The Entitlement Spending Threat to National Security

James Carafano / May 24, 2010

David Ignatius’ latest column “How debt imperils national security” could not get the issue of spending and national security more wrong. He starts off fine asserting that there is “consensus among national security experts inside and outside the Obama administration: To play an effective role in the world, the United States must rebuild its economic strength at home.”

Of course, screwing up the economy undermines national security. But Ignatius goes on to laud Defense Secretary Gates for declaring that “Congress must stop shoveling money at the military.” As if military spending is responsible for America’s fiscal mess.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Defense spending is less than a fifth of the federal budget (it used to be half). The US spends far less on defense (as a percentage of GDP) than it did during the Cold War. What has changed is out of control domestic spending. (more…)