ALBAWABA - Citing “urgent needs” related to the Iran war, the White House has asked lawmakers to approve $87 billion - this comes a day after Congress passed the war powers resolution, forcing Trump to ask permission for any further military actions in Iran.
According to the White House, the bulk of the $87 billion is going to the Department of Defense at $67 billion; including $21 billion for munitions, $17.3 billion for operational costs, $12.1 billion for classified programs, and $300 million to enhance U.S. embassy security in the Middle East.
The rest of the money is going elsewhere unrelated to the Iran war with $11 billion going to farmers in the U.S., and $1.4 billion for the Ebola outbreak in Central Africa.
The approval of the funds is doubtful, however, as the Iran war has shown itself to be highly unpopular with voters, and indeed, in both the House and the Senate as they passed the war powers resolution to limit Trump’s belligerence in the Middle East with him describing the resolution as “poorly timed and meaningless” - This, as the midterms loom over U.S. politicians in November; making U.S. lawmakers eager not to lose their seats by approving the funds.
Trump after meeting with Senate Republicans on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, Trump reportedly "squabbled" and got into shouting matches with fellow Republicans. (BBC via X)
The request, in the form of a letter, was sent to the U.S. House Representative Speaker Mike Johnson, on Wednesday. In it, the White House says that "Most of this request will address urgent needs related to Operation Epic Fury (OEF)," referring to the Iran war.
It seems that the funds will not be used for any new operations as the ceasefire holds between the U.S. and Iran, instead; it’s to be used to replenish ammunition stock deficits incurred in the war.
Trump, who was annoyed with U.S. Congress’s fading support for him and his war has said regarding the war powers vote: "We had four Republican senators and all Democrats (who voted)... they want to lose the war because they're stupid," he said.
According to the Pentagon's chief financial officer Jules Hurst, the war has cost the U.S. $29 billion so far with analysts and lawmakers that the true financial cost of the war is not reflected in this number.
