WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- The White House on Tuesday estimated that Iraq war will probably cost the country 110 billion U.S. dollars in fiscal year 2007 which started Oct. 1.

    In a testimony sent to the Congress, White House budget office chief Rob Portman said although accurate figures are hard to predict at present, but the costs "will be in excess of 110 billion dollars."

    Portman said his office will release a detailed estimate of war costs early 2007.

    The 110-billion-dollar sum approaches the record reached in fiscal year 2006, when war spending hit an all-time high of 120 billion dollars in the 12-month period which ended Sept. 30.

    The war costs will be covered in a supplemental spending request for fiscal year 2007.

    Nearly four years into the war, the Bush administration has resorted to requesting supplemental spending in addition to the defense budget to cover the war costs.

    The Congress has already earmarked 70 billion dollars for war costs under the defense appropriation bill for fiscal year 2007.

    But news reports said the administration may ask for another 100 billion dollars in supplemental funds for military actions in both Iraq and Afghanistan in February 2007.

Related:

Bush reveals plan to expand military size

    WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President George W. Bush said Tuesday that he plans to expand the size of the U.S. military to meet the challenges of "a long-term global war against terrorists."

    In an interview with The Washington Post at the White House, Bush said it was a response to warnings that sustained deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan have stretched the armed forces to near the breaking point.

    He said he has instructed newly sworn-in Defense Secretary Robert Gates to report back to him with a plan to increase ground forces. >>>