Difference between revisions of "US Military Spending"

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==Description:==
==Description:==
After declining in the post-cold war era of the early 1990s, global military spending is on the rise again – threatening to break the one trillion dollar barrier this year, according to a group of UN-appointed military experts. The 16-member group estimates that military spending will rise to nearly $950 billion by the end of 2004, up from $900 billion in 2003. By contrast, rich nations spend $50-60 billion on development aid each year.
Since the end of World War II the budget of the US military has expanded continuously.  Today it is around $400 billion per year, nearly equalling the military expenditures of all other countries combined. Most US politicians have stated that they are in favour of expanding it even further.


While the bulk of the US military budget goes to purchasing new military equipment, maintaining an armed forces which numbers over 1 million people, a fairly substantial portion goes to R&D efforts.  Given the size of the US military budget researchers often select projects that have some, often tenuous, connection to the military.
Many of these technology research projects have turned out to have few military uses but many civilian uses.  The internet began as the ARPAnet, a project of ARPA, the Advanced Research Projects Agency, part of the US military.  All 3G wireless is based upon code division multiple access techniques first developed by the US and UK militaries to break through German radio jamming during WWII.  GPS was born as a way to target missiles and navigate tanks and ships.  In each of these cases years after the US military used these technologies civilian applications began to appear.
==Enablers:==
==Enablers:==
- Conflict in Afghanistan
Factors which strengthen this driving force. (these are actually other driving forces, and you can link to them in the wiki!)
- War in Iraq
1. Terrorism,
Concern with global terrorism after the attacks on New York and Washington
2. The current US government,
 
3. The Iraq War,
4. New nuclear powers,
5. Powerful military-industrial corporations,
6. Academic Researchers looking for funding, 
==Inhibitors:==
==Inhibitors:==
- Acceptance of other countries.
Factors which weaken this driving force. (these are actually other driving forces, and you can link to them in the wiki!)
- Deals between the countries to limit the military spending
1. The lack of any other world military superpower,
 
2. The US budget deficit,
  3. Social problems within the US,
4. Mounting casualties in current wars,
==Paradigms:==
==Paradigms:==
The main reason for the increase in world military spending is the massive increase in the United States, which accounts for almost half of the world total.... In the absence of [appropriations for the new war on terror, and on Iraq], US military expenditure would still show a significant increase, but at a much slower rate, and world military spending would show a rise of 4 per cent rather than 11 per cent in 2003.
Old: The US is an isolationist state protected by oceans and thus needing a very small military<br>
But it is not just the U.S. military spending. In fact, western militarism often overlaps with civilian functions affecting attitudes to militarism in general. As a result, when revelations come out that some Western militaries may have trained dictators and human rights violators, the justification given may be surprising.
New: The US is the world military superpower needing massive military spending.


==Experts:==
==Experts:==
Jan Oberg
US Department of Justice
United Nations


==Timing:==
==Timing:==
Military spending will only be reduced when a president of the United States comes with peaceful talks. When terrorism is almost negligible and the countries feel secure. I do not see military spending decreasing in the next 5 years. Maybe by 2010 military spending will decrease.
1941          US Enters WWII<br>
 
1945          End of WWII<br>
1945-1991      Cold War<br>
2001          September 11 attacks<br>
2003-present  Iraq War<br>
==Web Resources:==
==Web Resources:==

Revision as of 13:04, 2 December 2004

Description:

Since the end of World War II the budget of the US military has expanded continuously. Today it is around $400 billion per year, nearly equalling the military expenditures of all other countries combined. Most US politicians have stated that they are in favour of expanding it even further.

While the bulk of the US military budget goes to purchasing new military equipment, maintaining an armed forces which numbers over 1 million people, a fairly substantial portion goes to R&D efforts. Given the size of the US military budget researchers often select projects that have some, often tenuous, connection to the military.

Many of these technology research projects have turned out to have few military uses but many civilian uses. The internet began as the ARPAnet, a project of ARPA, the Advanced Research Projects Agency, part of the US military. All 3G wireless is based upon code division multiple access techniques first developed by the US and UK militaries to break through German radio jamming during WWII. GPS was born as a way to target missiles and navigate tanks and ships. In each of these cases years after the US military used these technologies civilian applications began to appear.

Enablers:

Factors which strengthen this driving force. (these are actually other driving forces, and you can link to them in the wiki!)
1. Terrorism, 
2. The current US government, 
3. The Iraq War, 
4. New nuclear powers, 
5. Powerful military-industrial corporations, 
6. Academic Researchers looking for funding,

Inhibitors:

Factors which weaken this driving force. (these are actually other driving forces, and you can link to them in the wiki!)
1. The lack of any other world military superpower, 
2. The US budget deficit, 
3. Social problems within the US, 
4. Mounting casualties in current wars,

Paradigms:

Old: The US is an isolationist state protected by oceans and thus needing a very small military
New: The US is the world military superpower needing massive military spending.

Experts:

Timing:

1941 US Enters WWII
1945 End of WWII
1945-1991 Cold War
2001 September 11 attacks
2003-present Iraq War

Web Resources:

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