Posted on 12/15/2002 12:00:37 PM PST by nypokerface
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Bush administration will seek a $14 billion boost in defense spending next year, a smaller increase than the Pentagon was hoping for to finance the war on terrorism, The Washington Post reported in Sunday's editions.
The proposed defense budget, to be presented to President Bush this week, would raise total defense spending to $378.5 billion, the newspaper said, up from the $364.1 billion Congress approved for fiscal 2003 that started on Oct. 1. The plan would continue major weapons programs that have been under scrutiny this year, but would slash purchases of a new Army helicopter, the Comanche, to 650 from 1,200, and limit its role to reconnaissance missions, the newspaper said.
It also would limit the Navy, which wants to build two new aircraft carriers, to building a first carrier if it contains some of the new technology intended for the second.
The plan would boost spending for programs that have been valuable in counter-terrorism efforts, such as unmanned aerial vehicles and Special Operations forces, the newspaper said.
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