Military Officer - January 2008 - (Page 12) fromthepresident Defense Imperative The Constitution identifies the need to “provide for the common defence” as one reason this country was founded. More than 220 years later, it remains a national obligation. E conomics on a national scale and the president’s budget both can be hard to understand. What’s easy to comprehend, however, is that our nation and Congress are not spending enough money on defense. MOAA’s board of directors has made changing this stance one of the association’s top 2008 priorities. Economists, journalists, and many others measure defense spending as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP). The current defense-spending figure is less than 4 percent of the U.S. GDP — the lowest it’s been since 1948. MOAA’s goal is to ensure defense spending is at least 4 percent of the GDP, and preferably more. Historically, defense spending during peacetime has ranged from 1948’s low of less than 4 percent of the GDP to more than 14 percent after the Korean War. The average is about 5.7 percent — again, including only peacetime years. The number dipped below 4 percent in the early 2000s and then rose slightly, to just about 4 percent for FY 2007. But the FY 2008 federal budget forecasts a continuing decline, even though the nation is at war. In the past six years, the U.S. has learned current force levels are insufficient. Additionally, we’re wearing out our weapon systems, which must be replaced or modernized. And the way we’ve used our reserve component personnel calls for a fresh look at how we compensate our military. Some expect force levels in Iraq might decline in the coming years, and they 12 MILITARY OFFICER JANUARY 2008 hope to cut troop levels and significantly reduce defense spending. The continuing war on terrorism, however, means America will not be at peace for some time, no matter what happens in Iraq. We need to increase our forces to be ready for future threats, no matter what happens in Iraq. And we need to replace weapons and equipment, no matter what happens in Iraq. All of that won’t come cheap, and a nation at war must recognize this. Raising the defense budget to MOAA’s 4-percent target will require an additional $80 billion to $100 billion a year. Yes, that’s a lot — but what’s more important than defending our country? The nation simply can’t tolerate a diminishing defense capability and consequent weakness. That’s why MOAA, as your voice in Washington, will be making it our top priority this year to push Congress to bolster defense spending and resist calls for a “peace dividend.” History has taught us that the longterm cost of failing to be prepared far exceeds the immediate costs of maintaining a strong defense. — Vice Adm. Norb Ryan Jr., USN-Ret. PHOTO: STEVE BARRETT
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