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Bush proposes a 515.4 billion dollar budget
Washington (AFP) Feb 4, 2008 President George W. Bush proposed Monday a 515.4 billion dollar defense budget for his last year in office, much of it to expand ground forces strained by more than six years of war. The White House also has asked for an additional 70 billion dollars as a downpayment on the cost of another year of military operations in the unsettled conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. "This funding will ensure a high level of military readiness by sustaining regular and irregular warfighting capabilities, responding to evolving threats, and supporting our servicemembers and their families," The White House said. The fiscal 2009 defense budget, which represents a 7.5 percent increase over the administration estimated defense spending for 2008, is part of a national budget that for the first time surpasses three trillion dollars. The White House highlighted increased spending to expand the size of the army, marines, and special operations forces. It said it will invests 20.5 billion dollars to increase the size of the active duty army to 547,000 in 2010, and the marines to 202,000. Another 5.7 billion dollars will go to the US Special Operations Command to train and equip its elite forces "to address a wider spectrum of potential threats." The proposed budget also calls for 49.1 billion dollars to recruit, train, equip and sustain the National Guard and Reserve, which have been deployed extensively in recent years for combat duty. The Pentagon's day-to-day military operating budget, which does not include the cost of the wars, would be 159.7 billion dollars under the proposed budget. Giving the services an added recruiting and retention tool, the budget calls for a 3.4 percent raise in military pay. Another 750 million dollars has been earmarked to help allies develop military capabilities, the White House said. It calls for 389 million dollars for the creation of a new command for Africa. Spending on weapons procurement goes up to 104.2 billion dollars from an estimated 99 billion in 2008 under the proposed budget, while military research and development would get 79.6 billion dollars, up from an estimated 76.5 billion dollars. The proposed budget sets aside 17.3 billion dollars to modernize US tactical aircraft, buy new fighter aircraft for the air force, navy and marine corps, and to acquire aerial refueling aircraft. The European aerospace giant EADS and its US partner Northrop Grumman are in a fierce competition with Boeing for a huge air force contract to produce air refueling aircraft. The proposed budget allocates 10.4 billion dollars for missile defense systems, which the United States wants to expand to Europe. The United States plans to install interceptor missiles in Poland and a radar in the Czech Republic to counter what Washington says is a looming missile threat from Iran. The US administration said it also plans to invest 10.7 billion dollars "to build a robust, secure and protected space-based capability." Efforts to improve defenses against improvised explosive devices, the biggest killer of US troops in Iraq, will be funded with nearly 500 million dollars under the proposed budget. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links The Military Industrial Complex at SpaceWar.com Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com
SAIC Supports Cooperative US/Albania Program To Destroy Obsolete And Dangerous Munitions
McLean VA (SPX) Feb 04, 2008Science Applications International announced it recently completed a project for the U.S. Department of State managing the disposal of 2,900 tons of obsolete and dangerous surplus munitions in the Republic of Albania. According to the State Department, the effort was completed safely and efficiently, helping to ensure the materials cannot be used by terrorists. |
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