Reply #14: Bush to seek $140.7 bln for Army in budget [View All]

[Kokonoe]

Source: Reuters

President George W. Bush will seek $140.7 billion on Monday for the U.S. Army in fiscal 2009, including increased funds to buy helicopters and other equipment, according to budget documents obtained by Reuters.

That request would be 8 percent higher than the Army budget requested for fiscal 2008.

The budget request also includes funds to increase the size of the Army to 532,400 soldiers by the end of fiscal 2009, up from about 512,400 now. That is part of a five-year plan to boost both the Army and Marine Corps.

Bush's overall Pentagon budget request will total $515.4 billion for fiscal 2009, up 7.5 percent from the funds Congress approved for 2008, according to Pentagon documents obtained by Reuters on Friday. He also will seek $70 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN0148678020080202