Pentagon's $2.2b push for war zone surveillance

WASHINGTON  - The Pentagon is mounting a 2.2 billion dollar effort to dramatically expand surveillance of Iraq and Afghanistan by manned and unmanned spy planes, Pentagon officials said Thursday.

Congress has approved reprogramming $1.2b in defence funds to rapidly enhance intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance collection in the war zones, said Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman.

“This funding is required and been requested to increase and enhance the ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) capabilities in Centcom,” he said referring to the US Central Command, which is responsible for Iraq and Afghanistan.