Costs for Iraq and Afghanistan operations total some $800 billion

08:47 GMT, July 1, 2008 U.S. President Bush yesterday signed a legislation to pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan for the rest of his presidency and into spring 2009. The supplemental war funding bill provides nearly $162 billion without the restrictions House Democrats wanted to put into place like an accelerated withdrawal from Iraq or other limitations.

With the recently released $162 billion, the amount issued by the Congress for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan totals some $800 billion, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

Bush thanked lawmakers of both parties: "Republicans and Democrats in Congress agreed to provide these vital funds without tying the hands of our commanders and without an artificial timetable of withdrawal from Iraq. This bill shows the American people that even in an election year, Republicans and Democrats can come together to stand behind our troops and their families."

It took more than 500 days to achieve unity on this bill. Bush signed it some two weeks before Defense Secretary Robert Gates’ deadline would have exceeded. Gates urged congressmen to rapidly end consultations on the bill and release the supplemental funding. Otherwise he would have to direct Army and Marine Corps to begin developing plans to lay off thousands of employees and an equal number of civilian contractors.

"Our troops have driven the terrorists and extremists from many strongholds in Iraq. Today, violence is at the lowest level since March of 2004," Bush pointed out after he signed the bill. "As a result of this progress, some of our troops are coming home, as a result of our policy called 'Return on Success.' We welcome them home."

The fact that this bill and its supplemental funding reaches half a year beyond Bush’s presidency will give his successor a reasonable timeframe to set up his Iraq policy after taking office in January 2009.

Bush concluded: “And with this legislation, we send a clear message to all that are serving on the front line that our nation continues to support them.”