If U.S. military spending was cut in half, what would be the long-term repercussions/threats?

We would have greater than 35% unemployment in the private sector, throwing the country into civil unrest.

Probably less threats from actual terrorists though.

World total $1747.0 billion

United States $640.0 billion (36.6%)

We'd do OK.

Great Job Obama!!! wrote:

World total $1747.0 billion

United States $640.0 billion (36.6%)

We'd do OK.

Agreed. What the US spends for the military is mind-boggling. The military industrial complex that we were warned about decades ago is very much alive and thriving.

If the drawdown was done intelligently and gradually we would be fine. Indeed, our economy would be better than ever as folks were put to more productive uses and the drain on our federal budget was reduced.

unemployment for the us military

if the US military cut it's spending in half, a good majority of the equipment from space, aircraft, radar, ships, armored vehicles, communications, list goes on and on, would not work.

Also, since WW2 we've been running protection for many EU, African, Middle Eastern, South American countries which are direct allies of the US, if we were to reduce spending and need to pull forces back, we'd see another country like Russia or China move in and take hold in order to control resources for their needs (usually by force & stealing it from that nation). US's policy is install new government & reenter them into the global economy by having them sell their resource at fair trade values & will purchase from nation they've just invaded.

If we did what isolationists believed, which is to pull all troops back, reduce spending and put guns on the boarders, the face of the world would change drastically, especially by an expanding Russian influence by recapturing past territories which is known on Putin's agenda, China would invade Hong Kong, Taiwan, Possible go to war with Japan over an old WW2 fued. North Korea would invade South Korea and look at the possibility of invading Japan as well while increasing it's ICBM technology to make a nuclear strike on the US possible.

While this is going on, the UN's standing army is a joke (as it is now) as well as a NATO alliance which is shunted as well due to no American influence which makes up most of the military personnel used in peace keeping missions. Countries, in fear of larger countries invading, will resort to a nuclear arms race, especially in the middle east with Iran being the most advanced of them and having their own uranium mines, enriching it to 90+% military weapons grade U238. Other countries with money will go after weapons for a plan much like during the cold war, MAD (mutually assured destruction) as a deterant from invaders.

Pakistan & India being bitter nuclear enemies have a possibility since the US cannot broker peace anymore, might start shooting warheads. If 100 warheads go off in the world, it could set on effects devestating to life as we know it.

Terrorist organizations which are supressed in areas such as the horn of africa and other spots in Africa, the middle east, drug cartels throughout south america, would cause revolutions and oppress people for their own beliefs and probably start genocide for anyone who doesn't fit their mold. Plus, the take in of cash will make weapons programs & USSR surplus nukes available as well as missle systems for launching.

There is a lot of things which will happen past what is said above. Maybe you don't believe in the military period, and think people want to all live in peace. True, to an extent. I've met hardcore muslims in the middle east, I've seen what people do to eachother outside the USA in these countries that aren't nearly as well organized as us and our western allies are. Racism, sexism, brutality, and just captain insano tactics. I've seen a man decapitated in Saudi Arabia (in public) for selling black market bacon. 99% of the issues Western people deal with, are WPP, White People Problems. Our poor live 1000x better and safer with more freedoms and opportunities with every watch dog organization you can think of you make sure you're treated fairly.

Of course, question comes... why help the rest of the world? If you truely ask this after reading this, then I can simply say, you need to re-read it, do some research, hear some veterans talk, and do some soul searching. Read some history books.

1)US unemployment would spike

2) a global power vacuum would develop, probably starting local wars that could blow up to large ones.

The pax americana 1946-2xxx has been an amazingly peaceful time. Deaths by combat have fallen to probably all time lows a as a % of global population.

Having no US military leviathan would certainly make that number double, triple, whatever.

I’m baffled by the fact that you can spend as much on your military as the next 10 highest spending countries put together and that includes Russia and China - and yet you are incapable of defending your southern borders.

I read the one state was sending their National Guard down to the border - but all they were allowed to do was observe!

If Americans had the same lack of spunk back in the 1840’s, Texas and California would still be part of Mexico - which they will be once again quite soon.

So what happens when the money runs out? No country can stay on top economically and militarily forever.

Anon wrote:

If we did what isolationists believed, which is to pull all troops back, reduce spending and put guns on the boarders, the face of the world would change drastically,

clearly the landlord industry got to this guy

disregard his comments on that topic, but he's right on otherwise.

bumrunner wrote:

So what happens when the money runs out? No country can stay on top economically and militarily forever.

clearly we can afford our spending - debt to gdp is manageable as long as we keep growing.

