War Chest Is Said to Be $12 Billion Short

The Pentagon faces a $12.3-billion shortfall through September for the costs of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and its worldwide effort against terrorism, congressional auditors estimated Wednesday.

The amount is triple what Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, projected in April that he would need to make it through September. Lawmakers of both parties had said at the time that his projection seemed too low.

The report was written by the Government Accountability Office, Congress’ investigative arm, formerly called the General Accounting Office.

Its release came a day before Congress was expected to approve a $417.5-billion defense bill for 2005 that includes $25 billion more for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

That $25 billion will be available as soon as President Bush signs the measure, but it is unclear whether the administration will use any of that money until the fall.

Democrats used the report to criticize Bush for underestimating the burden the wars -- especially in Iraq -- have put on taxpayers.

“He has grossly mismanaged the war on terrorism and the war in Iraq,” said Mark Kitchens, deputy press secretary to the presumed Democratic presidential nominee, Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.).

But Pentagon spokeswoman Lt. Col. Rose-Ann Lynch said the Pentagon believed it would have enough money for this year -- if Congress authorized the transfer of an extra $1.1 billion within its existing budget, which is about $400 billion.