US Military Spending

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.

Timing:

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