Fill out this form to email this article to a friend
Iraq
Wars' price tag reaching half a trillion
Associated Press
Published December 14, 2005
WASHINGTON - The Pentagon is in the early stages of drafting a wartime request for up to $100-billion more for Iraq and Afghanistan, lawmakers say, a figure that would push spending related to the wars toward a staggering half-trillion dollars.
Reps. C.W. Bill Young, R-Indian Shores, chairman of the House appropriations defense panel, and John Murtha, D-Pa., senior Democrat on that subcommittee, say the military has informally told them it wants $80-billion to $100-billion in a war-spending package that the White House is expected to send Congress next year.
That would be in addition to $50-billion Congress is about to give the Pentagon for operations in Iraq for the beginning of 2006. Military commanders expect that pot to last through May.
Since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, Congress has approved more than $300-billion for Iraq and Afghanistan, including military operations, reconstruction and other costs, according to the Congressional Research Service, which reports for Congress.
[Last modified December 14, 2005, 00:15:15]
Share your thoughts on this story
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
|
News
Fifty years ago, they were screwed-up kids sent to the Florida School for Boys to be straightened out. But now they are screwed-up men, scarred by the whippings they endured. Read the story and see a video and portrait gallery.
Print
Email story
Comment
Email editor