- 20 Apr 2003 13:59
#8162
In considering the new face of war, there are 4 numbers to keep in mind. They draw the basic outline of American national security today.
THe first number is $750 billion. According to the CIA's most recent world factbook for 2002, thats the total of the world's military spending combined. The number has been decreasing, slowly, every year since the end of the cold war, mostly because Russia cant pay for its army any more, and also because everyone else no longer fears Russia.
The second number is $380 billion. Thats approximately what the United States spends annuallyfor its military forces today. (and thats just the publicly stated amount). IN other words, the U.S. today spends roughly as much on defense as everyone else in the world combined.
To be sure, theres lots of room to cut waste and improve efficiancy. Many programs do nothing more than represent bureaucratic programs and congressional pork. But partly, because it spends this much money, the US can afford to make planes invisible to radar, design bombs that can be put ina specific window of a certain building, and move hundreds of thousands of troops anywhere in the world in days.
The third number is 3.2 percent. thats approximately the percentage of US gross domestic product that today goes to defense. THink of this as your "defense burden", or how much of your taxes goes to fund the military. The most interesting thing about this statistic is that it suggests our defense spending is remarkably small compared to historical standards. During the early years of the Cold War we spent up to 4x as much, or 13%.
Put these 3 numbers together, and the picture becomes something like this: Not only does the US have an overhwelming military power; but we are keeping our edge without even breathing hard. We can keep up the current effort--or even a bit more-- indefinately, and the US economy would hardly notice the difference.
Now, this means that 96.8% of the GDP is NOT spent on the military. The simple idea from this is that defense is a tiny part of american life. Most americans have no involvement in defense, they know little about the armed forces. For that matter,the typical american is strikingly unaware of the threats that face us. The typical college student--or college professor for that matter--cant tell you the difference between Ahmed Ressam and Ahmed Barada.
The 4th number is 17%. THats the annual rate at which China's defense budget has been growing lately. It reminds us that, despite america's dominance, there are countries willing and able to challenge us. Most people who threaten the US know they cannot match the US in planes, tanks, and warships. THey know they would loose any war if they play according to traditional rules. Thats why most military threats today are asymmetrical--strategies and tactics that avoid strengths head on, and isntead hit where the enemy is weak.
For example, consider the potential threat of a Chinese attack on Tawian. Chinese leaders routinely claim taiwan is chinese territory ruled by a renegade regime and openly say they plan to recover it, even if it means war.
U.S. armed forces are larger and much better equipped, but China enjoys several advantages. US forces must travel 8,000 miles to deply to taiwan, chinese forces only skip 100 miles across the water to attack it. Most chinese people, regardless of how they feel about communism, think reuniting taiwan with the mainland is important. Most americans, on the other hand, can only vaguely tell you where taiwan is located.
China would probably attack the american forces where we are most vulnerable. which means most likely the pacific rim bases that are essential to any US military operation in the region. chinese leaders also understand our dependence on information technology. If the chinese leaders can neutralize certain essential US compters and communicaton links, the US plans to defend taiwan might collapse like a house of cards.
welcome to war in the information age.
THe first number is $750 billion. According to the CIA's most recent world factbook for 2002, thats the total of the world's military spending combined. The number has been decreasing, slowly, every year since the end of the cold war, mostly because Russia cant pay for its army any more, and also because everyone else no longer fears Russia.
The second number is $380 billion. Thats approximately what the United States spends annuallyfor its military forces today. (and thats just the publicly stated amount). IN other words, the U.S. today spends roughly as much on defense as everyone else in the world combined.
To be sure, theres lots of room to cut waste and improve efficiancy. Many programs do nothing more than represent bureaucratic programs and congressional pork. But partly, because it spends this much money, the US can afford to make planes invisible to radar, design bombs that can be put ina specific window of a certain building, and move hundreds of thousands of troops anywhere in the world in days.
The third number is 3.2 percent. thats approximately the percentage of US gross domestic product that today goes to defense. THink of this as your "defense burden", or how much of your taxes goes to fund the military. The most interesting thing about this statistic is that it suggests our defense spending is remarkably small compared to historical standards. During the early years of the Cold War we spent up to 4x as much, or 13%.
Put these 3 numbers together, and the picture becomes something like this: Not only does the US have an overhwelming military power; but we are keeping our edge without even breathing hard. We can keep up the current effort--or even a bit more-- indefinately, and the US economy would hardly notice the difference.
Now, this means that 96.8% of the GDP is NOT spent on the military. The simple idea from this is that defense is a tiny part of american life. Most americans have no involvement in defense, they know little about the armed forces. For that matter,the typical american is strikingly unaware of the threats that face us. The typical college student--or college professor for that matter--cant tell you the difference between Ahmed Ressam and Ahmed Barada.
The 4th number is 17%. THats the annual rate at which China's defense budget has been growing lately. It reminds us that, despite america's dominance, there are countries willing and able to challenge us. Most people who threaten the US know they cannot match the US in planes, tanks, and warships. THey know they would loose any war if they play according to traditional rules. Thats why most military threats today are asymmetrical--strategies and tactics that avoid strengths head on, and isntead hit where the enemy is weak.
For example, consider the potential threat of a Chinese attack on Tawian. Chinese leaders routinely claim taiwan is chinese territory ruled by a renegade regime and openly say they plan to recover it, even if it means war.
U.S. armed forces are larger and much better equipped, but China enjoys several advantages. US forces must travel 8,000 miles to deply to taiwan, chinese forces only skip 100 miles across the water to attack it. Most chinese people, regardless of how they feel about communism, think reuniting taiwan with the mainland is important. Most americans, on the other hand, can only vaguely tell you where taiwan is located.
China would probably attack the american forces where we are most vulnerable. which means most likely the pacific rim bases that are essential to any US military operation in the region. chinese leaders also understand our dependence on information technology. If the chinese leaders can neutralize certain essential US compters and communicaton links, the US plans to defend taiwan might collapse like a house of cards.
welcome to war in the information age.
"We are not afraid of the Americans. Allah has condemned them. They are stupid. They are stupid" (dramatic pause) "and they are condemned."
--M.S.S.
--M.S.S.
- By Bill_Nye
- By Potemkin
- By Puffer Fish