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Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell briefed the press, starting with a statement about the Global War on Terror budget supplemental request, which is slated to go before the House this week. He said that currently the military is borrowing form Army payroll accounts in order to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and that if the Congress does not act the the Defense Department will not be able to pay soldier, including those in Iraq and Afghanistan after June 15, 2008. He said the only options available if Congress does not pass $108 billion in war supplementals would be for the Defense Department to petition Congress to allow certain "re-programming" of other funds so that soldiers don't' go without pay.

The subject of Myanmar came up and Morrell said that there are several U.S. military assets in the region, which if requested could aid in disaster relief. These assets include 23 helicopters and a carrier with 1800 Marines aboard. Morrell said that these forces are only awaiting the request for help from the Burmese government.

The subject of the revised GI bill came up. Morrell wouldn't comment on any of the draft legislation in the Senate, but said that the Defense Department's priorities are to make education benefits transferable to military spouses and children and to have those education benefits become available after 6 years of service, which Morrell said would encourage a higher rate of retention in the force.

Morrell said that Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has said that the command structure in Afghanistan is something that is worth taking a look at, but only in consultation with the NATO allies. He also said that while gen. McNeil has requested 3 additional brigades, the general doesn't expect that request to be fulfilled anytime soon. There is an expectation based on assurances made by President bush at the NATO summit in Bucharest, Hungary that there will be a plussing up of U.S. forces in Afghanistan. But Morrell said that the military will have to evaluate that plussing up of forces after the period of evaluation in Iraq after the last surge force brigade combat team is withdrawn. He also said that the Department must strive to meet the renewed limit of 12-month tours and increased time at home for soldiers first. He said that the Secretary of Defense doesn't think more troops in Afghanistan is unnecessary but that the draw down in Iraq must be completed before those additional brigades to Afghanistan will be considered. He also reiterated that the tour of the 3,400 Marines now serving in the Regional Command South will end in a finite way in December and the Department does not expect that tour to be extended beyond the standard 7 months for Marines.

Morell said that he has heard that there will be confirmation hearings on the Hill confirming Gen. David Petraeus as the combatant commander of Central Command later in the month of May. The Senate Armed Services Committee could not confirm that a date has been set for these hearings.