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Afghan war costs now outpace Iraq's - USATODAY.com Pentagon spending in February, the most recent month available, was $6.7 billion in Afghanistan compared with $5.5 billion in Iraq. As recently as fiscal year 2008, Iraq was three times as expensive; in 2009, it was twice as costly.
The shift is occurring because the Pentagon is adding troops in Afghanistan and withdrawing them from Iraq. And it's happening as the cumulative cost of the two wars surpasses $1 trillion, including spending for veterans and foreign aid. Those costs could put increased pressure on President Obama and Congress, given the nation's $12.9 trillion debt.
But as a principle,we are the superpower,the world's policeperson,the guardian angel
& we need to maintain our status...as the Empire of Good...
Clue: we aren't an empire of good, we never have been, and spending more money won't help.
Quote:
Money we can find,will we need to strengthen...
Money we can print, you mean; and as far as will, you and your Superman wannabes can do as you please. I believe more of us than not are suffering from 'superpower fatigue.'
Off subject a little, but I always thought being a superpower hurt the USA after the USSR fell. Prior to that everybody knew we had to maintain that status. Everybody had to pick a side, even the whiney liberals. Now it's not so cut and dried.
Over 40% of world military spending, is just the United States.
Our nearest possible competitor in that, would be China, and they are only 6% roughly.
The latest numbers I've seen for 2009 and 2010 shows the United States at over 50% of world military spending.
So, do you support decreasing our military spending? The Tea Party, in a recent poll, said they don't want to cut spending on medicare and social security, which are our largest expenses. However, the military runs between 22% of GDP, and 50% of GDP. (depends on your source)
Seeing as we are spending more than 4 times our nearest competitor, and if you look at our allies (France and the UK), we spend well over that.
If we are serious about balancing the budget, why not decrease the size of the military, and our military spending. I'd feel safe with spending twice as much as China, wouldn't you?
Now, we are currently in a state of war, so we need our current size. However, once the wars are over, its my opinion that we should cut the size of the standing army, in half. Stay on top of R&D, but lower our militarys overall size.
Of course military spending has to be reduced. Social spending has to be reduced. ALL FEDERAL SPENDING NEEDS TO BE REDUCED.
We are broke, time to cut back, rather than go on a spending spree.
Of course military spending has to be reduced. Social spending has to be reduced. ALL FEDERAL SPENDING NEEDS TO BE REDUCED.
We are broke, time to cut back, rather than go on a spending spree.
I would love to see one of those fiscal conservatives provide some numbers to go with similar claims... for example, how much and what to cut, and how much it will save.
I would love to see one of those fiscal conservatives provide some numbers to go with similar claims... for example, how much and what to cut, and how much it will save.
What to cut? Slowbama's bogus stimulus and welfare for the musty illegals. Lets cut the medical handouts while we're at it. That program is a joke.
How much will it save? It will save OUR GRANDCHILDREN LOTS AND LOTS.
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