The Secret Side of Military Spending & The Wastes of War

The United States Military budget rose for 11 consecutive years, going from $354 billion in 2011 to $721 billion in 2011. That's an increase of 104%. While 2012's proposed budget signals the first decline in military spending in over a decade, it is a drop in the bucket and if the past is any indication, actual spending will surpass the budget and once again take us into record territory.

• Authorizes $662 billion in military spending through 2012

• Is $27 billion less than Obama's request

• Is $43 billion less than what the Pentagon received in 2011

• 46.7% is spent on personnel

• 24.2% is spent on equipment

• 28.1% is spent on "other"

• 1% is spent on infrastructure

• 5.8 billion was spent on military robotics in 2010

• $360 million spent by the US has ended up in the hands of the Taliban via profiteering, bribery and extortion

• $20.2 billion spent on air conditioning in Iraq and Afghanistan

• $363 million spent on weight loss surgery for military family members

• $11 billion per year is wasted or lost in Iraq. This could have paid the salary of 220,000 teachers.

• If $1 billion were spent on green investments, health care or education rather than military it would generate 5,000 to 17,000 jobs

• The yearly cost of stationing one soldier in Iraq could feed 60 American families

• The Pentagon spends more on war than all 50 states combined spend on health, education, welfare and safety

• 43% of all the military spending on earth is by the USA

• The US only makes up 5% of the world's population

• America spends more on its military than all other countries combined

• Lockheed Martin spent $12.7 million on lobbying and was awarded $71 million in military contracts in 2010

• Northrop Grumman spent $15.7 million on lobbying and was awarded $37.88 million in military contracts in 2010

• Boeing spent $17.98 million on lobbying and was awarded $68.83 million in military contracts in 2010