It’s time to limit military spending

For the public policy class I’m taking this semester, I had to write a short policy document focusing on some sort of existing technological policy I wanted to change.  Below is my final policy document- in the form of a letter to the editor:

(Note: this is the actual paper that I turned in- in which could not internally cite sources.  See below for some of my sources )

The United States continues to spend more money on military operations, arms, and other defense-related items than any other country in the world, while also providing billions of dollars of foreign military aid to other countries.  While the United States has continued to prosper over the last several decades, the government must set a more stringent set of regulations for spending by the Department of Defense.  Indiscriminate spending on the part of the US has led to the support of undemocratic regimes, war crimes, and the perpetuation of violence, in addition to de-emphasizing the importance of funding social services.  Excessive military spending and aid-giving clouds American foreign policy and does not ultimately support a peaceful and democratic world.

Of all the money used on military expenditures in the entire world, the United States accounts for 48% of all spending, which totals to about $600 billion dollars (Global Security).  Many make the argument that the US is also the richest country in the world; therefore, we can “afford” this high figure.  But relating the amount spent on the military to the total amount of money the US has does not mean that the money being spent is necessary or just.  Furthermore, the current economic crisis and the vast expenses it has accrued has not resulted decreased military spending, and continues to drive the country deeper into debt.  The fact that more than one half of all discretionary spending requested by the major government departments was requested by the Department of Defense testifies that the ways in which the US government allocates funds is in need of reform. As a result of current allocations, billions will go to fund unpopular wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The two largest recipients of American foreign aid are Israel and Egypt, which account for one third of total American foreign aid.  But despite American support, both countries have recently had less than stellar reputations regarding the promotion of democracy and human rights.  Under President Hosni Mubarak, Egyptians have lived under religious persecution, twenty five years of Emergency Law, trials without due process, and severely limited press freedom.  In Israel’s case, US aid and weaponry have recently contributed to international law violations in the Gaza Strip.  By supporting such military operations, the United States has implicated itself in war crimes and has failed t pursue a just foreign policy.

I propose that the Department of Defense cuts discretionary spending from $600 billion annually to $200 billion. In addition, the government shall regulate the remaining funds for use only in self-defense and intelligence rather than pre-emptive war.  The Department of Defense shall also work to limit foreign aid and mass commercial production of weapons sold to other countries.   In addition to limiting foreign aid, the government shall set up a separate department whose goal is solely to enforce these prescribed limits and regulations.  After cutting defense and aid significantly, the $400 billion saved shall disperse among various social service departments, so that taxes will not decrease but go directly to citizens.  Departments such as the Social Security Administration, Health and Human Services Department, Department of Education, and the Department of Energy all are in dire need of additional funding.  Investing in people, rather than weapons, will give our country a much brighter future than any number of weapons can.

Here’s some more facts I uncovered during my research:

-In 2004, the United States Department of Defense spent a total of $600 billion.  By contrast, the rest of the world spent a total of $500 billion.  By comparison, the country that spent the next single largest amount of money on defense was China, which spent a total of $65 billion in 2004.

- The US spends a higher percentage of its GDP than any other country on health care, but health care performance in the US ranks 37^th out of 191 countries measured.  By comparison, the United Kingdom spends only six percent of its GDP on health care, but ranks 18^th in performance.  Amount spent is not an indicator of efficiency, performance, or productivity, or that money being spent is being spent appropriately.  Without regulations, this can become the case in with regards to defense as well.

- The total amount of all discretionary spending spent by major US government departments in 2008 was $941.4 billion.  $479.5 billion of this was spent by the Department of Defense.  $515.4 billion has been requested by the Department of Defense as their base budget for 2009.  This is almost a74% increase in military spending since 2001 and the beginning of the Global War on Terror.  There is also an additional $70 billion that has been allocated, in addition to the original $515.4 billion, designated as an “Emergency Allowance” to be used as needed “to support activities related to the Global War on Terror”.

All figures came directly from United States government’s budget.

- 56% of Americans polled most recently (2009) believe that sending troops into Iraq was a mistake.  In 2003 dissatisfaction was only 23%.  In addition, 52% believed that the surge (which was marketed to be hugely successful) and subsequent increase in spending either made the war worse, or had no effect at all on it.  79% of those polled believed that the surge in US troops in Baghdad has either worsened the situation or not made much of a difference. 

-The total amount of foreign aid, humanitarian and military aid, given out by the United States in 2001 was $14.9 billion.  Of this, Israel received $2.82 billion and Egyptreceived $2 billion, for a total of about $4.82 billion.  This comes out to approximately 33%, or one third, of all aid given by the United States going to either Israel or Egypt. 

-Under Hosni Mubarak’s rule, the country has functioned under Emergency Law for the past 25 years.  Basic rights like freedom of speech and assembly have been denied, and the Egyptian government has the authority to detain virtually anyone for no specified reasons and for indefinite periods of time.  All opposition parties have been outlawed.  American aid money supports this government which has been suppressing the rights of citizens for decades.  Reporters Without Borders reported that in 2008, Egypt fell to 146 out of 168 countries.

- Amnesty International found M825-A1 155 millimeter white phosphorus artillery carrier shells, which is an American-made product.   All three major human rights organizations which investigated in Gaza- B’Tselem, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch- all found Israeli use of white phosphorus in Gaza, purchased from the United States, to be illegal and  in violation of international law.