5billion for the expected force buildup in Afghanistan

Defense Secretary RobertGates has told Congress that a planned buildup of U.S forcesin Afghanistan could add $5.5 billion to U.S. war costs in thecurrent federal fiscal year, officials said on Wednesday. Bonds The cost estimate is contained in an addendum to a letterdated Dec 31 that Gates sent to U.S. defense chief underPresident-elect Barack Obama, said in the letter he believesthe wars will cost another $69.7 billion in fiscal 2009, on topof $65.9 billion already approved by Congress. But that did not include $17.6 billion in estimated costsfor items that have not yet been considered, including $5.5billion for the expected force build-up in Afghanistan. The additional items would bring the total cost of the warsin Iraq and Afghanistan to $153.2 billion for the current year,still significantly below U.S war expenditures in 2007 and2008. Gates stressed in the letter that the estimates were hispersonal assessment and did not reflect the position of theBush administration or Obama's incoming government.

He said hewould work closely with the new team to provide Congress withupdated figures as soon as possible. "(Gates) has made a commitment to provide additionalcapabilities to Afghanistan this year. But he hasn't made anydecision as to what precisely the build-up in Afghanistan willlook like," said one U.S defense official, who spoke oncondition of anonymity The U.S. military has 32,000 troops in Afghanistan andhopes to deploy least another 13,000 forces by early summer tocombat an intensifying Taliban insurgency.

An Army combat brigade of about 3,500 troops is deployingthis month and will be followed in the spring by a combataviation brigade of about 2,800 soldiers. The Pentagon is alsoworking to send two Army brigades, or an equivalent force ofMarines, totaling about 7,000 troops, by late spring The U.S. build-up could grow to include as many as 30,000troops over the next 12 to 18 months, officials said. (Reporting by David Morgan and Andrea Shalal-Esa; editing byDavid Wiessler) Bonds. It's that time of year again.Houses are lighting up, presents are gathering under trees, and a Bulls head coach is on the hot seat.If ever there was a Scrooge in the NBA, you might as well give the label to the Bulls front office.In 2001, Tim Floyd resigned on Christmas Eve, citing that it was best for himself and his family to leave, although it was said that there was pressure from Jerry Krause and Jerry Reinsdorf to settle on such a fate.In 2003, the Bulls couldn't even wait for December when they decided to pull the plug on Bill Cartwright, firing him on Nov. Then LeBron started scoring (and dancing) and eventually led Cleveland to a 101-87 victory.Then against Toronto, the Bulls just failed to show up completely.