Bush Seeks $42 Billion More For Iraq War

So far, the war in Iraq has claimed the lives of more than 3,830 members of the U.S. military and over 73,000 Iraqi civilians.

Part of the funds would be used to upgrade vehicle armor Photo courtesy: DoD

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - On the heels of his recent veto of children's healthcare legislation that he said was not a good use of money, President Bush's Administration today requested $42.3 billion more dollars for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. CNN reports that this brings the 2008 request for total war funding to $189.3 billion dollars.

Bush says the majority of the supplemental funding is for day-to-day military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.

"The bill provides for basic needs like bullets and body armor, protection against IEDs, and Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected vehicles. It also funds training missions, vital embassy programs, improvements in Iraq and Iraqi security forces, and intelligence operations that protect our troops."

Lawmakers are yet to approve this amount, they are expected to make a decision in February. The President is urging members of Congress to meet his requests.

The President says he knows some in Congress are against the war, and are seeking ways to demonstrate that opposition. Once again he uses the well being of combat troops as the bargaining power in a deal that he hopes to pass.

"I recognize their position, and they should make their views heard. But they ought to make sure our troops have what it takes to succeed."

So far, the war in Iraq has claimed the lives of more than 3,830 members of the U.S. military and over 73,000 Iraqi civilians.

The original White House plan asked for $141.7 billion for the Pentagon to prosecute the Iraq and Afghanistan missions. The newest request will include $42.3 billion more for the Pentagon, and is accompanied by a modified State Department request bringing that agency's total for the 2008 budget year to almost $7 billion.