WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Robert Gates called on Congress on Monday to approve $102.5 billion in war funds that President Bush requested last year. The money has been held up by Democrats' disagreements with the White House over the conduct of the war in Iraq.

That money is in addition to another $70 billion in war funding that Bush proposed Monday as part of his 2009 budget request. Gates said the $70 billion was only an estimate of how much it would cost to run the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan during the first months of the budget year that begins Oct. 1. He said a full estimate would be provided this spring after Bush considers a way ahead in Iraq.

Gates urged Congress to approve the stalled $102.5 billion as soon as possible, noting that it was requested last year.

"Delay degrades our ability to operate and sustain the force at home and in theater, and makes it difficult to manage this department in a way that is fiscally sound," Gates told a Pentagon news conference at which the Pentagon's budget chief, Tina Jonas, spelled out details of the 2009 budget plan.




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