Bush’s $417.5bn wartime defence bill approved by Congress

US PRESIDENT George W Bush has signed a $417.5 billion wartime defence bill, providing an additional $25 billion for Iraq and Afghanistan, body armour for troops and reinforced Humvee vehicles.

In Iraq, however, the $18.4bn set aside for the rebuilding of Iraq remains largely unspent.

Only $544m of the package has been spent on reconstruction since it was approved last year, according to the office managing the US funds.

In Washington, the improved warchest was overwhelmingly approved by a Congress eager to show election-year support for the military. The measure includes money for 39 more Army Black Hawk helicopters, a Virginia-class attack submarine, three guided-missile destroyers and a 3.5% pay increase for troops.

“This money is well-earned, well-deserved and well-spent,” Mr Bush said of the pay increase.

With national security the top issue in his re-election campaign, Mr Bush came off the political trail for the bill-signing ceremony with Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and members of Congress.

Mr Bush had originally insisted that no extra funds would be needed for Iraq and Afghanistan until after the elections but under pressure from Congress, he requested $25 billion.

It has nearly $78 billion for weapons purchases, $3 billion more than Mr Bush requested.

In Baghdad, the Project and Contracting Office claimed most of the rebuilding money had been spent on law enforcement and security, adding that daily violence had delayed the flow of funds.