****ing Republicans are getting on my nerves...

[cupocity303]

Hmm, I'm pretty sure this chart is accurate and hasn't changed much since 2009

Global military spending hits high but growth slows



STOCKHOLM | Sun Apr 10, 2011 6:10pm EDT

(Reuters) - Worldwide military spending edged up in 2010 to a record $1.6 trillion, a leading think-tank said on Monday.

Global spending rose 1.3 percent in real terms, a slowdown from 5.9 percent the year before as the economic downturn caused by the 2008 financial crisis hit military spending, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute said.

"In many cases, the falls or slower increases represent a delayed reaction to the global financial and economic crisis that broke in 2008," it said in a statement, adding that there were regional differences.

Spending in Europe shrank 2.8 percent to $382 billion as governments started to rein in soaring budget deficits.

The biggest cuts were in small economies in central and eastern Europe, and in crisis-struck southern European countries such as Greece.

"Further cuts are expected in most of Europe in 2011 and subsequent years, although these are likely to remain relatively modest in the major spending countries," SIPRI, which conducts independent research on international security, armaments and disarmament, said in a statement.

The Unites States, with costly military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, increased spending by 2.8 percent to $698 billion -- about six times as much as China , the second-biggest spender ahead of Britain, France and Russia. In 2009, U.S. spending grew 7.7 percent.

"The United States has increased its military spending by 81 percent since 2001," SIPRI said. "At 4.8 percent of gross domestic product, U.S. military spending in 2010 represents the largest economic burden outside the Middle East," said SIPRI Military Expenditure Project chief Sam Perlo-Freeman.

(Reporting by Anna Ringstrom)

[cupocity303]

Global military spending growth slows



GROWTH in global military spending slowed to its lowest level since 2001 last year as the world economic crisis hit defence budgets, Swedish think-tank SIPRI said today.

World military spending rose only 1.3 per cent in 2010 to $US1.63 trillion ($1.55 trillion), after average annual growth of 5.1 per cent between 2001 and 2009, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) said as it released its latest report on international military expenditures.

"In many cases, the falls or slower increase represent a delayed reaction to the global financial and economic crisis that broke in 2008," the group said in a statement.

The United States significantly slowed its military investments last year but remained by far the biggest defence spender in the world and still accounted for almost all of global growth.

US defence spending grew by only 2.8 per cent in 2010 to $US698 billion ($662.33 billion), after averaging growth of 7.4 per cent between 2001, when SIPRI began publishing its reports, and 2009.


Despite the slowdown, the United States' spending increase of $US19.6 billion ($18.6 billion) still accounted for nearly all of the $US20.6 billion ($19.55 billion) global increase last year.

"The USA has increased its military spending by 81 per cent since 2001, and now accounts for 43 per cent of the global total, six times its nearest rival China," Sam Perlo-Freeman, the head of SIPRI's Military Expenditure Project, said in a statement.

"At 4.8 per cent of GDP, US military spending in 2010 represents the largest economic burden outside the Middle East", he said.

The region with the largest increase in military spending last year was South America with 5.8 per cent growth, reaching a total of $US63.3 billion ($60.07 billion) "This continuing increase in South America is surprising given the lack of real military threats to most states and the existence of more pressing social needs," said Carina Solmirano, the project's Latin America expert.

In Europe, military spending fell by 2.8 per cent as governments cut costs to address soaring budget deficits , SIPRI said, noting that cuts were particularly heavy in the more vulnerable economies of Central and Eastern Europe and in Greece.

In Asia, the region's weaker economic performance in 2009 saw defence expenditures grow by only 1.4 per cent, with China leading the way with an estimated $US119 billion ($112.92 billion) in defence spending last year.

"The Chinese government, for example, explicitly linked its smaller increase in 2010 to China's weaker economic performance in 2009," SIPRI said.

Countries in the Middle East spent $US11 billion ($10.44 billion) on arms last year, an increase of 2.5 per cent over 2009, with Saudi Arabia the region's biggest spender.

In Africa, spending increased by 5.2 per cent, led by major oil-producers such as Algeria, Angola and Nigeria.

The think tank, which specialises in research on conflicts, weapons, arms control and disarmament, was created in 1966 and is 50-per cent financed by the Swedish state.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/b...rom=public_rss

[BoxingTech718]

You sound either scared or paranoid and how do soldiers stationed across seas help us we're attacked at home? To be able to invade our country and overthrow every major U.S city would be near impossible. Its not going to happen, if we decided not to play nice we could dispose of Iran and North Korea by lunch time.

Again with the name calling and labels, showing your education level huh. You know nothing about defending a nation so let's leave the big boy plans up to the Generals and professionals. If we are attacked it's easier to defend by taking the fight to the enemy. America doesn't fight battles on our soil we come to your home so you will be busy recovering from the destruction for the next 50 years before you think about attacking us again. If we decided not to play nice maybe but we have this bad habit of turning around and being nice and not finishing the job ie. Desert Storm 1. I would rather spend money on soldiers, patriots, and vets than random lazy bums. Soldiers are the life blood of this country.

