Bush to seek an additional $245 billion in war funding

The Bush admin. will request an additional $100 billion in "war funding" this year, and $145 billion for 2008. The increase would bring appropriations for the war in 2007 to a total of $170 billion. All of this would include 93.4 billion dollars for the Pentagon - on top of the $70 billion approved by Congress in September.

The Bush administration will also break down next year's $145 billion into a "detailed format" despite it's efforts to keep the information "secret."

Here's the kicker, though:

For 2009, the White House assumes spending will be down to $50 billion, with no funding planned beyond then in hopes the war in Iraq will have wound down.

Bush has said his five-year plan will bring a balanced budget by 2012, but the claim has met with some skepticism from Democrats since the White House has declined to forecast long-term war costs.

Are they kidding? They actually believe that we'll need $145 billion in war funding in 2008, but only $50 billion in 2009 because they HOPE the war in Iraq will be "winding down." What a joke!!