9/11 bill hits $1.5 trillion

The total cost of the United States response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and the continuing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan would top US$1 trillion ($1.5 trillion) under a Pentagon funding bill approved by a key House panel yesterday.

The US$636 billion defence spending bill unanimously approved by the Appropriations Committee contains US$128 billion for Pentagon operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.