PROTECTING AMERICAS DEFEND RS Are We Spending Enough On Defense? By John J. Politi (NAPSA)—Terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon confirmed the vulnerability of the American homeland. Today, we face the daunting chlenge of tracking down thenetworks responsible for exporting ‘ terrorism and destroying them, while at the same time de: fending our nation we against future ata tacks. Despite these Politi dangers, the $355 ———_ billion defense program for FY 2003 will consume only 3.8 percent of our nation’s Gross Domestic Product. This figure is not high by his- toric standards. During the Cold War, our nation devoted a far higher share of the budget to nation security. The figure during the Reagan administration was about six percent and, as recently as 1990, we spent 5.5 per- cent of GDP on defense. For the Air Force, and other branches of our armed forces, the war on terrorism comes in addition to previous nation security requirements. America faces a range of potenti adversaries, from nation states to transnation organizations. A major theatre conflict is a re possibility, as well as future chlenges in space and cyberspace. Our nation can afford to spend four percent of its GDP on nation defense. In an $11 trillion economy, that is roughly $440 billion, a reasonable amount given the need. Anythingless will be insufficient to win the war against terrorism, defend America, improve the quity of life of our men and women in uniform, and adequately fund military transformation. The Bush administration has indicated it will propose a $14 billion increase in defense spending for FY 2004. This is far less than what is needed for the tasks at hand, particularly as U.S. forces once again deploy to the Persian Gulf to confront Saddam Hussein. The administration must work with Congress to fund and sustain readiness, recapitization, modernization and transformation of the armed forces. Our future nation security hinges on the investments we maketoday. John J. Politi is the Chairman of the Board of the Air Force Association. For more information, visit the Air Force Association’s Website at www.afa.org or write to the Air Force Association, attn: Policy and Communications, 1501 Lee Highway, Arlington, VA 22209-1198.
