US President Announces Defense Budget for 2002

US President Announces Defense Budget for 2002

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US President George W. Bush on Monday announced a 310-billion-US-dollar defense budget for 2002, 14 billion dollars higher than in the current fiscal year.

Bush made the announcement during his visit to Fort Steward Military Base in Georgia State. Monday's visit to Georgia was the first of three trips Bush is making this week to military bases.

White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said 5.7 billion dollars of the new money will be used to improve the quality of life for troops, and the rest will help other projects keep pace with inflation.

Bush will submit the defense budget to Congress in the coming weeks, that sticks to the spending levels of the previous administration, Defense Department officials said.