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10/09/2008
Military Spending
And now for something different. The world goes on in many different ways amidst today’s turmoil, after all.
2007 in billions at constant 2005 prices and exchange rates
And from Defense News’ reporters Christopher P. Cavas, Kris Osborn, and Gayle S. Putrich [Sept. 22, 2008]
“When will U.S. defense spending stop rising?
“That’s been the question since the 2003 budget year, when the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan drove a 25 percent jump in total Pentagon spending, to $455.3 billion. Since then, every year has brought predictions of a leveling off, yet the Senate this week approved a $612 billion version of the authorization bill for 2009.
“It’s unclear just how presidential contenders [McCain and Obama] would reshape the U.S. defense budget after the winner takes office in January. Obama has pledged to begin withdrawing troops from Iraq and to ‘cut wasteful spending,’ while McCain scuttled the 2001 U.S. Air Force tanker-lease deal, forced the Army to restructure the Future Combat Systems (FCS) program, and has spoken of an indefinite stay in Iraq.
“In the Pentagon, there was some talk over the summer of leaving the 2010 spending request in outline form for the new president, but ultimately, the Office of the Secretary of Defense decided to press ahead with the massive and complicated effort.
“Some observers say budget deficits mean it will little matter who takes the White House.
“ ‘We are in real danger of incurring the first trillion-dollar annual budget deficit ever recorded,’ said Loren Thompson, aerospace expert with the Lexington Institute. ‘McCain and Obama are both making so many promises on the campaign trail that when they face the budget deficits, they will be forced to ransack the military budget for bill payers.’”