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Business Insider: This graphic shows how the US defense budget dwarfs the rest of the world's
Even as the US continues to try draw down its military engagements and spending, the country's military spending remains nearly three times as large as the world's second-largest defense spender.
The following graphic from Bank of America and Merrill Lynch's Transforming World Atlas note from August 2015 shows just how huge the US's defense budget is compared to the rest of the world.
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And it's not an accurate accounting of the US Military spending:
ReplyDelete- the Nukes are in the DOE Budget,
- the AASP spending is in State's State's,
- tha AUMF deployments and programs are seperate allocations in the Budget,
- the Alphabet Agencies paramilitaries are in the various agencies "Black Budgets".
(1)
ReplyDeletePurchasing power parity
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purchasing_power_parity
(2) What is the comparison to the GDP?
(3) What are the threats?
Saying death to America sure fits the bill. It is almost as if money is deposited in a Swiss account for them to say it.
1). Nobody uses PPP in a Global Comparison of Military Spending because it's an endless case of picking nit's, theoretical , subjective comparisons of apples vs. Oranges, vs. Kumquats, vs. watermelons, vs. Potatoes vs. broccoli vs. ham, and all the defence budgets have been converted into US dollars.
Delete2) Military spending as a percentage of GDP is also no spence unless you are comparing peer to peer groups. Fiji is the largest spender on the Military as a percentage of the GDP, but nobody, but minority non tribal Fijiians are afraid of the Fijiian Military, except maybe Micronesia.
3)"Threat's" are also a highly subjective attempt to measure, as they are often, completely political, not military.
Spending the most money on something does not necessarily equal better. If the most money spent always meant better or stronger, then kids in Washington DC would likely be the best educated kids in the world. Also, with massive sums spent in the "war on poverty" over the last 50 years, poverty in America should have been eliminated by now if spending money alone were sufficient. Instead poverty seems to be at a higher level today than when the government started!!
ReplyDeleteAlso, do we really know how much money another nation spends in this area? How transparent are they? As has been pointed out, what the threats? How capable are other allies to pick up some of the slack? What are the responsibilities?
At best, a simple measure of how much money is/was spent is going to yield an incomplete picture. With that said, this does seem to be way to much especially with the US economy struggling as it is, the infrastructure collapsing, the deep debts, and the military worn down to the point that even basic defense of the American mainland may be problematic.
Clearly some overseas deployments are not necessary and are even detrimental. Others may be vitally necessary. A top down review of all commitments should be made with the goal of eliminating 90% of them within 10 years. Each nation should be assisted by us where and when possible to help them craft a national defense policy that works for them. If done properly, should we need to have a military confrontation with Russia, China, or some combination of these powers we and our allies would be in a better position to actually confront this. Also, it should better our relations with them which would make it more likely they would come to our aid should we be attacked. Optimally the review and discussions with our allies should be done privately without being under the glare of the media spotlight where our enemies or potential enemies can glean all of the details of what we are doing as they are to often able to.
Let Iran fight ISIS and bleed.
ReplyDeleteGive some help to Nigeria.
Until recently Obama embargoed Nigeria.
Self hatred maybe?
Probobly because Christianity is quite strong in Nigeria.
DeleteNigeria was embargoed because the Nigerian Government and Military is/was run by "Nigerian Princes",
DeleteAnd the Nigerian Government, Courts and Military have/had an abhorrent human rights record.
When Boko Haram started their attacks, the Nigerian Army either did nothing, or ran away. When the Government pressed them to "fight back", they would often wait until Boko Haram left the town or village, then enter, kill the remaining civillians and claim they were Boko Haram. Not content with losing the war against the Sunni Boko Haram, in the last year, the Nigerian Military has decided to "pick a fight" with the Shia Self Defence groups.
We need an accurate accounting for where the money is spent separating the social expenses from training and weapons procurement. I bet the other countries spend a greater percentage on actual military combat readiness and not rubber plants for offices and day car care....
ReplyDeleteOops! I forgot to mention Sensitivity Training...
ReplyDeleteGood luck with that, the Pentagon doesn't do accounting.
Delete