The 2011 Defense Budget: Inadequate and Full of Inconsistencies

[Pete]

The 2011 Defense Budget: Inadequate and Full of Inconsistencies

http://www.heritage.org/Research/NationalSecurity/bg2375.cfm

".........In 2009, the Obama Administration's budget outline had recommended a draconian cut in the FY 2011 defense budget. The good news is that the Administration has flinched, proposing a FY 2011 budget of $738.7 billion--$118 billion more that it had proposed in last year's budget. The bad news is that this merely delays the draconian cut. Under the budget outline in the FY 2011 budget, the FY 2012 defense budget would drop roughly $92 billion below the proposed FY 2011 level. This cut is the most important factor contributing to the negative trend of defense spending declining as a percentage of GDP....."

Long but intresting read.

[nmap]

Yes - and it is only the beginning. Discretionary spending is the minority of the budget - but to balance that budget, a 72% cut (in 2011, per the CBO) is necessary. The military budget is regarded as discretionary spending, whereas social security, Medicare, and Medicaid are regarded as mandatory spending.

Purely rhetorical question: What will politicians cut as the economy continues to contract?

[abc_123]

If I'm not mistaken, the DoD is something around 54% of total discretionary spending.

[nmap]

Just about...I attached the table that includes the numbers as an image.

This is where things get interesting. U.S. strength has, in my opinion, led to a relatively peaceful world. However, if the U.S. becomes less strong, I must wonder (purely as a rhetorical question) what happens next. Will we enter an era where Pax Americana breaks down, perhaps replaced by a more chaotic scene? Time will tell, I suppose.

[DevilSide]

Any idea why the Military budget isn't regarded as mandatory spending? I think if you want to invest in something cost effective why not the Military?

[Marina]

Will we enter an era where Pax Americana breaks down, perhaps replaced by a more chaotic scene? Time will tell, I suppose.

Yes! Low intensity chaos, the new normal.

POTUS is cutting back foreign entanglements as fast as he possibly can. In the meantime, he is proposing huge entitlement programs. If the citizens have a choice, they will favor domestic spending over foreign assistance including defense programs.

Think of it as job security for SF.

:D