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AnonTechie [soylentnews.org] writes:

President Trump has proposed a $54 billion increase in defence spending, which he said would be “one of the largest increases in national defence spending in American history.”

Past administrations have increased military spending, but typically to fulfil a specific mission. Jimmy Carter expanded operations in the Persian Gulf. Ronald Reagan pursued an arms race with the Soviet Union, and George W. Bush waged wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Mr. Trump has not articulated a new mission that would require a military spending increase. This has left analysts wondering what goals he has in mind. Erin M. Simpson, a national security consultant, called Mr. Trump’s plans “a budget in search of a strategy.”

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/03/22/us/is-americas-military-big-enough.html [nytimes.com]

DONALD J. TRUMP ​MILITARY READINESS REMARKS [donaldjtrump.com]

[Related]: 2017 Outlook for Navy Shipbuilding [cbo.gov]

What do you think about the proposed increase in military spending ? Does USA really need more weapons ?

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