Post Reply 
 
Thread Rating:
  • 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Pentagon to exhaust funds this month: Gates asks Congress for fast action on war fund
05-01-2009, 06:57 AM
Post: #1
Pentagon to exhaust funds this month: Gates asks Congress for fast action on war fund
WASHINGTON (May 01 2009): Defence Secretary Robert Gates is urging Congress to pass $83.4 billion spending bill for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan by Memorial Day, saying the Pentagon will deplete its funding for Pakistan next month and money for US operations will start running out in July.

Money and support for Pakistan, including bolstering its military operations along the border, have been central issues in the administration's new strategy for the Afghanistan war. President Barack Obama and other top officials are expected to meet with Pakistani leaders next week.

"After Memorial Day, we will need to consider options to delay running out of funds," Gates said in testimony prepared for delivery to the Senate Appropriations Committee. Money to reimburse Pakistan, which conducts operations along the border with Afghanistan, will run out in mid-May, he said.

Gates is scheduled to testify alongside Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. The bulk of the spending bill is for military operations, but $7.1 billion is for the State Department for international affairs and stabilisation activities, including funds for Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The proposed Pentagon aid to Pakistan includes a new $400 million fund that will be used to train and equip the Pakistani military to fight insurgents within its own borders. The money would be the first instalment of a five-year, $3 billion plan. "We are asking for this unique authority for the unique and urgent circumstances we face in Pakistan, for dealing with a challenge that simultaneously requires wartime and peacetime capabilities," Gates said.

The Obama administration also is close to finalising plans to provide training for the Pakistani military at a location outside Pakistan. While the site has not been decided, a senior administration official said on Wednesday that the issue would come up in next week's meetings. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the issue still was in discussion, said the expanded training comes in response to a request from Pakistan.

THE WAR SPENDING MEASURE ALSO INCLUDES:

-- $38 billion to maintain forces on the two warfronts, taking into account the expected decrease in troops in Iraq and the planned increase in troops in Afghanistan.

-- $11.6 billion to replace and repair equipment that has been worn-out, damaged, or destroyed in the wars, including four F-22 fighters.

-- $9.8 billion for body armour and other protection

-- $2.7 billion to buy 1,000 mine-resistant vehicles for Afghanistan, and other upgrades

-- $3.6 billion to expand and improve the Afghan National Security Forces. The White House has said this will be the last special funding bill for Iraq and Afghanistan, as the money will largely be folded into the main Pentagon spending measure. When he was a member of the Senate, Obama was critical of the Bush administration's use of special supplemental bills for the wars.

http://www.brecorder.com/index.php?id=33353
Quote this message in a reply
Post Reply 


Possibly Related Threads...
Thread: Author Replies: Views: Last Post
  Punjab Chief Minister Announces Anticipated Opening of LRR SL-3 by Month-End LRE-Azan 0 148 01-12-2024 02:17 PM
Last Post: LRE-Azan
  Government Initiates Activation of $1.5 Billion Uplift Fund LRE-Azan 0 137 01-09-2024 03:32 PM
Last Post: LRE-Azan
  Funds Approved for Various Development Projects, Including Link Road Interchange in K LRE-Azan 0 181 01-01-2024 02:03 PM
Last Post: LRE-Azan
  LDA City is set to hand over plot possessions next month LRE-Azan 0 207 11-24-2023 04:30 PM
Last Post: LRE-Azan
  LDA Major Infrastructure Projects in Lahore to Open to Traffic This Month LRE-Azan 0 210 11-08-2023 06:52 PM
Last Post: LRE-Azan
  SBP & CDC Launched RAAST Payments Facility For Mutual Funds LRE-Azan 0 260 11-02-2023 06:37 PM
Last Post: LRE-Azan
  CDA Decided to Auction Commercial & Residential Plots Next Month LRE-Azan 0 324 09-30-2023 04:55 PM
Last Post: LRE-Azan
  RAAST Online Funds Transfer Service to be Unavailable on Sunday LRE-Azan 0 330 09-02-2023 02:48 PM
Last Post: LRE-Azan
  IJP Road to open to traffic by the end of month LRE-Azan 0 642 01-26-2023 03:05 PM
Last Post: LRE-Azan
  Islamabad: Work on Bhara Kahu Bypass to Start Next Month LRE-Azan 0 1,008 11-02-2021 06:34 PM
Last Post: LRE-Azan
  Punjab Government has Allocated Rs 300 Million for Minority Development Fund LRE-Azan 0 4,226 11-06-2017 03:06 PM
Last Post: LRE-Azan
  Metro Bus service will start functioning by the end of the next month. Salman 0 5,086 04-30-2015 05:19 PM
Last Post: Salman
  Islamabad CDA to auction commercial plots from next month Salman 0 5,101 03-17-2014 01:30 PM
Last Post: Salman
  Construction of 500,000 low-income group houses start next month Salman 0 4,628 02-25-2014 01:23 PM
Last Post: Salman
  NESPAK asks CDA to allot 20 acres land for Metro bus depot Salman 0 4,767 01-31-2014 07:45 PM
Last Post: Salman
  CDA decides action against Tarnol, Golra encroachers Salman 0 5,084 12-18-2013 07:16 PM
Last Post: Salman
  Action initiated against building inspector Salman 0 5,644 12-03-2013 04:38 PM
Last Post: Salman
  Saudi Fund announces $57m for Golen Gol Hydropower Project Salman 0 6,863 11-20-2013 03:19 PM
Last Post: Salman
  Kashmir Highway project: Instead of receiving funds, CDA conducting inquiry Salman 0 7,986 10-31-2013 11:58 AM
Last Post: Salman
  Illegitimate Allocation Of Rs 1 Billion Funds For Progression Of Kachi Abadis Salman 0 7,479 09-04-2013 08:37 PM
Last Post: Salman

Forum Jump:


User(s) browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)