Congressional Research Service: US Military has funds for Iraq through July

U.S. Army Soldiers from Charlie Troop 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment (Recon), 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C., evacuate wounded soldiers during Operation Minotaur at Qubbah, Iraq on March 24.

An independent U.S. government report says the Army has enough money available to fund its military operations in Iraq through July.

The Congressional Research Service - the nonpartisan research agency of U.S. Congress - issued a report this week saying the Army could pay for both its regular and combat operations through May. After that, it can shift money from different accounts dedicated to non-combat functions.

The report is in contrast to assertions by President Bush and military leaders that the Army would start running out of money in April if lawmakers did not approve an emergency spending bill. Congress has approved the money in proposed bills. But the proposals backed mainly by Democratic Party members in both the Senate and House of Representatives impose deadlines to withdraw the troops from Iraq.

Mr. Bush has threatened to veto any bill that includes such timetables.

From Voice of America

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