The Bush administratin on Monday asked Congress for nearly $46 billion in additional war spending for 2008, calling on U.S. lawmakers to approve the money before adjourning for the holidays.

“Parts of this war are complicated, but one part is not — and that is that America should do what it takes to support our troops and protect our people,” Bush said in an appearance with members of veterans groups at the White House.

Most of the $45.9 billion request is for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, bringing the expected cost of those conflicts to more than $192 billion for the budget year that began this month.

The administration has already sought $147 billion for 2008. Most of that money goes to Iraq, which is currently costing the Pentagon an estimated $2 billion a week.

Bush said the money will cover basic operating expenses, plus additional armored vehicles and countermeasures designed to protect U.S. troops from roadside bombs.

“Congress should not go home for the holidays while our troops are still waiting for the funds they need,” he said.

Read the full story at CNN

This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 23rd, 2007 at 13:47 and is filed under Business, Daily. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.