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Pentagon Budget May Put Next President in a Pickle Next week, the Pentagon will send its annual budget to Congress. The request totals about $500 billion. But one thing is missing: Most of the money needed to pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Critics say that could present a political dilemma for the next president.

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Pentagon Budget May Put Next President in a Pickle

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Pentagon Budget May Put Next President in a Pickle

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The Pentagon will unveil its budget request to Congress next week. The request totals about $500 billion. If approved, it will be the largest military budget — adjusted for inflation — since World War II.

But one thing is missing: most of the money to pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Defense officials now say they'll only ask Congress to provide enough money to fund the wars through the end of the Bush administration.

Critics say the decision could present a political dilemma for the next president.