State Dept. officials are considering a proposal from U.S. Ambassador to Iraq John D. Negroponte to transfer some funds from infrastructure reconstruction to bolster security resources in that country. The amount involved would be $3.3 billion, according to The Wall Street Journal, which reported the plan on Aug. 30.

State Dept. spokesman Richard Boucher confirmed that Negroponte and senior aides were reviewing construction and other priorities in Iraq. But Boucher declined to specify the amount of money or kinds of infrastructure projects that might be affected. "We want to spend money on the major priorities, which are improving security, increasing Iraqi employment and improving quality of life for all Iraqis," he said.