Defense Secretary Robert Gates is asking Congress to approve an additional $42.3 billion for the War on Terror in Iraq, Afghanistan, and abroadBoston (EON) - Defense Secretary Robert Gates is asking Congress to approve an additional $42.3 billion for the War on Terror in Iraq, Afghanistan, and abroad.

This brings the total funding request by the Bush administration for the war in 2008 to $190 billion.

This is the largest total for the wars in 1 year yet and is causing an uproar by those who oppose the war.

General George W. Casey Jr. who is the Army chief of staff has stated that the Army is stretched very thin due to war operations and may not be able to respond to a major conflict outside of their immediate war area should it occur.

He stated that “The current demand for our forces exceed the sustainable supply.”

The total cost of both conflicts will be more than $800 billion by the end of the year since September 11, 2001.

Senator Robert Byrd stated that “We can not create a democracy at the point of a gun. Spending more guns does not change that reality. This committee will not rubber stamp every request that is submitted by the president.”

The funding increase has both support and opposition as Congress continues to battle it out.