Wars' cost estimated at $50 billion next year

By Alan Fram
The Associated Press

Paul Wolfowitz

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Wolfowitz's remarks edged the administration toward critics' estimates that combat will cost closer to $75 billion in the budget year that starts Oct. 1. White House budget chief Joshua Bolten said earlier this year that $50 billion might be the "upper limit."

Wolfowitz also seemed to open the door to compromise over the White House's unusual request for full control over the first $25 billion for the wars. Congress is expected to approve the money, but Senate Armed Services Committee members were critical of the unfettered flexibility the proposal would give President Bush.

Committee Chairman John Warner, R-Va., said lawmakers must "maintain our oversight" of the money.

	John Warner

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., said the administration was asking for a $25 billion "blank check," and added that she would not support it "without further specificity and a greater understanding of where we are getting" in Iraq. That view was echoed by Republican Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Susan Collins of Maine.

With monthly war expenditures approaching $5 billion, next year's total cost "is $50 billion to $60 billion," Wolfowitz told senators. "If you look at our operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, it's a big bill."

Bush on Wednesday formally proposed an initial $25 billion for next year's military activities. Administration officials had said earlier they would seek no money until next year because of questions about allied contributions and the stability of Iraq.

Wolfowitz told senators that the next request for funds will come early next year, and "it will surely be much larger than $25 billion."

	Hillary Rodham Clinton

That means the total in 2005 would be more than $50 billion.

The spending is on top of the $402 billion Bush has proposed for the Defense Department for 2005.

Since the Sept. 11 attacks, Congress has provided $165 billion to the Pentagon for Iraq, Afghanistan and anti-terrorism efforts at home and abroad — excluding what Bush wants for next year.

The initial $25 billion is meant to help the Army and other services pay for operations and maintenance for the first months of next year. Those expenses traditionally include repairs, fuel, food and other similar necessities.

But that excludes other needs, such as paying salaries of reservists called to duty and replacing destroyed and worn-out equipment.

Rep. Jerry Lewis, R-Calif., chairman of the House Appropriations subcommittee that controls the Pentagon's budget, has said he expects next year's cost to be $75 billion. Democrats on the House Budget Committee have calculated that the price tag will range from $67 billion to $79 billion, based on current spending reports by the Defense Department.

Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, said he will support the $25 billion request.

"The situation in Iraq has deteriorated far beyond what the administration anticipated," Kerry said in a written statement. "This money is urgently needed, and it is completely focused on the needs of our troops."Clinton's comments were provided by The Washington Post.

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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