WASHINGTON — The Obama administration plans to ask Congress for an additional $33 billion to fight the unpopular wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, on top of a record request for $708 billion for the Defense Department next year.
The administration also plans to tell Congress next month that its central military objectives for the next four years will include winning the current wars while preventing new ones and that its core missions will include both counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operations.
The Quadrennial Defense Review, the main articulation of U.S. military doctrine, is due to Congress on Feb. 1.
On Tuesday, the Defense Department announced the deployment of about 3,100 troops to Afghanistan as part of an increase of 30,000 that President Barack Obama authorized on Nov. 30. The 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, from Fort Hood, Texas, will supply 2,600 soldiers around mid-year, the Pentagon said. The remaining 500 will be support troops sent at various times. Denver Post wire services
