National Security Spending
The Pentagon, looking northeast at the Potomac. DOD photo.
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RECENT ANALYSIS
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Dec 1, 2008
It's Not Hillary, It's the Policy Stupid!
Those of us eagerly awaiting relief from the debacle called the Bush administration should avoid getting swept up the in DC parlor game of who is getting what position in the new administration and focus instead on the fundamental changes we need the Obama administration to start making. In short, "It's the Policy Stupid!" -
Nov 19, 2008
New Systems Boost Iraqi Surveillance Capability
While the election of Barack Obama heralds an impending change in U.S. policy toward Iraq, defense officials in Washington and Baghdad continue to focus on transforming the Iraqi military into a legitimate fighting force. Both the United States and Iraq seem to agree that no matter what President-elect Obama’s new strategy looks like, bolstering the strength and effectiveness of the Iraqi Security Forces will play a key role in stabilizing Iraq in the wake of U.S. troop withdrawals. -
Nov 17, 2008
Tying U.S. Defense Spending to GDP: Bad Logic, Bad Policy
In this full-length essay published in the autumn 2008 issue of Parameters: U.S. Army War College Quarterly, military policy analyst Travis Sharp argues that spending four percent of GDP on defense is a policy proposal that should be rejected by budget experts and national security analysts alike. - See more articles »
CENTER ANALYST
Travis Sharp
Military Policy Analyst
202-546-0795 ext.123
tsharp AT armscontrolcenter DOT org
Analysis of Fiscal Year 2009 Pentagon budget request
Iraq and Afghanistan war costs resources
While it is widely recognized that Cold War-era thinking about security is outdated, this recognition has not carried over into any real change in how the United States allocates its defense dollars. There are many elements of the defense budget which consume massive budgetary resources but provide little return in terms of security.
It is time to correct the artificial divide between military and non-military forms of security spending and return to a vision of security based on more than bullets and bombs.
The new reality in the post-September 11 world is that protection from terrorist attacks and other security challenges can only be provided by broadening our vision of national security to include law enforcement, intelligence, immigration policy, border security, foreign assistance, economic development, and diplomacy. Combining these non-military tools with a robust military is the prescription for global peace and security under American leadership during the 21st century.
FY2009 DEFENSE BUDGET ANALYSIS
Sep 25, 2008 Analysis of FY2009 Defense Appropriations in the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act (CR) for FY2009
Sep 24, 2008 Analysis of House-Senate Agreement on the FY2009 Defense Authorization Bill (S.3001)
Feb 4, 2008 The FY 2009 Pentagon (DOD) Defense Budget Spending Request
CHARTS, GRAPHS, & FACT SHEETS
Jul 25, 2008 Cancellation of the Navy's DDG-1000 "Zumwalt" Destroyer Program
Jul 23, 2008 Total Iraq and Afghanistan Supplemental War Funding To Date
Jun 18, 2008 GAO Review of the Air Force Tanker Contract Award to Northrop-Grumman
Apr 15, 2008 Tying U.S. Defense Spending to GDP: Bad Logic, Bad Policy
Mar 5, 2008 Problems with Using the Supplemental Budget Process to Fund Ongoing Military Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan
Mar 4, 2008 U.S. Arms Sales Agreements with the Middle East, 1999-2006
Mar 3, 2008 U.S. Arms Sales Agreements Worldwide, 1999-2006
Feb 25, 2008 U.S. Spending on Iraq and Afghanistan by Month, Week, Day, Hour, Minute, & Second
Feb 22, 2008 U.S. Military Spending vs. The World in 2008
Feb 20, 2008 2008-2009 U.S. Defense Spending Highest Since WWII, Tops Vietnam and Korea
Feb 20, 2008 U.S. Defense Spending, 2001-2009
Feb 4, 2008 Comparing the Defense Share of the FY 2009 Discretionary Budget Request to Other Programs
Feb 1, 2008 Historical Costs of Previous U.S. Wars
Jul 2, 2006 Defense Budget Process
ANNUAL ANALYSIS OF THE PENTAGON SPENDING REQUEST
The FY 2009 Request l The FY 2008 Request l The FY 2007 Request l The FY 2006 Request l The FY 2005 Request
The FY 2004 Request l The FY 2003 Request l The FY 2002 Request l The FY 2001 Request l The FY 2000 Request
The FY 1999 Request l The FY 1998 Request l The FY 1997 Request
ADDITIONAL READING
- Congressional Research Service, "Defense: FY2009 Authorization and Appropriations," updated August 1, 2008.
- Summary of the annual defense budget process
- Congressional Budget Office, "Long-Term Implications of Current Defense Plans," March 2008.
- Institute for Policy Studies, "A Unified Security Budget for the United States, FY 2009," released September 22, 2008.
- Gordon Adams, "Rebalancing and Integrating the National Security Toolkit," testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, presented April 24, 2008.