Pentagon wants to request $99.7 billion more for Iraq, Afghan wars

Wednesday, December 20th 2006, 2:01 pm

By: News On 6

WASHINGTON (AP) _ The Pentagon wants the White House to seek another $99.7 billion to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to information provided to The Associated Press.

The military's request, if embraced by President Bush and approved by Congress, would boost this year's budget for the wars to about $170 billion.

Military planners put the proposal together at a time when Bush is considering new strategies for the conflict in Iraq, including plans to quickly send thousands of additional troops to the war-ravaged country. Pentagon planners assembled the blueprint before Bush said he was considering that option.

Overall, the war in Iraq has so far cost about $350 billion. Combined with the conflict in Afghanistan and operations against terrorism elsewhere around the world, the cost to taxpayers has exceeded $500 billion, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service.