WASHINGTON — The White House will ask Congress next week for another $70 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, an amount that would help cover operational costs only until early next year, when the next administration takes over.
Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said Monday that the money, included as part of the administration’s 2009 budget request, would be considered an “emergency allowance” to pay for operations beginning Oct. 1, when the budget year begins, until possibly January.
President Bush asked for more than twice that amount — $196.4 billion — to fuel combat operations this fiscal year. Democrats are still balking at that price tag.
Congress has approved less than half — $70 billion for general operations and $16.8 billion for Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles.
Democrats are in no hurry to revisit the issue. They calculate that the military has enough money to continue operations through April or May. By that time, Gen. David Petraeus will have briefed Congress on whether progress in Iraq is continuing.
