When an armed Chinese fighter jet recently buzzed a U.S. Navy surveillance aircraft over international waters in the South China Sea, it was just the latest in a series of low-level confrontations between the two militaries.
U.S. military operations in Iraq since mid-June have cost well above $500 million and can currently be paid for out of 2014 budgets without going to Congress for additional funding, the Pentagon said Friday.
A big escalation in U.S. military activity against Islamic State militants could force the Pentagon to seek more money from Congress as policymakers draft next year’s budget, though it should be able to pay for the current pace of operations from existing funds.
The U.S. airstrikes targeting Islamic extremists in northern Iraq have probably cost about $100 million since they began three weeks ago, according to a defense budget analyst.
US operations against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (or whatever we’re calling it these days) have probably cost the country about $100 million so far, according to one of the top defense budget experts.
1667 K Street NW Suite 900
Washington DC, 20006
202-331-7990
info@csbaonline.org
