Bush wants €38.7bn more for defence

US President George Bush has called for €38.7bn in extra military spending for the war on terrorism, the largest increase in defence spending in two decades.

But he told Republican and Democratic leaders he has ‘‘no ambition whatsoever’’ to exploit the war on terrorism for political gain.

In a private address to the Reserve Officers Association, Bush gave the first details of the €2.27tn (£1,400,000,000,000) budget that he will submit to Congress on February 4.

Under the plan, Congress will be asked to give the Pentagon an increase of €38.7bn, bringing its budget to around €432.7bn. If approved, it will be the largest expansion in military spending in 20 years.

The extra money would give servicemen and women another pay raise, acquire more precision weapons and build missile defences.

‘‘Buying these tools may put a strain on the budget but we will not cut corners when it comes to the defence of our great land,’’ Bush said to cheers from the Reserve officers.