Should we cut the U.S. military budget in half?

[rfranklin]

The way I see it, the U.S. military is basically an arm of corporate America, it provides many with profits from armaments and services, while acting as an enforcer for multinational corporations that shuck their obligations to this country in the blink of an eye if it can save them a buck on taxes or labor costs.

Or should we operate the military on a pay-as-you-go basis? Need help in Afghanistan with a pipeline? Pay us a royalty of 20% on every barrel of oil that goes through the pipeline.

Of course, when I think about it, the corporate executives would figure out how to stiff the Treasury on that one, so let's just cut the military budget in half.

[OneBlueSky]

1. at least . . . when the defense budget becomes the offense budget . . .

it's time to take the deadly toys away from those who are all too anxious to use them . . . what this country spends on weapons is obscene . . . withdrawing from Iraq alone will save a huge amount of money, and we certainly don't need space weapons or new generations of nukes . . . cutting back to cover our REAL defense needs could indeed save 50% or more . . .

[mike_c]

2. personally, I'd cut it even further than that....

I think the only way to force Amerika to stop using the military as an instrument of foreign policy is to deny it that instrument. This country's standing army should not be capable of participating in foreign conflicts-- it should be little more than a caretaker force that would be responsible for the first response and for activating a defense mobilization if the U.S. is threatened.

[MissWaverly]

3. Yes, Yes, Yes

The military industrial complex needs regulated, or I have a better one, if you get our bid for the super duper weapon that will cost x million then that's what we will pay for it, not 90x ten years later.

[NativeTexan]

4. My idea

My idea would be to spend every dime it takes to secure our own borders, and bring the troops home to do it!

That would cost MUCH LESS than THREE BILLION DOLLARS a month in Iraq!!!

[SOS]

5. It's been doubled instead

In 2000 the War budget was $285 billion.
The proposed annual budget before Congress now is $491 billion.
Plus $100 billion a year "off budget" for the "War on Terror" = $590 billion.
If the US cut the War budget in half, we'd only be back to the level of Clinton's last year in office.

[Lannes]

6. Depends how we cut it

Id love to see a large cut in the budget but I dont want it being done by the rethugs because we know it will make us less safe and if they can find a way enrich themselves in the process.Eliminating pork would be good start,that and unecessary weapons systems.Always some out there.

[cyberpj]

7. Well... let's discuss it over a few oreos... (remember this?)

http://www.truemajority.org/oreos/

[sintax]

8. The only way the planet will survive

is if the World's Greatest Polluter is stopped-The Pentagon.

The only way that will happen is a mass revolt by the grassroots.

F-16 uses more fuel in one hours flight than US motorist uses in two years driving.

US NAVY uses 16% of worlds diesel fuel.

www.warresisters.org