$50b sought for US operations

WASHINGTON: The Senate Armed Services Committee has recommended a further $50 billion be set aside to fund US military operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and the US-declared global war on terrorism. The proposed new war spending for fiscal 2006, which starts October 1, would push the cost of the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq and its aftermath toward $250 billion, far ahead of initial expectations voiced by the Bush administration. Officials advocating the invasion played down the financial cost. Then White House budget director Mitch Daniels predicted Iraq would be “an affordable endeavor”. The recommendation for fresh emergency spending was sent to the full Senate on Thursday night as part of a bill that also would authorize $441.6 billion in regular defense spending in fiscal 2006, a 3.1 percent real increase over last year’s authorised sum. Three days ago Congress gave final approval for an $82 billion emergency war-spending bill, of which about $76 billion would go to war fighting. Even with such a large, emergency funding measure, the Pentagon has said more money would be needed as early as October. By 2010, war costs could top $500 billion, some experts have projected. The White House Office of Management and Budget did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment. reuters

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