President George W. Bush said on Sunday he will seek $87-billion to cover military operations and reconstruction in Iraq and Afghanistan over the next year.
He said military and intelligence operations would cost $66-billion over the next year. The rest would be on rebuilding the countries.
”I will soon submit to Congress a request for $87-billion,” Bush said in a speech to the nation.
”This budget request will support our commitment to helping the Iraqi and Afghan people rebuild their own nations, after decades of oppression and mismanagement.”
He said Secretary of State Colin Powell would start meeting representatives of other nations this month to discuss contributions to the rebuilding of Afghanistan.
Next month he will hold a conference on funding the reconstruction of Iraq.
”Europe, Japan, and states in the Middle East will all benefit from the success of freedom in these two countries and they should contribute to that success,” Bush said. — Sapa-AFP