Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eSz8GM5hvM
Some of you might've seen or heard about the infamous chocolate cake segment from Trump's interview last week. In the midst of dessert-excitement, another (arguably, more important) statement was overlooked.
"The military has been cut back and depleted so badly by the past administration and by the war in Iraq."
For the sake of time, I will leave out a rant about the rest of the interview.
While numbers show that the previous administration did cut back on military spending, the number is still pretty high. The Washington Post reported that as of 2016, the US' military budget was $598 billion. While The Economist estimated that the US spent about $664.1 billion, which was around 3.6% of the nation's GDP.
The President is not wrong that the budget has been cut over time, but that was done intentionally as part of an agreement NATO members made back in 2006. They agreed to maintain a 2% target.
US spending falls between many Middle Eastern nations that have been facing extreme instability.
What do you think about United States' national defense spending habits? Why is it that they are spending so much money? What are they defending their citizens from? To what extent does war-profiteering play a role in these numbers?
Some of you might've seen or heard about the infamous chocolate cake segment from Trump's interview last week. In the midst of dessert-excitement, another (arguably, more important) statement was overlooked.
"The military has been cut back and depleted so badly by the past administration and by the war in Iraq."
For the sake of time, I will leave out a rant about the rest of the interview.
While numbers show that the previous administration did cut back on military spending, the number is still pretty high. The Washington Post reported that as of 2016, the US' military budget was $598 billion. While The Economist estimated that the US spent about $664.1 billion, which was around 3.6% of the nation's GDP.
The President is not wrong that the budget has been cut over time, but that was done intentionally as part of an agreement NATO members made back in 2006. They agreed to maintain a 2% target.
US spending falls between many Middle Eastern nations that have been facing extreme instability.
What do you think about United States' national defense spending habits? Why is it that they are spending so much money? What are they defending their citizens from? To what extent does war-profiteering play a role in these numbers?
Considering the vast majority of wars the U.S. has fought have not been on American soil, I do see the logic behind cutting back on the military budget. However, as the United States is also seen as a political superpower, there is an argument for a strong military in the event that other countries are in need of military aid. I don't see cutting back on the budget as a move that would leave the country completely vulnerable.
ReplyDeleteYes. I agree with Chido's idea
DeleteI agree with Chido.
ReplyDeleteIt is important for the United States to remain a strong (maybe the strongest?) military power in the world. For our sake, as well as our allies.
However, there is definitely room to cut back on military spending. Some things, like education and health care, should be pushed a bit higher up the priority ladder.
I think that if we cut a little bit on the spending that we do on the US nation defense, we will still be the strongest military power in the world. I think we need to focus on what Nick said, and spend our money on devising a new health care plan and education in the US. I think the US is paranoid about other nations, such as Russia, and that is why they are spending so much money on our defense but numbers have shown that we spend the most money, out of any country, on our defense.
ReplyDeleteI also agree with what's been said regarding the need for aid as well as our paranoia, but I think Kriti does bring up the very valid point of war profiteering. When those in power get greedy, there's a lot of money to be made from war, and the war itself barely touches those at the top anyways.
ReplyDelete