Gates: Defense needs another $70 billion in 2009

Defense Secretary Robert Gates has alerted lawmakers that he believes the U.S. military will need an additional $69.7 billion to continue operations in Iraq and Afghanistan this fiscal year.

In a three-page letter dated Dec. 31, Gates told House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman John Murtha, D-Pa., that the dollar figure is his "personal assessment and does not reflect the position of the Bush administration or the incoming Obama administration."

Combined with $65.9 billion in fiscal 2009 war funding already approved by Congress, Gates' estimate, accompanied by a detailed list showing how the added funds would be spent, would bring the Defense Department's share of war spending this year to $135.6 billion -- significantly less than the roughly $170 billion appropriated for war costs bills last year.

But Gates' estimate does not reflect expected increases in U.S. force levels in Afghanistan because the proposal for a larger troop presence is under review.

The secretary's letter identified the need for $31.7 billion in operational costs that include incremental pay and benefits for 320,000 military personnel, predeployment training, transportation, aircraft flying hours and vehicle ground miles.

Gates estimated the military will need $10.8 billion for force protection equipment, such as body and vehicle armor and Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles. Another $1.5 billion will be needed to defeat improvised explosive devices, according to the list Gates included with his letter.

Gates wrote that the military needs $7.5 billion to repair and replace vehicles lost or damaged in combat, and to replenish ammunition and other supplies. That figure includes funding for AH-64 Apache and CH-47 Chinook helicopter modifications, as well as money for tactical vehicles, trailers and tractors.

In addition, Gates' assessment included $600 million for four F-22 Raptor fighter planes to replace one F-15 Eagle and three F-16 Falcons.

The estimate includes $3.6 billion for military intelligence programs, $2 billion to accelerate efforts to increase the size of the Army and Marine Corps, $1.7 billion for support clinics, treatments and other programs for wounded veterans and families, and $3 billion for non-Defense Department classified programs.

Gates outlined $2.3 billion needed to accelerate the growth of the Afghan National Army and to man, train and equip the Afghan National Police. Separately, Gates outlined another $1.3 billion to train and equip the Afghan National Army.

In his letter, Gates emphasized that he will work with the Obama administration, which will "conduct a fresh review of these matters and provide an updated and more authoritative proposal early next year."