Bush seeks $72bn for Iraq, Afghanistan

Published February 18, 2006

WASHINGTON: US President George Bush asked Congress on Thursday for 72.4 billion dollars in additional funding for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan this year, the White House said.

If approved by Congress as expected, the request would raise war-related spending to nearly 400 billion dollars since the Sept 11, 2001, attacks in the United States.

“These funds support US armed forces and coalition partners as we advance democracy, fight the terrorists and insurgents, and train and equip Iraqi security forces so that they can defend their sovereignty,” Mr Bush said in a letter to Congress. —AFP

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