Posted by Alli (160.129.27.22) on January 23, 2002 at 14:59:15:
In Reply to: this is depressing posted by Alli on January 23, 2002 at 14:55:25:
Wednesday, 23 January, 2002, 20:03 GMT
Bush boosts military spending
BBC News Online
US troops will see an increase in their pay
US President George W Bush has announced plans for a $48bn increase in defence spending to fight the war on terror.
The increase - of nearly 15% - will be the largest in US military spending in 20 years, he said in a speech to military reserve officers.
It may put a strain on our budget, but we will not cut corners when it comes to defending our great land
George W Bush
It will include salary increases for military personnel as well as money to buy the latest in precision weapons, missile defences, unmanned vehicles and hi-tech equipment for ground troops.
"The tools of modern warfare are effective. They are expensive. But in order to win this war against terror they are essential," said Mr Bush.
"It may put a strain on our budget, but we will not cut corners when it comes to defending our great land."
A White House official said the increase included $38bn for the pay rise and weaponry and $10bn in "war reserves".
The President is also boosting domestic security
The total defence budget will be $379bn.
Mr Bush was giving details of the $2 trillion budget that he will submit to Congress on 4 February.
For defence at home, the president said the budget would also call for the hiring of 30,000 airport security workers and an extra 300 FBI agents.
In the wake of the anthrax attacks there would be new equipment to improve mail safety and more research into bio-terror threats.
Mr Bush also said that the war on terror had started in Afghanistan but it would not end there.
He spoke of the "shadowy enemy dwelling in dark corners of the earth".