Bush May Seek More Than $50 Billion for Iraq, Afghanistan for Next Year

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http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGAS8BBGXTD.html

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush may seek more money for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan next year than the $50 billion figure his budget director cited months ago, White House officials say.

The acknowledgment comes amid growing doubts in Congress that the amount will be enough to finance U.S. operations in the two countries, especially in an increasingly violent Iraq. Lawmakers also say they will probably give the administration less leeway than it wants in spending the money.

Joshua Bolten, Bush's budget chief, cited $50 billion in February as "the upper limit" for what might be spent for the wars next year. But administration officials, who have repeatedly said they can't predict what will be needed, said this week that the figure has been misinterpreted and that they might request more or less than that.

"He feels very strongly that that wasn't meant as a marker," budget office spokesman Chad Kolton said Thursday, referring to Bolten's mention of $50 billion.

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