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Bush wants $700bn for military
05/02/2007 19:17 - (SA)
Washington - President George W Bush on
Monday proposed more than $700bn in new spending for the
US military - much of it for the Iraq war - in a budget
that would curb domestic programmes from health to education.
Bush also warned that even more spending for Iraq could be
needed, as he unveiled a $2.9 trillion budget for fiscal 2008
certain to stoke anger among Democrats already braced for
"sticker shock" over the war tab.
The costs of the 4-year-old war are inching toward a
staggering $1 trillion mark.
If congress approves the
war-funding request, the United States will have spent $661.9bn on combat in Iraq, Afghanistan and related activities,
the administration said.
"My formula for a balanced budget reflects the priorities
of our country ... protecting the
homeland and fighting terrorism, keeping the economy strong
with low taxes and keeping spending under control," Bush said. Budget 'filled with debt and deception'
But Democrats - now in control of the house of
representatives and the senate - are sure to question Bush's
upbeat fiscal projections.
"The president's budget is filled with debt and deception,
disconnected from reality, and continues to move America in the
wrong direction," said senate budget committee chair Kent
Conrad, a North Dakota Democrat.
"This administration has the worst fiscal record in history
and this budget does nothing to change that," Conrad added.
Congressional Democrats - while promising to do everything
they can to help US combat troops - have vowed to look closely
at Bush's request for defence funds. The defence request, not
counting war costs, would bring the military's budget to 62% higher than in 2001.
- Reuters
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