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