, WASHINGTON: In the fiscal 2008 defense budget request, submitted to Congress today, President Bush is requesting $235.1 billion to fight the global war on terror through 2008. Part of that total is a $93.4 billion emergency supplemental measure to cover the cost of operations in the war on terror for the remainder of fiscal 2007. This supplemental request is in addition to the $70 billion previously provided by Congress.
The supplemental budget provides $39.3 billion to sustain warfighting operations, including supplies, support and maintenance, according to documents released by the Defense Department. It also includes:
$10.4 billion for force protection and improvised-explosive-device defeat, which includes improved armor for personnel and vehicles and $2.4 billion for the development and fielding of counter-IED measures;
$3.8 billion to train and equip Iraqi security forces and $5.9 billion to train and equip Afghan security forces;
$2.7 billion for military intelligence;
$1.1 billion for critical military construction projects in direct support of deployed troops;
$13.9 billion to repair or replace equipment lost or damaged in combat; and
$1.7 billion to support permanent end-strength increases for the Army and Marine Corps.
The supplemental budget also would fund the deployment of the five additional brigade combat teams Bush has pledged to Iraq, and an increased naval presence in the region.
The fiscal 2008 global war on terror request provides $141.7 billion to fund Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, and other incremental costs of the war on terror through all of fiscal 2008, according to DoD documents. About half of the request, $70.6 billion, is to sustain warfighting operations and to provide supplies, support and maintenance.
The 2008 global war on terror request also includes:
$15.2 billion for force protection and defeating IEDs, including $4 billion for the development and fielding of measures to defeat IEDs;
$2.7 billion to sustain military intelligence requirements;
$2 billion to train and equip Iraqi security forces and $2.7 billion to train and equip Afghan security forces;
$1.7 billion for coalition support and $1 billion for the Commander
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