American military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan probably will
cost $55 billion to $60 billion next year, according to the
nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. The figure is more than
double the amount President Bush requested for the wars for 2005,
not counting the additional expenses of helping to rebuild the
two countries. In other news, Halliburton announced that it
is expecting record 2005 revenues of some $55 to $60 billion.