9/9/03 8:59 AM Inches: 8.9 REGULAR BC-NV-NevadaDelegation- Bjt 09-09 0378

LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Nevada's five congressional delegates said they support President Bush's request for $87 billion for peacekeeping efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan, but disagreed on how the money should be spent.

While Republicans urged support for the president's plan to use billions of dollars for Iraq's reconstruction, Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said America has its own needs.

"Anything the troops need -- anything -- I will be forceful in advocating," said Reid, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Senate minority whip.

"But as far as rebuilding Iraq, we were told that country's oil revenues would take care of that," Reid said. "We have anti-terrorism needs here."

Reid said Las Vegas police need $30 million for a communications system capable of linking with police in neighboring North Las Vegas and Henderson.

Rep. Jon Porter, R-Nev., said Democrats should support the president in the war against terrorism.

"This is not the time for political pandering," Porter said. "On the eve of (the second anniversary of the terrorist attacks of) 9-11, we should remember that this country lost a trillion dollars in our economy within an hour's time, and we can't allow that to happen again."

After returning from a trip to Iraq in July, Rep. Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., said he was told in military briefings that additional troops were not needed there. On Monday, Gibbons said he supports the president's request for more troops in Iraq from the United Nations.

"We are asking the United Nations to replace some of our troops who need to be rotated," Gibbons said.

Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., said she plans to support the president's request, but said Bush needs to provide more information.

"I think it is important for the president to share with the American people more than he already has what our strategy is and exactly why we are there," Berkley said.

Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., issued a statement saying he was "inclined to support the president's effort to give our troops the resources they need to finish this critical mission."