Washington, D.C.—(ENEWSPF)—September 23, 2010. Total defense spending in real terms is now higher than at any time since the end of World War II, more than throughout the entire Cold War, and even 10 percent higher than the peak of the Reagan defense buildup. The baseline defense budget has been growing in real terms for 13 straight years—the longest-ever period of sustained real growth in U.S. defense spending. As a result, the portion of the world’s military expenditures the United States consumes compared to our potential adversaries has grown from 60 percent to 250 percent. Presidents from Eisenhower to Obama have recognized our national security is directly tied to the health of our economy, and trimming the defense budget in a sensible way can help the nation achieve a balanced budget by FY 2015.
