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"Bush administration officials have not wavered in their contention that money is actually plentiful. [[Dov S. Zakheim]], who left his post as Pentagon comptroller last week, told reporters earlier this month that there may be a temporary spike in spending in the coming months but that costs would then steadily decline. By borrowing from military personnel, operations and maintenance accounts for the final half of 2005, the Pentagon may be able to bridge the gap, said Rep. [[John M. Spratt, Jr.]] (S.C.), the ranking Democrat on the House Budget Committee. But budget chicanery of that magnitude would be unprecedented, he added. ... 'Whether they can do that if the requirement is $50 [billion] or $60 billion remains to be seen,' Spratt said. 'It's no way to run a budget.'" [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A28903-2004Apr20_2.html]
However, Pauline Jelinek, in the April 22, 2004, article [http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040422/ap_on_go_co/congress_iraq&cid=512&ncid=716 "Iraq War Faces $4B Shortfall,"] reports that The "Pentagon's top general," General [[Richard Myers]], Chairman of the [[Joint Chiefs of Staff]], said on April 21st "that increased violence in Iraq is pushing the cost of the war over budget, threatening a $4 billion shortfall by late summer, ... the recent decision to extend the stay of some 20,000 troops will cost roughly $700 million more over three months. And the White House kept open the possibility that it will seek additional funds before the end of this election year."
According to Myers, "'When the service chiefs last talked about this, there was, I think, a $4 billion shortfall,' Myers told the House Armed Services Committee. 'We thought we could get through all of August. We'd have to figure out how to do September.'" [http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040422/ap_on_go_co/congress_iraq&cid=512&ncid=716]
Additionally, officials said that the "war is costing about $4.7 billion a month, officials said." Myers said that "Defense officials are studying their budget, which runs through Sept. 30, to determine whether some money can be moved from purchase programs or other Pentagon accounts." [http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040422/ap_on_go_co/congress_iraq&cid=512&ncid=716]
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