Obama Seeks $83.4B for Wars

President Obama will ask Congress for $83.4 billion in supplemental funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the AP reports. Obama had in the past opposed such requests outside of the federal budget, but the administration says it's necessary one final time to fund the military through the end of the year. “This will be the last supplemental for Iraq and Afghanistan,” said press chief Robert Gibbs.

The request is necessary because the money is needed by the summer, and Congress won't be done with the budget by then, said Gibbs. The measure covers the cost of Obama's recent troop increase for Afghanistan. It also includes $3.6 billion for the Afghan army, $400 million to help Pakistan fight insurgents, $400 million for the US-Mexico border, and $600 million for four F-22 jets before that line is discontinued. (More President Obama stories.)