Tax Cuts and War Have Seldom Mixed -- NYTimes

With the exception of the war against Mexico in the 1840's, taxes have been increased for every war the United States has fought, ever since most colonies increased property taxes to raise money to fight the British in the American Revolution.

In many cases, most notably the Civil War and World War I, Mr. Brownlee said, a motive for raising taxes in wartime was to "respond to some sense of shared sacrifice" and head off criticism that poor soldiers were fighting a rich man's war.

In that respect, too, President Bush is breaking from the past, holding that the best way to improve the economy for everyone is to cut the taxes of the most affluent.

Interesting history of taxes and war.