Photo: Naval Airpower

[Johnny Rico]

18. I would answer them as follows:

1. While it's certainly possible to spend too much on one's military, war isn't supposed to be a "fair" fight. Being overmatched against future opponents is a good thing.

2. Compare current spending as a percentage of GDP to that of, let's say, the last 50 years. In 1960, military spending was roughly 10% of GDP. 1970, 9%. 1980, 6%. 1990, 6%. 2000, 4%. 2010, 6%. 2014 (projected) 5%.

http://www.usgovernmentspending.com/downchart_gs.php?year=1960_2014&view=1&expand=30&units=b&fy=fy11&chart=30-total&bar=1&stack=1&size=m&title=Defense%20Spending%20Chart&state=US&color=c&local=s#copypaste

This hardly seems extravagant by historic norms.