Bush seeks £55bn Iraq war fund and further international support

US President George Bush has declared that he will "spend what is necessary, to achieve victory in the war on terror" as he seeks $87 billion (£55bn) in new funding from Congress.

He also stated that Iraq is the “central front” against global terrorism, and called for increased support from other countries to deal with problems in post-war Iraq.

Speaking from the White House, Mr Bush stated that the level of troops in Iraq was “appropriate to their mission”, but he said that the military commanders in Iraq had requested a third multinational division, in addition to the divisions already there.

Clearly referring to European sceptics, France, Germany and Russia, Mr Bush said: “I recognise that not all of our friends agreed with our decision to enforce the security council resolutions and remove Saddam Hussein from power. Yet we cannot let past differences interfere with present duties."

Mr Bush’s approval ratings have slipped to their lowest level since he took office in January 2001; according to recent opinion polls, the President’s stance on Iraq is increasingly unpopular.

The US requests for military assistance from key United Nation member states are understood to be relatively modest. Colin Powell, the US Secretary of State, has indicated that around 15,000 troops are required to join the 150,000 US troops and 11,000 British troops in frontline operations in Iraq.

Political commentators view the preparedness of the US to bring the UN on board at this stage, and bridge the political gulf that developed in the pre-Iraq war phase of the operation, as more important than the actual number of troops on the ground.

For his part, Mr Bush pledged that the US would not be intimidated into retreat by terrorist violence. However, the US has now lost more troops in the post-war phase of the operation than during the primary military operation to overthrow Saddam Hussein.

Mr Bush stated: "Enemies of freedom are making a desperate stand there, and there they must be defeated. This will take time, and require sacrifice.”

If passed by the US Congress, the $87 billion funding would up the US federal debt by almost a fifth in the next year.

(SP)