So your question is really - will the US keep growing at reasonable rates. I think it will, but that's not a guarantee.

Joe Binks wrote:

I’m baffled by the fact that you can spend as much on your military as the next 10 highest spending countries put together and that includes Russia and China - and yet you are incapable of defending your southern borders.

I read the one state was sending their National Guard down to the border - but all they were allowed to do was observe!

If Americans had the same lack of spunk back in the 1840’s, Texas and California would still be part of Mexico - which they will be once again quite soon.

The military is not to be used within the boarders of the US unless under extreme conditions. People confuse this with the National Guard which is a citizen soldier whom is controlled by that state's governor for emergency situations.

Plus, we have a rather large country, and only approx 400million at most, as oppose to a lot of european countries which have a much higher population density and a fraction of the perimeter to defend from illegals & smugglers.

Texas part of Mexico again? Texas is capable of being it's own country and have a ton of veterans as well as probably the highest percentage of people from the state serving in the armed forces. Mexico can't even control itself, you think they can mess with Texas?

Russia would march into Europe and we'd have to rebuild the military.

Anon wrote:

The military is not to be used within the boarders of the US unless under extreme conditions. People confuse this with the National Guard which is a citizen soldier whom is controlled by that state's governor for emergency situations.

Plus, we have a rather large country, and only approx 400million at most, as oppose to a lot of european countries which have a much higher population density and a fraction of the perimeter to defend from illegals & smugglers.

Texas part of Mexico again? Texas is capable of being it's own country and have a ton of veterans as well as probably the highest percentage of people from the state serving in the armed forces. Mexico can't even control itself, you think they can mess with Texas?

Please look up the definitions of "boarder" and "border".

Your welcome.

agip wrote:

Anon wrote:

If we did what isolationists believed, which is to pull all troops back, reduce spending and put guns on the boarders, the face of the world would change drastically,

clearly the landlord industry got to this guy

disregard his comments on that topic, but he's right on otherwise.

may feel that way, but if we go home, someone's going to come here looking for us. There are quite a few countries that do not like us period, and would seek us out to some payback. If you can check out Iranian, North Koean, or even Chinese propaganda videos, you'll see some outragous stuff. It's mass brain washing. I know what I've seen in other parts of the world, civil unrest and people's arm's chopped off for voting against a political part. It's very sad and to stand by and let it happen is unacceptable as a human being to me.

Anon wrote:

agip wrote:

clearly the landlord industry got to this guy

disregard his comments on that topic, but he's right on otherwise.

may feel that way, but if we go home, someone's going to come here looking for us. There are quite a few countries that do not like us period, and would seek us out to some payback. If you can check out Iranian, North Koean, or even Chinese propaganda videos, you'll see some outragous stuff. It's mass brain washing. I know what I've seen in other parts of the world, civil unrest and people's arm's chopped off for voting against a political part. It's very sad and to stand by and let it happen is unacceptable as a human being to me.

Again, and this time with emphasis, PLEASE look up the definitions of "boarder" and "border".

Please Mister, Please wrote:

Again, and this time with emphasis, PLEASE look up the definitions of "boarder" and "border".

Thanks for your lack of a contribution, troll. You can go play with the other children on the internet. Your /b/ is calling.

Anon wrote:

Please Mister, Please wrote:

Again, and this time with emphasis, PLEASE look up the definitions of "boarder" and "border".

Thanks for your lack of a contribution, troll. You can go play with the other children on the internet. Your /b/ is calling.

Ah yes, the standard response from someone who is too insecure about themselves to appreciate it when they are corrected.

Nonetheless, I do believe that you will never unknowingly make the same mistake again for the rest of your life. And for this you are most welcome.

Anon wrote:

agip wrote:

clearly the landlord industry got to this guy

disregard his comments on that topic, but he's right on otherwise.

may feel that way, but if we go home, someone's going to come here looking for us. There are quite a few countries that do not like us period, and would seek us out to some payback. If you can check out Iranian, North Koean, or even Chinese propaganda videos, you'll see some outragous stuff. It's mass brain washing. I know what I've seen in other parts of the world, civil unrest and people's arm's chopped off for voting against a political part. It's very sad and to stand by and let it happen is unacceptable as a human being to me.

Priceless. The posters comment was poking fun of your boarder/border gaffe, and you are too dumb to realize so you go on another crazy tirade unrelated to his response.

Anon just got owned! Awesome.