00:00Hello, today's 12 hours development on Iran war.
00:03Pentagon seeks $200 billion for Iran war as congressional resistance builds.
00:09Washington, the Pentagon has requested approximately $200 billion in funding to support ongoing military operations against Iran,
00:18according to U.S. military and administration officials, signaling a potentially major expansion of an already controversial conflict.
00:26The proposal has been submitted to the White House for review but has not yet been formally presented to Congress.
00:32Officials familiar with the matter spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the discussions.
00:39Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth acknowledged the request during a Thursday press briefing, suggesting the figure could change as planning evolves.
00:48Obviously, it takes money to conduct military operations, he said.
00:52As far as the $200 billion, I think that number could move.
00:57The scale of the request, roughly a quarter of the United States' annual defense budget, is already drawing concern on
01:04Capitol Hill,
01:05where lawmakers from both parties are questioning the scope and strategy behind the war effort.
01:11Republican Senator Susan Collins, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, expressed surprise at the size of the figure,
01:18noting that Congress has not yet received a formal breakdown.
01:21Senator Lisa Murkowski also signaled hesitation, emphasizing that lawmakers expect greater consultation from the administration
01:29before approving such a substantial expenditure.
01:33You can't simply present a bill and expect immediate approval, she told reporters.
01:38The financial request comes amid rapidly rising costs.
01:42Pentagon officials recently informed Congress that the first six days of military operations alone cost more than $11.3 billion.
01:50Since then, the administration has indicated it may escalate the conflict further, including the possible deployment of U.S. ground
01:59forces,
01:59even as it leaves open the possibility of a shorter campaign.
02:03Details remain unclear regarding how long the $200 billion would sustain operations or what specific military activities it would fund.
02:12However, analysts say the size of the request suggests preparations for a prolonged and intensive engagement.
02:19Historically, U.S. war funding has been distributed incrementally.
02:23The Iraq war, for example, cost an estimated $815 billion over 13 years,
02:30while support for Ukraine since 2022 has totaled approximately $188 billion, according to recent estimates.
02:37Unlike those efforts, the current proposal appears to seek a large upfront allocation.
02:43The funding debate is unfolding against a backdrop of broader political divisions over the Iran conflict.
02:50While most Democrats have opposed continued military involvement,
02:54many Republicans have supported the administration's approach.
02:57However, the proposed price tag may complicate that alignment.
03:02Democratic lawmakers quickly criticized the request,
03:05arguing that such spending priorities are misplaced amid domestic funding constraints.
03:10Some pointed to recent cuts in social programs,
03:13contrasting them with the scale of the proposed military expenditure.
03:17Within the Republican Party,
03:19the proposal could deepen existing tensions between defense advocates and fiscal conservatives,
03:24many of whom have previously opposed large foreign military commitments.
03:29Congressional leaders have stopped short of endorsing the request
03:32but acknowledged the financial realities of ongoing operations.
03:36Lawmakers are expected to scrutinize the proposal closely once it is formally submitted.
03:42The funding push also aligns with broader plans by the administration
03:45to significantly increase overall defense spending in the upcoming fiscal year,
03:51potentially reaching $1.5 trillion.
03:53As the debate unfolds,
03:56the request is likely to become a central issue in both national security policy
04:00and domestic political discourse,
04:02with its outcome shaping the future direction of U.S. involvement in the region.
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