The extra money, effectively a blank cheque for war, follows the �750m which was added last month to the �1bn set aside in Mr Brown's last budget.

The Chancellor said the armed forces did an outstanding job and he wanted to ensure that they were properly equipped for whatever lies ahead.

There is speculation that this year's Budget may be postponed until next month due to the uncertainty over the Iraq crisis although Downing Street have said that a date will be announced in due course.

Can the cost of war against Iraq be justified?

This debate is now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.

Your reaction

There is one overwhelming reason why we need to neutralise Saddam's weapons of mass destruction. It doesn't take much imagination to see how a modern virus, designed using genetic modification techniques, could devastate the entire world - and maybe, knock the survivors back to a more primitive state, more in keeping with the ideas of some radicals who don't like the way our civilisation is heading.
These weapons present a threat of such magnitude that all the other arguments; about oil, American imperialism, which leader is in whose pocket, even the potential costs and benefits to the Iraqi people; pale into insignificance. It also becomes apparent that glib statements that there is no proven link between Saddam and al Qaeda are of little comfort - the link may only be proved when millions start to die.
Bob, UK

Why are we wasting our money on war? God put us on this world to do good, not to destroy each other! I'm quite young, 12 years old in fact, but what worries me most is that the kids of the country can't say anything to the Government or the other people! After all, we're the ones that are going to live on this world after YOU (adults) destroy it!
Chloe Sullivan, England

It would seem the taxpayer has to foot the bill for the questionable trading that has taken place previously Davey, UK

Having read through the comments there are powerful arguments for and against, but one thing is being missed, let us not forget who armed Saddam Hussein in the first place. The USA are simply trying to mop up a mess they created by supplying him with gases in the first place. One fears that Mr Blair and co are simply following like lambs to the slaughter again, it would seem the taxpayer has to foot the bill for the questionable trading that has taken place previously. Personally I think Blair should take a step back, stick with the UN and let Bush go it alone, if that is what Bush wants to do.
Davey, UK

Where did the money come from? Why isn't it being spent on fighting al-Qaeda who seem to be a much bigger threat? Is it because they are much more difficult to fight and not a sitting target? It is disgusting that this amount of money can be found for such an unworthy cause when so many worthy ones go without.
Gill, UK

At this stage in George Bush's administration he will have sights set on a second term; and what better way to return him to office than a successful war against a minor but vociferous non-Christian country? Voted into office by the narrowest of margins in a recount, Bush will be looking not only to consolidate but to increase his share of the vote. The lack of success in the Bin Laden campaign can only add to his waning popularity. A war against a weak, obstructionist so called terrorist state may be seen as a means to an end rather than an end in itself.
Katie Smith, Scotland, UK

To all of you who are out there complaining about the cost of all this, if you had family (as I do) out there in the middle of the desert with their lives in danger, you would have a totally different outlook on all of this. You should take a step back and look at what you are saying, it is very selfish and maybe you should think a little more about the people who are out there fighting for YOU!
Lisa-Marie, Scotland

There is no cost high enough to protect one's nation, liberty, and freedom. America will pay any monetary price to defend our security.
Brian O'Hare, New York, New York, USA

We cannot justify the cost of keeping 250,000 troops on the borders of Iraq indefinitely. It is these troops who have got Saddam to sit up and take notice. If France, Germany and Russia want a delay, then perhaps they will be prepared to foot the bill for these troops.
Peter Davies, UK

We have always been told to believe that money is a material item and that it has no reflection as to how truly happy people are. Why should it be any different if money is used to liberate millions of adults and children? These are people that live and breathe fear. Children are beaten and murdered and I am disgusted that a handful of people that would rather we did nothing and this sick man should be allowed to do this.
Emma, UK

I think the public services should be the priority. War is only going to cause suffering and this sort of money could have helped to reduce the suffering of lots of people especially the elderly and the poor.
Jacob, UK

