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12/15/2005:

"Pentagon may request up to $100 billion more for wars"

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. Bill Young, R-Fla., 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 request 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 money to last through May.

Since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Congress has approved more than $300 billion for Iraq and Afghanistan, including military operations, reconstruction, embassy security and foreign aid, as well as other costs related to the war on terrorism, according to the Congressional Research Service, which writes reports for Congress.
indystar.com