WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama asked Congress on Monday for $5.6 billion to fight the Islamic State terrorist group in Iraq and Syria.
In a letter to House Speaker John A. Boehner, Mr Obama formally requested the money as part of the US Defence Department’s overseas contingency operations budget, which would total $63.6 billion for fiscal year 2015, if approved.
The proposal includes $5 billion for defence operations in Syria and Iraq in addition to the $58.6 billion the White House submitted to Congress in June 2014.
“These amendments include the additional funding necessary to degrade and ultimately defeat [the Islamic State] through a comprehensive and sustained counter-terrorism strategy,” Mr. Obama said in his letter.
At a press conference last week, the president said he also wanted to work with Congress to pass new legislation authorising US military force in Iraq and Syria.
Published in Dawn, November 11th, 2014
