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A Twenty-First Century Military: How much does it Cost?

We know some of our tax dollars go to the military, but how many? In this new millennium, what sort of military do we need to defend the United States? How do you prioritize defense spending in relation to spending on education, healthcare, rebuilding New Orleans, and other concerns?

On February 6, 2006, President Bush delivered his fiscal year (FY) 2007 defense budget request to Congress. It totals $441.3 billion, a 7 percent increase from FY 2006.

There are several ways to spin this number. Those who are against increased defense spending point out that this year the United Sates will spend more on its military than all other countries combined, accounting for over half of worldwide arms expenditures. That’s including a probable $50 billion supplemental request for the operations in Iraq and Afghanistan that is not included in the defense budget.

Those who want to expand the military explain that defense spending equals just 4 percent of the total market value of all the goods and services produced by the United States each year, or the gross national product.

The QDR

This year’s budget request includes the Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR), a four-year evaluation of where the military’s at and where it needs to go.

The QDR determined that the military needs to move from the industrial age to the information age and change its capability to defeat terrorist attacks, prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and defend the U.S. in more "depth." Further, the report proposes strategic alliances among up-and-coming nations like Russia, India, and especially China.

Specifically, the report says that it would like China to be a "constructive partner in a community of nations," which some read as an alliance with China during its development, and others understand as a proposal to deter China as a military competitor.

Indeed, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has expressed alarm over China’s increasing military capabilities, and the Pentagon has said that the Chinese military could pose a credible threat.

However, Chinese military spending is but a fraction of U.S. military spending, with Chinese defense totaling around $90 billion last year.

Updating the military

In addition to addressing any possible threats from quickly developing nations, the QDR was focused on modernizing the military in order to deal with the threat of terrorism.

In 2005, General Richard B. Meyers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, informed Congress that operations in Iraq and Afghanistan have limited the military’s ability to handle other armed conflicts. With tensions looming between the U.S. and North Korea and the U.S. and Iran, the consequences of being overstretched could be profound.

The situation in Iraq also calls into question our very understanding of war. Currently, America’s effort in Iraq is neither conventional warfare nor simple peacekeeping. It is somewhere in between, requiring the number of troops to remain high, while the need for submarines and fighter jets is quite low.

So, the Pentagon’s senior planners have suggested a change in the way America understands and plans its defense.

How might the U.S. military change?

The Pentagon wants to focus more on counterterrorism and domestic defense, which would change the shape and size of the military.

The change in focus could lead to fewer large, high-tech weapons like warplanes and instead require more language and intelligence specialists. A more mobile, agile military is needed, resulting in a greater emphasis on Special Operations forces.

Therefore, the FY 2007 Defense Budget Request calls for a 33 percent increase in special operations battalions like the Navy Seals.

How does the cost of military modernization fit into the overall budget?

Since President Bush has proposed to increase the defense budget by 7 percent and because he wants to decrease spending and the deficit, he has suggested that less money go to Medicare, Medicaid, and Veterans Administration (VA) health care services.

More specifically, the Bush administration wants the VA to charge new enrollment fees and higher drug co-pays to higher-income, healthier veterans. Those in favor of this plan say that it will allow the VA to focus on the neediest vets.

Those opposed to the new fees argue that U.S. war veterans deserve to have their healthcare covered and that it’s shameful to increase the defense budget while decreasing services for vets.

The proposal is not likely to pass in Congress. Most representatives don’t want to vote against veterans during wartime and an election year.

What do you think?

How should we prioritize our military tax dollars? What kind of future would you like to see for our military? What sort of role should it play on the world stage?

Your input matters

Your representatives in Congress DO care what you think. Especially now -- 2006 is an election year and many representatives will be looking to reconnect with their constituents. Let your congressmen and women know what you think! Give your senators a piece of your mind! To find your reps, click here.

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Update Posted on: 2/11/2006