US Military Spending Is Crippling America

Russia Today: http://www.russiatoday.com/features/news/36389
January 26, 2009, 8:51
Is military spending crippling America?
The United States spends hundreds of billions of dollars each year on its military. Part of the budget funds a worldwide network of bases, including sites in former Soviet republics.

The U.S. has 6,000 military bases on its own territory and huge numbers of military facilities abroad - more than any other country in the world.

Experts estimate the number of units to be from 600 to over 800 spread over 130 countries.

Investigative journalist Wayne Madsen believes many of the locations are kept secret.

"Recently, there was an incident where an Air Force enlisted man crashed into a wedding procession in Lithuania. It turns out he was attached to an air base in Lithuania. So every day we find out about additional U.S. bases that we haven't heard of in the past," Madsen said.

Why the secrecy? Author and expert in U.S. military bases overseas, Alexander Cooley, says host countries often prefer to keep quiet about the bases.

"As U.S. legitimacy has declined, host country governments have been less willing to publicly be associated with the U.S.," Cooley says.

However, that is not true for all governments.

Georgian president Mikhail Saakashvili welcomes the idea of an American presence on Georgian territory and has reportedly offered the U.S. several thousand hectares of land to use for military bases.

Often, smaller countries like former soviet republic, Kyrygyzstan, allow bases to be set up on their territory for financial reasons.

However, the Georgian president is willing to waive rent and has offered the land with a 90-year lease.

"Georgia wants continuous and prolonged security engagement with the United States and with the West more broadly. Especially now that it sees that its path to EuroAtlantic integration has in some way been stymied. It perceives that a security relationship with the U.S. is the best way to guarantee that EuroAtlantic orientation," Cooley said.

"So, any offer of Georgian territory or facilities to the United States or to NATO members is an attempt to lock in that kind of security interest and that type of engagement." he added.

Meanwhile, some analysts say the United States doesnt need about a quarter of the military bases it has around the world.

Moreover, as Wayne Madsen says, the US simply cant afford them any more.

We wont be able to pay for many of these bases and we may soon see many of these being closed down," he said.

Last year, the United States spent almost as much on its military as the rest of the world put together devoted to defence.

And all this at a time when taxpayers have been counting pennies to make ends meet.

But cutting spending on the military, the United States could massively increase the amount it invests in the needs of ordinary people.

But there are analysts who warn that the new president will not dramatically curtail Americas ambitious military policies.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• US
• military
• spending
• transparency

[moistfaucet]

it look like american is so desperate.

[MrSeppo2010]

womens voice is sooooo annoying

[kterris1]

@sallylongpants uh, because they are US bases? look at something recent, Bosnia massacres, that managed to happen despite modern technology.

as far as military entitlements go, they are giving up more to serve the country than anyone else. now let's flip it, how is it politicians get far more entitlements than soldiers. simply compare the healthcare they both receive, and the benefits in general.

[kterris1]

@sallylongpants lives and help those affected. These bases also help bolster the local economy of the Host nation which benefits them. This is what we call a symbiotic relationship.

As for your first comment, if it was up to the left, the military wouldn't be paid at all, based on their actions when the government shutdown was a threat a few weeks ago.

[kterris1]

@sallylongpants well the fact that you don't even know the purpose of those bases pretty much destroys any argument you might have... Ill try to enlighten you. In a global conflict it is much easier to react when you have assets in place. this was a lesson we learned in wwii, If say ww3 breaks out then we can react more decisively and end said conflict before it gets out of control. Host nations don't seem to mind American bases as the recent Japan crisis, US assets were quickly utilized to save

[kterris1]

@sallylongpants military is one of the roles of government, healthcare is not. you take out medicare, and start slimming down social security (so people can become more self sufficient). Government should never overexpand its duties as it has clearly done.

[xadam2dudex]

what can be said for people so invested in the military industrial complex ?? if u could read I said nothing of shutting down the DOD..in the past 10 yrs the DOD budget has doubled and that is just what is listed not to mention all the black ops and hidden budget items which pushes the total well over a trillion dollars per yr

[e081194eng]

@xadam2dudex Yea...lets just shut down the entire military in the US...the liberals say we don't need any military in America or overseas so lets just get rid of it all...DOD and ALL... and boost the welfare system so the unwilling to work will be provided for !!! Hey, there are liberals in America there that want that !!!

[guitarded459]

Americans Smoke more blunts per capita.

USA! USA! USA!

[SpaceWalkTraveller]

Look don't worry about any of this, just go and buy a happy meal from McDonalds take your prozac and lay back on your couch and watch American Idol.