Imperial Overstretch? | War Resisters' Int'l Pie Chart

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the implications of military spending and government corruption, particularly in the context of the U.S. war on terror. Participants explore the financial burdens of military expenditures and the perceived corruption within civil government, as well as the strategic statements made by figures like bin Laden regarding the economic impact of such conflicts.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant claims that over half of civil government revenue is misappropriated, suggesting significant corruption among politicians.
  • Another participant cites a report indicating that world military spending increased by 11 percent in 2003, largely driven by U.S. expenditures related to the war on terror, with the U.S. accounting for nearly half of the total spending.
  • A later post references bin Laden's comments on the strategy of financially exhausting the U.S., highlighting the low cost of the September 11 attacks compared to the economic repercussions for the United States.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the extent of corruption and the implications of military spending, with no consensus reached on the overall impact of these issues.

Contextual Notes

Some claims rely on specific estimates and reports, which may not be universally accepted or verified. The discussion includes various interpretations of financial data and strategic military assessments.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to those studying military economics, political corruption, and the strategic implications of warfare on national budgets.

Physics news on Phys.org
more than half the civil government revenue goes into politician's pockets, such corruption!
 
World military spending leapt 11 percent in 2003 due to a "massive increase" from the U.S. war on terror but the pace may slow down as Washington's pre-emptive strike policy comes under pressure, says a leading think-tank.

The United States accounted for almost half the $956 billion total, which grew by 18 percent in real terms during 2002 and 2003, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute said on Wednesday.
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0609-07.htm
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Among comments not released until Monday, bin Laden said: "We are continuing this policy in bleeding America to the point of bankruptcy," adding it was "easy for us to provoke and bait this administration."

As part of the "bleed-until-bankruptcy plan," bin Laden cited a British estimate that it cost al-Qaida about $500,000 to carry out the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, an amount he said paled in comparison with the costs incurred by the United States.

"Every dollar of al-Qaida defeated a million dollars, by the permission of Allah, besides the loss of a huge number of jobs," he said.
http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20041102-073358-8320r.htm
 

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