Defense Budget: Contingency Operations in the Balkans May Need Less Funding in Fiscal Year 2003

摘要

From the end of the Persian Gulf War in February 1991 through May 2002, the Department of Defense (DOD) reported over $43.9 billion in incremental costs for its overseas contingency operations.1 These operations include the enforcement of no-fly zones, humanitarian assistance, and peace enforcement operations, as well as combating terrorism beginning in late fiscal year 2001. The majority of these costs ($29.7 billion) were incurred in the Balkans (Bosnia and Kosovo) and Southwest Asia. In fiscal year 2002, U.S. military forces are continuing to participate in a number of contingency operations, primarily in the Balkans, Southwest Asia, and a number of locations that involve combating terrorism. You asked us to review the administration's request for funding overseas contingency operations. In response to your request, we examined (1) the funding for continued operations in the Balkans and Southwest Asia for fiscal year 2002 and (2) the outlook for funding operations in the Balkans during fiscal year 2003.