Colin Powell: Cut Military Spending to Reduce Deficit

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Fact is US spends more than the next 16 countries combined on defense and nearly 3times what China does. The argument that cutting defense will reduce our influence in the world begs the question. How much influence will we have as a broke nation increasingly unable to pay all of it's commitments.

Lew hendler of PA 6:51AM August 11, 2011

It is most unfortunate that Bush torpedoed Colin Powell. The Country would have fared much better with Powell as President than Bush.... needless to say what the results were with Bush in office. Powell is an intelligent no-nonsense individual who would have made a great leader, even better than Obama. He would not have needed banners proclaiming "Mission Accomplished", or done some stupid thing like wearing a flight jacket just to look like one of the boys. Bush was a total phoney from day one. That being said, we now have to get after our representatives to stay the hell away from the military lobbyists in Washington. When we watch the military channel, and see how much money is spent just for one part of the military, such as "Snipers", one can see all that is spent just to equip an individual to do such a job. From special long range guns, to camouflage, to all kinds of special equipment such as night vision goggles, food rations etc..etc... Multiply that by thousands, and you have mega-millions of our tax dollars going to "defense manufacturers", who, by the way, charge top price for something as simple as a compass!!!! Just imagine what the cost is for ONE bullet that is used in the long-range 50 cal sniper gun!! The defense industry are running over themselves to come out with more and newer weapons that will likely be obsolete before they are ever used, which is where our money goes.... and the production just keeps coming like there is no tomorrow!! This has to stop. Sure, we need weapons for Defense, but who are we defending now?? All I see is that we are defending other countries!! Let them defend themselves!! If they ask for help, fine, if we can afford it. We MUST put our own house in order if we want to be the leader of the world. If we don't, I would highly suggest that they teach Chinese & the Indian languages in our schools, because that is who will be the leaders of the world if we do nothing!!

Jerry of ME 2:57AM April 27, 2011

ha

Amos Boshart of OR 2:33AM March 29, 2011

what part of "the USA spends more on defense than the rest of the world combined." do you not understand? provide facts to support your rant. and NO im not a democrat but i know my facts.

me of CA 1:30PM March 05, 2011

I would think General Powell might have better credentials to comment on the needs of the military that you. Think about it: the USA spends more on defense than the rest of the world combined. The USA does not need almost a 1,000 bases around the world. Who is going to pay for all this? Are we ever going to know that war is not the answer?

Patrick Montgomery of OH 6:50PM January 27, 2011