Bush Seeks US$87b for Iraq, Wider Terror War

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, September 08, 2003

Bush Seeks US$87b for Iraq, Wider Terror War

US President George W. Bush, in a nationally broadcast speech on Sunday, asked Congress for 87 billion dollars for the reconstruction of Iraq and Afghanistan.

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

US President George W. Bush, in a nationally broadcast speech on Sunday, asked Congress for 87 billion US dollars for the reconstruction of Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Our strategy in Iraq will require new resources," Bush said. "I will soon submit to Congress a request for 87 billion dollars."

"This budget request will support our commitment to help the Iraqi and Afghan people rebuild their own nations, after decades of oppression and mismanagement," he said.

Bush said the military and intelligence operations in Iraq and Afghanistan would cost 66 billion dollars over the next year and the rest of the budget would be for rebuilding the two countries.

"This undertaking is difficult and costly - yet worthy of our country, and critical to our security," he said.

Calling Iraq the "central front" in the war on terrorism, Bushsaid "enemies of freedom" must be defeated in Iraq.

Urging the Americans to be patient, he said that "this will take time and require sacrifice."

"Yet we will do what is necessary, we will spend what is necessary, to achieve this essential victory in the war on terror,to promote freedom and to make our own nation more secure," Bush said.

The budget request for Iraq came at a time when Bush was under criticism from Democrats and some Republicans for not having a clear plan in Iraq and for refusing to disclose how much the war would cost the taxpayers of the United States.

US Defense Department officials have said US military operations in Iraq are costing about 3.9 billion dollars monthly. Lawmakers said the military operations and reconstruction in Iraq together cost an estimated 4.5 billion dollars a month.

Questions?Comments? Click here

Chinese Companies: Late for Iraqi Reconstruction?

Powell Kicks off US Bid for New UN Resolution on Iraq

Why Japanese PM Proposes Amending Constitution Now ( 41 Messages)

Who's Going to Close "the Gate of Hell"? ( 18 Messages)

US Circulates New Draft Resolution on Iraq ( 2 Messages)

RMB Should Not Be Lumped Together with US General Election: Commentary ( 7 Messages)

When will the Immolation between the Jews and the Arabs Come to an End? ( 7 Messages)