U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld testifies before Congress again Wednesday to defend President Bush's huge proposed increase in military spending for fiscal year 2003.

Secretary Rumsfeld told the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee Tuesday the big increase in military spending is needed to fight the current war on terrorism.

He admitted the proposed defense budget is a lot of money, $379 billion, up $48 billion from fiscal 2002. But Mr. Rumsfeld called it an investment in deterring war.

Both Democrats and Republicans on the committee seem generally supportive of the budget proposal, but some say they worry about the possible consequences of expanding the fight against terrorism beyond Afghanistan.

There were also some questions about U.S. military involvement in current anti-terrorist operations in the Philippines.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Richard Myers, acknowledged American soldiers in the Philippines could fall in harm's way, saying the Muslim rebel group Abu Sayyaf is dangerous.

However, General Myers stressed that the fight against the rebels is being led by Philippine forces.

Some information for this report provided by Reuters.

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