Gates estimates war costs but calls it inaccurate

WASHINGTON, Feb 6 (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, pressed to estimate total war costs, said on Wednesday that Iraq and Afghanistan operations could cost $170 billion in 2009 but warned the figure was likely wrong.

"I have no confidence in that figure," Gates told the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee.

He said the Pentagon could not accurately estimate total war costs for next year before receiving full war funding for the current fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30.

Gates said he based the $170 billion figure on current expenditures in the wars.

Gates also said the 2009 estimate will depend on what decisions are made about U.S. troop levels in Iraq after the top commander there, Gen. David Petraeus, makes his next recommendation to the president in March.

The Bush administration this week asked Congress for $515.4 billion for the Pentagon in fiscal 2009 plus an additional $70 billion to pay for war operations for part of the year.

Members of Congress, both Democrats and Republicans, told Gates they were disappointed the administration did not seek war funding for the full year -- something they demanded last year. But Gates said Congress still had not provided full war funding for the current year.

Congress in December approved $70 billion to cover war funds for part of fiscal 2008. The Pentagon says it needs $102.5 billion more.

"This delay is degrading our ability to operate and sustain the force at home and in theater and is making it difficult to manage this department in a way that is fiscally sound," he said.

Since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, Congress has approved $691 billion to pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and related activities such as Iraq reconstruction, according to the Congressional Budget Office. (Reporting by Kristin Roberts; Editing by Bill Trott)