January 2, 2011

The United States is a big spender on defense. For example, we have over 500 bases throughout the world a testament to the Cold War and our Army is over 1.1. million strong. We spend more on Iraq and Afghanistan than we did on any other war and the costs are escalating in Afghanistan. We are currently spending about $685 billion a year for our defense and this amount includes both wars.

Our military spending cuts into programs we should spend on our citizens such as education, fixing and upgrading infrastructure and fighting poverty. President Eisenhower said in a speech on April 16, 1953, “Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed.” He knew what we spent on our military took away from everything else.

We need to cut the military budget and focus on quick response to military problems and keeping our soldiers properly educated and outfitted.

Cold War mentalities still exist but they must change. We need to rely on diplomacy and make it our primary defense weapon.

Secretary of State Clinton said in December 2010: “Leading through civilian power saves lives and money.” and  "With the right tools, training, and leadership, our diplomats and development experts can defuse crises before they explode and create new opportunities for economic growth. We can find new partners to share burdens and find new solutions to problems that might otherwise require military action." She is now reorganizing the State Department with these views in mind. This is a correct and balanced view. It makes sense too.