The White House has been criticised by Democrats and Republicans in Congress for submitting this month a budget request for fiscal year 2009, which begins in October, that seeks US$70 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, far less than what actually will be needed, and no money for subsequent years.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates told Congress the 2009 war tab could hit US$170 billion, but that he had “no confidence in that figure”.

For this fiscal year through September, US President George W. Bush has asked Congress for around US$190 billion in war funding. About US$86 billion has been approved so far.

Anti-war Democrats have been trying, unsuccessfully so far, to attach timetables for withdrawing troops from Iraq to war-funding bills.

Next month, the Senate Budget Committee hopes to finish writing its version of a 2009 budget blueprint and February 12 hearing was aimed at trying to nail down how much money the Pentagon will need for its regular operations and the wars.

The Iraq war, soon entering its sixth year and with its wear-and-tear on US military equipment and soldiers, has fed growing concerns about the Pentagon's global readiness.