Thursday, March 28th | 18 Adar II 5784

Subscribe
March 4, 2014 1:42 pm
8

Why Reducing the U.S. Defense Budget is a Mistake

× [contact-form-7 404 "Not Found"]

avatar by David Bergstein

Opinion

The U.S. Pentagon. Photo: US Navy.

The Pentagon’s proposed defense budget cuts, which include plans to reduce the Army to pre-World War II levels, have been widely covered throughout the media. As often is the case with such announcements, there is no shortage of varying opinions being bandied about. But beyond all the rhetoric, the fact remains that we live in a dangerous world and face threats that continue to evolve, becoming increasingly perilous every day.

We would all like to believe that the contemporary world is beyond the risk of the global slaughter of more than 20 million people that occurred during World War II.

My father was a Holocaust survivor. Like all survivors, he witnessed atrocities and horrors that are simply incomprehensible to us as Americans. Before he passed away, my father told me that in the years preceding the onslaught of World War II, citizens of Germany and Poland believed themselves to be a part of a very sophisticated society – educated, cultured, almost superior. To them, just prior the unspeakable savagery that ultimately occurred, it was inconceivable.

The notion of the Holocaust would have been laughed off as the most egregious of hyperbole. Such a thing, even as the war made its insidious emergence, was viewed as impossible among such advanced and cultured nations. That mindset is very much a reflection of the way in which we view the world today.

Before my father’s passing in 2008, he asserted that when comparing Europe in the 1940s to present-day America, the current world landscape is in fact more perilous, with a greater likelihood of experiencing unthinkable atrocities. There are a number of reasons why such a perspective should be considered prudent.

From a global perspective, unfortunate as it may be, extreme prejudice exists across cultures, religions, and even sects within a country. Any impetus behind war, whether it be greed, power,  or hate, is no less prevalent today than 70 years ago. We live in an age where the existence of far more sophisticated weaponry and advances in science and technology leaves us vulnerable to those desiring war.

An effective military is even more necessary today because of the proliferation of terrorist organizations with access to tremendous amounts of money and resources, and who can now able to obtain weapons with a much greater impact – whether they be atomic, chemical, biological, etc. Scores of enemies are born daily with seemingly little to live for themselves, and willing to give their lives for their cause. If there is no threat of opposition to these rogue groups, they could wield incredible destruction on the world, including within the U.S.

Without America’s participation in World War II, the world today would almost certainly be an entirely different landscape. Mass genocide would have continued unchecked for a much longer period of time, leaving one to wonder what the evolution of the world would have been had America not been in a position to act effectively. The same holds true today should America become lax in its defense initiatives.

A common argument in support of cutting the defense budget entails comparing the size of the U.S. defense budget (in dollars) to that of other countries. It is fairly common knowledge that the U.S. spends more on defense annually than the next 10-12 countries combined, many of whom are considered allies. On its face, this might be considered a fair argument. However, the size of a nation’s defense budget in absolute dollars isn’t relevant without considering other factors.

In order to have an apples to apples comparison, one would need to take into account several factors, and then adjust for each. For instance, the wages paid to soldiers (if any) in that county, the military budget as a percentage of the country’s GDP and tax base, how much of the military budget is comprised of funds being pumped right back into the economy, and the impact of R&D spending are but a few factors that need to be considered.

But most importantly, each nation’s population, and the value they place on it, must be considered. The U.S. places a premium on human life. This is in stark contrast to what we see in many other countries, which place little to no value on human life. Genocide remains rampant throughout the world for a multitude of reasons including intra-nation political strife. Our military exists to defend all Americans, not a select few. The greater the nation’s population –  combined with their emphasis on human life – the greater the cost. Soldiers are heroes, and nobody denies the fact that they should be paid more. But the U.S. actually has one of the highest paid militaries in the world. When assessing the defense budget, it’s important to consider American values and the way in which we compensate our soldiers – through wages as well as opportunities for continuing higher education at no cost. These are expenses most other countries either do not account for, or factor in on a much lower scale.

Moreover, the threat level posed to a nation by terrorist organizations and rogue nations can’t be quantified into dollars or explained via a budget’s bottom line. Regardless of whether or not other nations have defense budgets that are only a fraction the size of America’s, they simply do not face the same threat as that posed to the U.S. It’s a false equivalency to suggest one nation’s defense spending can be compared to another’s simply by looking at a balance sheet.

There is relatively no debating or arguing the notion that peace is the preferred method of conflict resolution. In a perfect world, negotiations and diplomacy are all that need be required to settle inter-nation conflicts. However, certain existing factions are not interested in peace. Period. Their interests are the ultimate destruction of their enemies, often willingly at the cost of their own destruction. The only factor that keeps such groups in check is the threat of opposition.

Additionally, a solidified and well-funded American military is necessary not just in the interest of America, but in the interest of the world. America places a great priority on all human life, not just the lives of its citizens. When considering recent history, America hasn’t used its military capabilities for personal or economic gain, but merely to protect itself and its allies from outside threats. The U.S. could have easily gone into other lands throughout the years, taken them over, and kept the spoils of war, but that has never been its interest. Our military is unique in that it has historically been utilized for either self-protection or to help others in distress. That doesn’t mean we were successful in each case, but our interest was in protecting persecuted populations and maintaining our security at home.

Furthermore, although a frequently unpopular sentiment, the economic benefits of a well-armed military should be noted. Historically, when observing the impact of defense spending on the economy (adjusting for the economic trends occurring at a given time), a positive impact has occurred in virtually every instance. Why?

When the government spends money on defense, virtually all of it is pumped directly into the national economy. The money is taken out of the government and put back into circulation where it reaches the companies that manufacture and develop the equipment, their personnel, the soldiers, etc. Circulation is the essence of a healthy economy. The structure of the defense budget and the way in which the funds are distributed ensures continuous circulation within the economy.

Additionally, the benefit of technological advancements cannot be overstated. The military pumps huge amounts of money into research and development. Some of the greatest advances in science over time have been a direct result of military funding. This includes space travel, advancements in electronics and technology such as robotics and prosthetics, computer science, and more. The military has (and continues to) funded many projects that would otherwise be very difficult to maintain because they require long development cycles and advanced lead times.

So in addition to the necessity in having a daunting military to dissuade our enemies from potential attacks, there is a net economical benefit to the country in having a strong and well-funded military.

The world is more dangerous than ever before, and nothing about that fact is going to change in the near future. If anything, the threat level is escalating. There is a palpable risk of war throughout the world, and a much greater risk that we might find such a threat at our doorsteps. We as a nation are not impervious to such threats. The only way to ensure that such a scenario does not occur is to extend our defense presence. Such a strategy is expensive. It’s also absolutely necessary.”Ž

David Bergstein is the CEO of Cyrano Group. He is a board member of the Sheriff’s Youth Foundation, an organization dedicated to providing Los Angeles County youth with safe facilities, planned programs, and the vital tools they need to thrive and succeed in life. He is founder of the Leonard and Sarah Bergstein Learning Center at the Conejo Jewish Academy.

The opinions presented by Algemeiner bloggers are solely theirs and do not represent those of The Algemeiner, its publishers or editors. If you would like to share your views with a blog post on The Algemeiner, please be in touch through our Contact page.

Share this Story: Share On Facebook Share On Twitter

Let your voice be heard!

Join the Algemeiner

Algemeiner.com

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.