sounds of nature emanate from his throat." She said that nature inspired her.