[AKATheMack]

Again with the name calling and labels, showing your education level huh. You know nothing about defending a nation so let's leave the big boy plans up to the Generals and professionals. If we are attacked it's easier to defend by taking the fight to the enemy. America doesn't fight battles on our soil we come to your home so you will be busy recovering from the destruction for the next 50 years before you think about attacking us again. If we decided not to play nice maybe but we have this bad habit of turning around and being nice and not finishing the job ie. Desert Storm 1. I would rather spend money on soldiers, patriots, and vets than random lazy bums. Soldiers are the life blood of this country.

I neither called you a name nor did I label you. Now I will, you're an idiot. Guerilla warfare is a much easier tactic when defending a territory, but maybe I should only have these convos with the big boys as you said.

[madmadworld]

The idea of an optional taxes where you only get taxed for the services you use is intruiging and the first thing I agree with you on. The only things that could be mandatory is security(police/military), education, and roads/infrastructure.

I also agree that the war on Marijuana is pointless. It only adds the element of criminality to weed use and makes it more dangerous. Plus legalizing weed would be consistent with the use of tobacco and alcohol, two of the most dangerous drugs available. Weed is actually far less dangerous and less addictive than those two.

Also I would fix the corrupt political system in our country by imposing stricter term limits. Politicians would be worried more about regular people problems if they had to work. So I would limit all offices to two years in office per term and you can only run twice in your lifetime per office. So no 20 year senators or congressmen getting rich off their job. Plus since they only work a few years these guys get no benefits saving the tax payers a lot of money. Let them pay for their own health care, no paid trips that aren't business related, and all government business needs to be public record.

term limits sound good on the surface,but the gov is like a spinning wheel and they would just keep spiting them out not good. pay them much more than we do 2 or 3x. and limit their other earnings. and public hanging for pandering no lobbyist etc lol

[madmadworld]

Again with the name calling and labels, showing your education level huh. You know nothing about defending a nation so let's leave the big boy plans up to the Generals and professionals. If we are attacked it's easier to defend by taking the fight to the enemy. America doesn't fight battles on our soil we come to your home so you will be busy recovering from the destruction for the next 50 years before you think about attacking us again. If we decided not to play nice maybe but we have this bad habit of turning around and being nice and not finishing the job ie. Desert Storm 1. I would rather spend money on soldiers, patriots, and vets than random lazy bums. Soldiers are the life blood of this country.

NASA and Military is money well spent. shame the Vet's don't see much of it.

[shogunn]

I neither called you a name nor did I label you. Now I will, you're an idiot. Guerilla warfare is a much easier tactic when defending a territory, but maybe I should only have these convos with the big boys as you said.

I dunno if the US should cut our military drastically, and adopt guierilla warfare as the main defense of protecting our homeland dont we have to be armed? (Michael Moore and his crew would have a fit)

Comedy on many different levels. Hipsters with AKs, Berkeley armed with slingshots, Middle America digging trenches on their front lawn.

[AKATheMack]

I dunno if the US should cut our military drastically, and adopt guierilla warfare as the main defense of protecting our homeland dont we have to be armed? (Michael Moore and his crew would have a fit)

Comedy on many different levels. Hipsters with AKs, Berkeley armed with slingshots, Middle America digging trenches on their front lawn.

I just said it was easier in response to him saying attacking is the easiest method. Dropping nukes on the entire country is probably the easiest method though. There are enough guns in this country and its such a big country anyway that invading us would be beyond any current military's dreams
.


.

[Jim Jeffries]

I dunno if the US should cut our military drastically, and adopt guierilla warfare as the main defense of protecting our homeland dont we have to be armed? (Michael Moore and his crew would have a fit)

Comedy on many different levels. Hipsters with AKs, Berkeley armed with slingshots, Middle America digging trenches on their front lawn.

You know I am warming up to the idea of pulling all of our troops worldwide, slashing our military budget by more than 2/3, and arming our citizens (well the ones that pass a psych eval) Switzerland style. Keep a pretty good Navy off of both coasts, a decent Air Force and basically most of our reservists ready in case we ever need ground troops. Retrain most of our regular troops for civilian jobs and give them a comfortable head start financially. That and keep a budget for advanced weapons development and missile defense for when countries like Iran inevitable get nukes (or countries like Pakistan continue to become disenchanted with us.)

[AKATheMack]

You know I am warming up to the idea of pulling all of our troops worldwide, slashing our military budget by more than 2/3, and arming our citizens (well the ones that pass a psych eval) Switzerland style. Keep a pretty good Navy off of both coasts, a decent Air Force and basically most of our reservists ready in case we ever need ground troops. Retrain most of our regular troops for civilian jobs and give them a comfortable head start financially. That and keep a budget for advanced weapons development and missile defense for when countries like Iran inevitable get nukes (or countries like Pakistan continue to become disenchanted with us.)

If they fail the psych eval should they be entitled to government assistance?