Gates Opines on 2009 War Spending

It's not official, but DefSec Gates has sent Congress an estimate of what he thinks the Pentagon will request to round out FY 2009 war funding. His "personal assessment" comes in at just under $70 billion, which is somewhat less than the $83 billion he mentioned in December.

CQ Politics: "Gates Estimates Another $69.7 Billion Needed for Wars This Fiscal Year"

A C-130J-30 Super Hercules aircraft brings its six propeller engines up to speed while cargo is loaded Jan. 3, 2009, on Joint Base Balad, Iraq. The aircraft is the newest version of the Hercules and the only model still in production. The J-model can climb and fly faster and higher and lands in shorter distances and adds 15 feet to the fuselage, creating more usable space in the cargo compartment. (DoD photo by Tech. Sgt. Erik Gudmundson, U.S. Air Force/Released)

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