On Fri, 22 Aug 2003 02:36:45 -0400, "Charles Talleyrand"
wrote:


"Lyle" wrote in message ...
its not how much we spend but what percentage of the GNP that we
spend.

Actually, it's how many useful resources you can get into battle. The fact that Kenya
or Argentina or Burma might spend more than us as a percentage of GDP isn't
really useful to their soldiers if the Big Battle (tm) comes their way.

if i remember right, we spend like 3% of a budget in the trillions on
defense, where as other countries spend 3% or less of a budget in the
billions. The US military buget is bigger then most of the countries
in Europe budgets. And the US isnt even taxed as much as the European
countries are.

but the most important thing is that if war were to break out
tomorrow( i mean a big one, like china) the president has the power to
take control of the Nations Civilian Airliners for military
tranport/cargo duty, and dont forget about the merchant marine. and
that is sometihing that alot of countries just dont have. You can have
a big army, but if you cant get them there, their useless.
Civilian assests that can quickly be used for war if need be.

a website to go to is
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html

Just my opionion.