| President Bush's budget for next year, sent | | | | the foreseeable future." |
| to the Congress for debate on Monday, | | | | |
| includes more than half a trillion dollars in | | | | Indeed, U.S. officials have been urging |
| basic defense spending, and another $70 | | | | allies in Europe and elsewhere to increase |
| billion to fund the wars in Iraq and | | | | their defense spending as a percentage of |
| Afghanistan, and related operations, for | | | | their total economic output. |
| about half of the year. VOA's Al Pessin | | | | |
| reports from the Pentagon. | | | | In addition to $515 billion for the basic |
| | | | defense budget, the president's request |
| Under the president's plan, the Defense | | | | includes $70 billion for the global war on |
| Department's budget increases about 5.5 | | | | terrorism, including the wars in Iraq and |
| percent, adjusted for inflation, compared to | | | | Afghanistan. That is about half the money |
| the current year. Defense Secretary Robert | | | | officials believe will be needed for the |
| Gates offered a brief justification for the | | | | wars, but it will be up to the new |
| budget on Monday. | | | | administration that takes office next January |
| | | | to make its own war plans and ask the |
| "The budget request provides the resources | | | | congress for the needed funds. |
| needed to prevail in current conflicts, while | | | | |
| preparing the department for a range of | | | | The Pentagon budget does not include about |
| challenges that our nation may face in the | | | | $21 billion the United States spends on its |
| years ahead," said Robert Gates. | | | | nuclear arsenal, which is in the Energy |
| | | | Department's budget. |
| Secretary Gates also pointed out that the | | | | |
| congress has not yet approved all the money | | | | The defense budget does include $750 million |
| for military operations this year, with $102 | | | | for training and equipping friendly foreign |
| billion still pending. And he says although | | | | militaries and providing humanitarian |
| the raw numbers are high, U.S. spending on | | | | assistance that the U.S. military delivers |
| defense was much higher, as a percentage of | | | | worldwide in times of crisis. A nearly |
| the total U.S. economy, during previous wars. | | | | $400-million budget is proposed for what will |
| | | | be the first year of full operations by the |
| There will be a lot of debate about the | | | | newly established Africa Command. The command |
| budget in the Congress, controlled by | | | | will coordinate training programs and any |
| President Bush's political opponents in the | | | | other U.S. military operations in Africa, |
| Democratic Party. The top U.S. military | | | | consolidating responsibilities now spread |
| officer, Admiral Mike Mullen, welcomes the | | | | over three U.S. military commands. |
| debate. | | | | |
| | | | There are also $10.5 - billion in the budget |
| "I think it needs to be informed by the | | | | for the U.S. missile defense program, about a |
| environment and security risks that are out | | | | six-percent increase. The United States is |
| there, and what it's going to take to meet | | | | building a missile defense capability in the |
| those security risks, which includes the full | | | | Pacific, and wants to expand to Europe with |
| spectrum, from the kind of irregular warfare | | | | facilities in Poland and the Czech Republic, |
| and terrorist threats that we have right now | | | | but negotiations with those countries have |
| to the other end of the spectrum in terms of | | | | not been completed. |
| the conventional threats that are potentially | | | | |
| emerging in the longer run," said Admiral | | | | This defense budget for fiscal year 2009, |
| Mullen. | | | | which begins October first, also includes |
| | | | money to continue increasing the size of the |
| Admiral Mullen believes the United States | | | | U.S. Army and the Marine Corps by a total of |
| should spend at least four percent of its | | | | about 65,000 troops during the next few |
| economic output on defense. Monday's proposal | | | | years, which had already been announced, and |
| calls for a spending level of about 3.4 | | | | to continue programs to upgrade weapons |
| percent of total output, or Gross Domestic | | | | systems and develop new, high technology |
| Product. | | | | weapons and protective equipment. The budget |
| | | | also makes a commitment to continue |
| "I really do believe this four per cent floor | | | | increasing military salaries and improving |
| is important," he said. "And it's really | | | | benefits, including especially health care |
| important given the world we're living in, | | | | for wounded veterans, which has been |
| given the threats that we see out there, the | | | | criticized during the last year. Nearly $11 |
| risks that are, in fact, global, not just in | | | | billion is allocated to recruit, train and |
| the Middle East. And we as a nation need to | | | | retain troops with specialized skills, |
| be very careful about how we're going to | | | | something that has been difficult because of |
| invest in defense in order to handle these | | | | the pace of combat operations in recent |
| kinds of challenges, which will persist for | | | | years. |