Increase in war funding sought
Busk to seek another $70 billion for Iraq, Afghanistan
By Jonathan Weisman and Thomas E. Ricks
Updated: 5:40 a.m. ET Oct. 26, 2004
The Bush administration intends to seek about $70 billion in emergency
funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan early next year, pushing
total war costs close to $225 billion since the invasion of Iraq early
last year, Pentagon and congressional officials said yesterday.
White House budget office spokesman Chad Kolton emphasized that final
decisions on the supplemental spending request will not be made until
shortly before the request is sent to Congress. That may not happen
until early February, when President Bush submits his budget for fiscal
2006, assuming he wins reelection.