European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - September 10, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Thursday september 10, 1987 the stars and stripes Page s escort costs set at $ 15-$20 million monthly Washington a the Navy s escort opera Lions in he persian Gulf arc costing taxpayers Between is million and $20 million a month in extra Junbud a Clad expenses the Pentagon said tuesday. The estimate the first official Cost figure to be released by the administration since the Convoy opera Lions began in july was outlined in a letter to con Gressional leaders by Deputy defense Secretary Wil Fiam h. Tan  idler was released on he eve of Congress re turn from a summer recess and appeared Likely to Sharpen debate on Capitol Hill about president Rea Gan s policy of extending military Protection to kuwaiti Oil tankers. Taft said the administration expects to submit supplemental budget request in fiscal 19ss, which be gins oct. I to give the Navy extra Money for the persian Gulf operations. Defense Secretary Caspar w. Weinberger mean while said in a television interview that he United states would continue to maintain its expanded Force in the Gulf until the threat to International shipping  on abcs Good morning America Weinberger likened the persian Gulf commitment Lothe deployment of american forces in Europe in sup port of the North Atlantic treaty  be been in euro with troops to make sure there in t a soviet invasion for Over 40 years and this the persian Gulf operation is a Forward deployment of the Navy Weinberger said."1 Don t think it la go 40 years but we be been in the Gulf 4d years. In Europe the objective is to prevent and deter a soviet invasion of Europe. In the Gulf it is to get shipping through and As that gets More difficult because the threat increases then we have to put More forces  tuesday the Pentagon had declined