Sticker Shock

Defense officials are preparing an omnibus reprogramming request for fiscal year 2012 to cover unexpected costs, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told the Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee this morning. Among the bills that must be paid are almost $3 billion for fuel and extra funds for the U.S.-Israeli "Iron Dome" missile-defense program, the cost of which Panetta didn't specify.

Also driving up cost is the continuing closure of supply lines through Pakistan. Panetta, for the first time, put a price tag on having to use longer land transportation routes across Asia: $100 million per month.

Officials have been hesitant to disclose the financial fallout of the spat with Islamabad thus far, perhaps out of fear that disclosing a figure might weaken the U.S. negotiating position to reopen the Pakistani routes.

View Panetta's prepared testimony.