War-Funding Delays Harmful Within Months, Deputy Secretary Says

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War-funding delays will become harmful within months if continued, the Pentagon’s second-ranking official said here today ... lawmakers have approved less than half the fiscal 2008 request of $189 billion to support operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“At some point, that delayed appropriation will be harmful,” ... “We do manage to keep stretching (the appropriated $86.8 billion), but at some point here in a matter of months, we will start to run out of money again.”

The deputy secretary called the appropriations “vital” for funding daily operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and other parts of the world.

The request, which marks a $35.9 billion increase over fiscal 2008 funding, accounts for about 4 percent of the United States’ gross domestic product, ... By comparison, defense spending accounted for 11.7 percent of the GDP during the Korean War, and 9 percent during the Vietnam War.

“Fortunately, our economy has grown to support the kind of military we need in this complex (security) environment we have today,” he said. “I view the 4 percent as … the insurance policy to protect our freedom and liberty and frankly it sounds like a pretty reasonable amount of money.”


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