The Secret Side of Military Spending

The United States Military budget rose for 11 consecutive years, going from $354 billion in 2011 to $721 billion in 2011. That's an increase of 104%. While 2012's proposed budget signals the first decline in military spending in over a decade, it is a drop in the bucket and if the past is any indication, actual spending will surpass the budget and once again take us into record territory.

The New Defense Bill

• Authorizes $662 billion in military spending through 2012
• Is $27 billion less than Obama's request
• Is $43 billion less than what the Pentagon received in 2011

How The Money Gets Used

• 46.7% is spent on personnel
• 24.2% is spent on equipment
• 28.1% is spent on "other"
• 1% is spent on infrastructure
• 5.8 billion was spent on military robotics in 2010

The Wastes of War

• $360 million spent by the US has ended up in the hands of the Taliban via profiteering, bribery and extortion
• $20.2 billion spent on air conditioning in Iraq and Afghanistan
• $363 million spent on weight loss surgery for military family members
• $11 billion per year is wasted or lost in Iraq. This could have paid the salary of 220,000 teachers.
• If $1 billion were spent on green investments, health care or education rather than military it would generate 5,000 to 17,000 jobs
• The yearly cost of stationing one soldier in Iraq could feed 60 American families
• The Pentagon spends more on war than all 50 states combined spend on health, education, welfare and safety

USA vs The World

• 43% of all the military spending on earth is by the USA
• The US only makes up 5% of the world's population
• America spends more on its military than all other countries combined

Who's Profiting