More war funding

President Obama plans to ask Congress for $33 billion in additional funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, administration officials said. The request, set to be delivered to Congress Feb. 1, comes on top of the administration’s anticipated call to increase the Pentagon’s budget next year to a record $708 billion. The new money will pay for the deployment of 30,000 additional troops to Afghanistan and more predator drones.

The request is expected to receive congressional support, with Republicans likely to join moderate Democrats to pass the bill. But liberal Democrats have raised objections, and the debate could be contentious. “The president’s going to have to make his case,” said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.