Harmful effects of US defense budget

Officials in the George W. Bush as well as Barack Obama administrations have argued that China's military budget is excessive for the country's legitimate defense needs. But US military spending is much higher than that of China or any other country.

Indeed, Washington's military budget for 2013 (including funding for the war in Afghanistan) is more than six times Beijing's official defense budget. Given that China is located in a region with multiple security concerns while America's neighborhood is extremely stable and peaceful, it would seem that it is the US' military spending that is excessive for its legitimate defense needs.

Such a bloated commitment of resources to the military is unhealthy both for America's domestic health and minimizing international conflicts. It places an undue burden on US taxpayers while making other countries uneasy and suspicious.