George Bush

President Bush says military spending is the top priority of his proposed $2-trillion, fiscal year 2003 budget sent to Congress Monday for its approval.

The budget calls for $379 billion in defense spending, an increase of $48 billion to finance the war against terrorism and set in motion the biggest military buildup since the Cold War in the early 1980s.

Speaking at an Air Force Base in Florida Monday, Mr. Bush said fighting for freedom requires a strong military and urged Congress to fully fund the proposed defense spending as a sign of national unity.

Mr. Bush said liberating Afghanistan is only the first step in a long campaign to rid the world of terrorists. President Bush told the crowd of military personnel that the terrorists are beginning to realize they picked the wrong enemy.

He said the fight for freedom requires a strong military and it is kept strong by attracting and retaining the best and the brightest.

Most of the $48 billion dollars in added funds for 2003 would provide new weapons and increases in military pay. More than $2-billion is proposed to modernize U.S. ground forces. The money would go to buying new lightweight armored vehicles for use by rapid deployment forces and development of a new reconnaissance helicopter.

About $5-billion would fund the purchase of 23 new F-22 stealth fighters, $4-billion for more C-17 transport aircraft and more than eight-billion dollars for five new ships.

The Bush budget cuts funds for job training, highways, environmental and other programs that congressional Democrats say they will fight to restore.

Email this article to a friend
Printer Friendly Version