Americans are afraid of the world. Why? Because America has bombed nearly every nation on the planet. Now Americans worry someone will bring a bomb into our country, naturally.
Here is what Americans do not realize. America will not be safer by increasing the military budget because the military / DoD acquisition processes and the military choices are not identifying the right weapons systems to fight the right wars at the right cost.
The defense companies we buy weapons from are in the business of making profits and want to sell America as many weapons as possible. They are not being patriotic. The defense companies are answering the call to spend more, that is all. Defense companies can spend as much money as our Government gives them. Every penny!
How dumb is America?
Congress is ignoring the warning of a VERY wise and successful retired Army General:
"President of the United States (and five-star general during World War II) Dwight D. Eisenhower used the term in his Farewell Address to the Nation on January 17, 1961: A vital element in keeping the peace is our military establishment"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military%E2%80%93industrial_complex
"The military–industrial complex (MIC) is an informal alliance between a nation's military and the arms industry which supplies it, seen together as a vested interest which influences public policy.[1][2][3][4] A driving factor behind this relationship between the government and defense-minded corporations is that both sides benefit--one side from obtaining war weapons, and the other from being paid to supply them.[5] The term is most often used in reference to the system behind the military of the United States, where it is most prevalent[6] and gained popularity after its use in the farewell address of President Dwight D. Eisenhower on January 17, 1961.[7][8] In 2011, the United States spent more (in absolute numbers) on its military than the next 13 nations combined.[9]"
America was warned 46 years ago to watch out for defense companies influence over Congress. History and lessons learned tend to be ignored, sadly.
Tweety has a heavily military group leading our country. Will we waste our budget and increase a deficits through INCREASED military spending? Why increase the budget if we already spend as much on military as the next 12 countries COMBINED?
DoD does not need to grow! America cannot afford every weapon system DoD wants today, and the idea of a bigger, "better," military is simply foolhardy.
"Our military is building and is rapidly becoming stronger than ever before. Frankly, we have no choice!" 18 April 2017, Donald Trump's latest tweet in April 2017
Practicing what Tweety thinks is the art of the deal bullshit, Tweety talks in grandiose terms. And it is simply dumber than dirt!
There are folks who think the military has to be increased. They have no idea that if we spent what we had better, and if we were allowed to fight like a military is supposed to fight, i.e., with fewer battle order limitations of how to fight from civilians, we DO NOT need to increase the size of our military.
This is a "debate" - ignorant in my opinion based on 44 years in defense acquisition in every venue. I have seen how DoD operates to spend tax dollars and the processes need to be improved.
"Should military spending be increased?"
http://www.debate.org/opinions/should-military-spending-be-increased
There are many senseless arguments here supporting increasing our military and none hold water if we look at what we already do and what other nations do. It is OBVIOUS that if we spend as much as 12 countries combined and still feel insecure, America is afraid. If we think clearly, spending our tax dollars wrong is not issue, not how much, if we feel insecure and are afraid.
Get the right weapons for the right battles and we should be good. Balance weapons (hard power) with an effective State Department (soft power) and we should be fine. Yet Tweety CUT the budget ofr the State Department. That's senseless!
"The United States Doesn’t Spend Enough on Its Military"
Our future, and the future of our allies, depends on stronger, and yes, more expensive, armed forces.
By Reihan Salam, 12 Nov 2015
"The world is a dangerous place, but it is far less dangerous than it would be in the absence of a uniquely powerful United States. The technologies that have propelled America’s military dominance over the past few decades have grown cheaper and more widespread, and they’ve increasingly fallen into the hands of America’s enemies. If history is any guide, the U.S. will allow its military edge to deteriorate until some rival power delivers its military a humiliating blow, at which point Americans will be forced to scramble to reverse course, under highly unfavorable circumstances. We have it in our power to do things differently—to deter threats before they arise, and to help ensure that the world won’t descend into the great power rivalry that gave us World War I and II. Those who say that we can’t afford to spend more on our military have it backward: We can’t afford not to invest in the peace and security that are the product of U.S. global leadership, and on which billions of people around the world depend. If the only way we can afford higher military expenditures is by raising taxes, so be it."
Hard power versus soft power . . .
