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Global Military Spending; How much does YOUR country spend?
Topic Started: Aug 8 2005, 12:10 PM (645 Views)
captain_proton_au
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A Robot in Disguise

Why does France spend so much, and on what?
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24thcenstfan
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Something Wicked This Fae Comes
captain_proton_au
Aug 9 2005, 09:38 AM
Why does France spend so much, and on what?

If I recall correctly, about a 1/3 of their military personnel (approx. 100,000) are specifically used for internal law enforcement. They call them the Gendarmerie.

Not to mention they are a member of NATO. I would hazard a guess and say the French Foreign Legion gets a few extra goodies as well.

That is probably why their military appropriation is so high.
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captain_proton_au
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A Robot in Disguise

Interresting when you compare to GDP's

Here




US Military spending is only 4% of GDP

Saudi Arabia - 5.9%

AUS - 1.5%

UK - 1.8%

Canada - 0.7%


Indonesia - 0.12% - now thats a surpise

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24thcenstfan
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Something Wicked This Fae Comes
captain_proton_au
Aug 9 2005, 10:04 AM
Interresting when you compare to GDP's

Here



I don't know why the CIA lists the EU as one country when they are not one country. They are more like a consortium at this point.

Oooo, I just had a flash. The European Union a very distant and future Soviet-type Union? :chin: "Danger, danger, Will Robinson!" ;)
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who
Have light saber. Will travel.
I am surprised at how high China's GDP is. With their high growth rate they will be the world's largest economy in a very short period of time. India will not be far behind. I suspect this will cause a shift in military power as well to China and India.
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captain_proton_au
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A Robot in Disguise

I suppose the point I was tring to make was that while $466 million might seem a lot, compared to the rest of the world it isnt really that much, plus the extra jobs, contracts, spending that generates probably means income to americans that would be at least double that $466 Billion
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who
Have light saber. Will travel.
captain_proton_au
Aug 9 2005, 09:22 AM
I suppose the point I was tring to make was that while $466 million might seem a lot, compared to the rest of the world it isnt really that much, plus the extra jobs, contracts, spending that generates probably means income to americans that would be at least double that $466 Billion

I think that American military bases are a drag on the US economy. They do benefit the local economy where the base is. This is why there is such a local outcry in the US when local bases are closed or reduced.
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somerled
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Admiral MacDonald RN
24thcenstfan
Aug 10 2005, 12:18 AM
captain_proton_au
Aug 9 2005, 10:04 AM
Interresting when you compare to GDP's

Here



I don't know why the CIA lists the EU as one country when they are not one country. They are more like a consortium at this point.

Oooo, I just had a flash. The European Union a very distant and future Soviet-type Union? :chin: "Danger, danger, Will Robinson!" ;)

Nah.

But they give you yanks a run for your money if they ever stop squabbling and actually work together.
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who
Have light saber. Will travel.
In many ways the EU is like a country with member states. Should they not be reduced to 1 vote in the UN and NATO?
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Minuet
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^^^ Actually - I have suggested in the past that one way to reform the UN would be to give each US state a separate vote. Seems fair in comparison to all the smaller countries that get votes.
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ds9074
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who
Aug 9 2005, 03:45 PM
In many ways the EU is like a country with member states. Should they not be reduced to 1 vote in the UN and NATO?

No they should not. Great Britain is still and will remain an independent nation state Sovereign in its own territory and will continue to make its own foreign policy. The same is true of France. This was shown graphically by the way in which GB and France were able to choose two very different responses to the Iraq war. Therefore its still valid that the European nations have their own UN seat.
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fireh8er
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Admiralbill_gomec
Aug 9 2005, 06:47 AM
somerled
Aug 8 2005, 09:13 PM
Too much.

Guess who is the beneficiary of a lot of that spending is - you got it - the USA.

The same applies (I dare say) to most other nations on the planet , a very good reason for the USA to keep everyone edgey and insecure , it's good for the USA's arms industies and hence good for the USA's economy (even if it means that money that could be used to improve public health, education and infrastructure is diverted to unnecessary arms purchases).

Fine, design your own planes, guns, and other weapons...

Yeah!
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ds9074
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Admiral
Quote:
 
Fine, design your own planes, guns, and other weapons...

I think a great advantage to the UK military of its close US alliance is that it is able to share in technological advances without individually shouldering the huge costs of research. Those in the know can correct me if I'm wrong but isnt a lot of technology shared between the UK and US forces so that they are compatable.
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Mainiac
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Admiralbill_gomec Posted on Aug 9 2005
06:48 AM

I'm curious as to how much of a percentage of GDP each government spends. Our number, large as it seems on paper, is a tiny percentage of our Gross Domestic Product.


I found an interesting graph showing US defence spending over time as % of GDP here, plus some other measures of spending. From that perspective we don't look that bad, with the "peace benefit" of the '90's being at the low end of spending. Many argue too low, as conventional forces saw the deep cuts, leaving us ill-prepared for the missions awaiting. I guess I just want more "bang" for my buck! Or some change back! ;)
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Mainiac
Lieutenant Commander
Minuet Posted on Aug 9 2005
11:22 AM
^^^ Actually - I have suggested in the past that one way to reform the UN would be to give each US state a separate vote. Seems fair in comparison to all the smaller countries that get votes.


Given that California has something like the world's sixth biggest economy on it's own, that makes sense, I like it! :yes:

But then someone like Nova Scotia would want in, and the whole place would start to smell like cod... ;)
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