Enough of the selfish attitude! Jeremy Dahdi, UK

Having read some of the comments made about why spend elsewhere when this country needs it more, I am appalled. We do not live on an island (although, geographically it would look that way) and no man/woman is simply unto him/herself. We co-exist with everyone in this world. If the money is more necessary for foreign affairs, which at this point in time it is, then let it be spent as such. Enough of the selfish attitude!
Jeremy Dahdi, UK

The cost of war in Iraq will be justified if it includes the establishment of a democratic government in that country, otherwise the war is not complete. It would only pave the way for another Saddam Hussein in the future. The answer to all problems in the Arab world lies in the democratic form of governments and not in removing a certain dictator.
Agha Ata, USA

The cost is of no consequence because Iraq will pay for it after the US has grabbed the oil wells. Did you know that the country is paying billions of dollars to US as reparation for the last Gulf War and is also paying for the weapons inspectors and humanitarian help?
D. Smith, UK

I don't understand why people are so blind to the danger Saddam Hussein presents. At some point we will be held to nuclear ransom by terror groups who want to destroy the West and its culture. Our single most important foreign policy objective should be to try and delay that point for as long as possible. Removing Saddam does not solve the problem, but it does solve a tiny part of it. We should be happy our taxes are being spent wisely in this war.
Simon, UK

So I presume this is where my increased council tax payments will be going?
Wendy, UK

My wife works in IT for the NHS, and has been told she can't afford to replace the ink cartridge in her office printer. On the other hand, the funds are there for a war that is largely unsupported and as yet unjustified. The situation is ludicrous.
Graham, UK

SUGGEST A DEBATE This topic was suggested by Alec Lyall, UK Why are we spending even more money on a war which nobody wants? Surely we could be spending the money on more pressing social problems at home. Send us your suggestions for Have Your Say debates

If the money is spent on equipping our troops with decent kit that will be a step in the right direction.
Adrian, UK

I think the cost of military action can sometimes be justified. In this case however, I do not think that the case has been made that using these resources to attack Iraq is the best way to use them to improve the world.
Dan Kent, UK

Ironic isn't it? The money can be found for war but not for hospitals, transport and schools. Blair says we will fight a moral war? Who can believe this? It's oil and oil is finance and wealth creating.
Gee Taylor, UK

Whatever it costs, it should be paid for. For too many years the armed forces have been underfunded and overstretched.
Mick, England

Although I agree with some of the comments here, while my brother is sat in the middle of the Kuwaiti desert, Gordon Brown can spend as much as he likes to ensure that all the lads over there have the equipment and resources that they need to defend and look after themselves.
Kerry, England

There is no price tag on freedom from fear Gareth Williams, Wales

Exceptional times call for exceptional measures. There is no price tag on freedom from fear. Yes, Tony, you may act in my name!
Gareth Williams, Wales

The hypocrisy! On the one hand the government bullies firefighters, nurses, teachers and other public sector employees, claiming that proper wages for these people is "not affordable" while on the other they are happy to spend billions on a war that no one wants. No wonder election turnouts are so low - we rightly hold our leaders in contempt.
Robin Prior, UK

IF the war itself is "necessary" for the protection of world peace then the cost is justified. So, IF Saddam is genuinely a threat to world peace and we must topple him or suffer the consequences... surely "it's too expensive" is a terrible excuse?
Howard, UK

Isn't it ironic that we are starting a war to supposedly stop the 'proliferation of WMDS' by unstable dictators? If the UK and USA hadn't supported these regimes and provided them with these weapons and chemical agents we wouldn't be in this situation today. The stench of hypocrisy is enough to make anyone sick to the stomach with shame in being British.
Madge, UK

The cost of this hypocritical, illogical Iraq war cannot be justified Sophie, Reading, UK

This country is falling apart. 60% of my circle of friends have been made redundant in the last year, and most of them still cannot find work. And what do Blair and Brown choose to spend our money on? No, the cost of this hypocritical, illogical Iraq war cannot be justified. Is it any surprise that as I write this, 24 friends and colleagues are all in the process of emigrating? Mr Blair, you have failed this country like no other.
Sophie, Reading, UK

