WASHINGTON (AP):
PRESIDENT GEORGE W. Bush, asking Congress for US$74.7 billion to pay for six months of combat, said Monday that coalition forces are "on a steady advance" in Iraq but said he could not predict how long the war will last.
"We cannot know the duration of this war, yet we know its outcome: We will prevail," Bush, commander in chief of 250,000 troops in the Gulf, told US military personnel at the Pentagon.
"The Iraq regime will be disarmed. The Iraq regime will be ended. The Iraq people will be free and our world will be more secure and peaceful," he said.
"Americans can be confident in the people who wear our nation's uniforms," he said.
The bulk of the request, $62.6 billion, will support US troops both in Iraq and other operations related to the broader war on terrorism, the White House said. The rest of the money will go to humanitarian assistance in Iraq, other foreign aid and homeland Defence programmes in the United States.
The package will help pay for transportation of forces to the Gulf region, supplying troops and maintaining equipment. It also will allow the Pentagon to replace cruise missiles, smart bombs and other high-tech munitions, and provide combat pay to troops.
Bush refused to provide a cost estimate before the attack on Iraq started, asserting there were too many variables to give a reliable price tag. On Monday, five days into the military campaign, the administration tipped its hand, outlining for congressional budget chiefs his spending plans in the form of a "supplemental" request.
Standing in front of a display of military service flags, Bush asked Congress for flexibility in spending the money and said he wanted the bill on his desk as soon as possible. Aides said his target date was April 11.
Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist told reporters that Congress would try to meet that timetable.
On the eve of a visit at his Camp David mountaintop retreat with ally, Tony Blair of Britain, Bush said, "Our coalition is on a steady advance. We're making good progress."
The remarks and the prime minister's overnight stay today are part of a campaign by United States and British officials to brace their citizens for a war that could be longer and tougher than many expected. After early gains, coalition forces have suffered casualties at least 20 US troops have been killed and 14 captured or missing in war on Iraq.
"The situation in any war is fluid," Bush said.
"We're fighting an enemy that knows no rules of law, that will wear civilian uniforms, that are willing to kill in order to continue the reign of fear of Saddam Hussein. But we're fighting them with bravery and courage," the president said.
Meanwhile, a senior administration official said national security adviser Condoleezza Rice was visiting the United Nations yesterday to discuss humanitarian issues with Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
Bush tacked aid to various other countries onto the budget request most of them regional neighbours like Jordan and Israel.
Turkey was once promised US$15 billion to let in US troops for a ground war. Turkey refused and Bush responded by slashing the aid to US$1 billion.
Far-flung nations including the Philippines, Colombia and Afghanistan are among the other aid beneficiaries in the budget measure all tucked under the heading "Global War on Terrorism" on an administration summary sheet. In all, the Bush is requesting US$2.4 billion to create a flexible account focused on relief and reconstruction for Iraq.