Where are they finding all this money? Down the back of the sofa? Our NHS is skint, public transport's a joke, and yet he manages to pull out �1bn for war. I think he should get his priorities straight.
Michelle, UK

The cost of an Iraq war is much more than just a price-tag of, perhaps, �2 billion. It will cost Britain dearly in decades to come, as the terrorists that we create pay us back, 100 fold.
Peter, London UK

Surely the fact that this money is only made available now, on the brink of war, shows that our armed forces (of whom I am a member) are drastically underfunded. One only has to look at the farce that is going on in the Gulf, with no food, water, old outmoded radios, insufficient NBC kit, insufficient clothing, no IFF equipment fitted to vehicles and useless rifles (need I go on) shows that this government has underfunded the armed forces for years.
Gareth, UK

At a time when we have a railway that doesn't work, public sector workers earning peanuts and all the other domestic problems we have. The idea that the government is spending billions of our taxes on a war nobody wants is not just wrong, it's an outrage. As a high-rate tax-payer I want my money back if they can't use it sensibly!
Edward Chanter, Brighton, UK

We should be more concerned with the lives at stake if we don't act! Craig, USA

With the weapons that Iraq has there's little doubt in my mind that we need to act right now in our own defence. What is the cost of war, are we talking money or the lives of millions of innocent people? Sure, the war's going to cost money but we should be more concerned with the lives at stake if we don't act!
Craig, USA

The cost of THIS war against Iraq cannot be justified. But take a step back and review the armed forces funding in general. If the Chancellor truly believes that they do such an outstanding job, then isn't funding available to provide them with reliable, effective equipment?
Pedro, UK

This government makes me sick and very angry. How dare they spend billions on the destruction of another country and the untold suffering it will cause, around the world. People are suffering in THIS country NOW because of a shortage of money, apparently. We can all now see where the money is going. This country is going to the dogs - crime, health, public transport, standard of living, all going down the pan. All President Blair can think of is spending billions on dropping bombs.
Gary, UK

Gordon Brown can spend what he likes on prosecuting a war in Iraq. Just so long as he doesn't increase my direct or stealth taxation to pay for it and if he makes a profit can he reduce taxation back to 1997 Tory levels.
Dougie Lawson, Basingstoke, UK

Something is fundamentally wrong with the logic here Andy, UK

Considering the state of our hospitals, teachers pay, housing shortages, educational needs, breadline existence etc - why is it ok to have blank-cheque funding for a war thousands of miles away based on spurious allegations and non-conclusive proof? My taxes are being spent in an immoral attack on a state that has never acted aggressively towards The West, whilst students are leaving with thousands in debt? Something is fundamentally wrong with the logic here.
Andy, UK

Why are we contributors to the war? I reluctantly accept that war is a certainty despite the wishes of myself and the majority of the country. Surely we should turn this situation to our advantage and demand at least 20 billion pounds from the Bush administration. If countries such as Turkey and Cameroon are being offered vast inducements in exchange for their Security Council votes why not the UK?
Chris Bell, England

Not only do I object to this government waging a war in my name, but also with my money. I do not want the tax I pay to fund the deaths of thousands of innocent civilians.
Kaye, UK

What about the cost in lives? The UN estimates a possible 500,000 Iraqis could be killed. That's more than the number of Brits who died in the Second World War. What is 2 billion pounds compared to that?
Andrew Dean, UK

The West should wake up J K, Merseyside, UK

The costs are justified to stop weapons of mass destruction entering the hands of insane terrorists. The effect on the world economy and the way of life that we take as 'normal' would be far beyond the cost of Iraq conflict. The West should wake up. We are at war, like it or not, and it's a war we have to win to stop another Dark Age.
J K, Merseyside, UK

This war will be profitable for the Chancellor. Any money spent will be recouped and more from Iraqi 'liberated' oil. We invoice them for the retail cost of weapons, then we build new ones at our factories at cost price. They may even have the audacity to call it reparation.
Laurence, UK