The U.S. military has a global outreach allowing the United States to truly be an empire in its own right. It has a 2012 budget of $671 billion with approximately 2.9 million active and reserve troops located on about 1,000 bases in 130 countries.
Having such a presence allows the United States to spread its influence in these countries while forecasting the potential spread of such influence in neighboring lands. Critics of the current defense strategy cite many reasons to oppose it, but only Texas Congressman and Republican Presidential candidate Ron Paul has made the following point: countries like Germany and South Korea are thriving because we act as their national defense and our troops spend their money over there, enriching their low-cost economy.
This statement is paraphrased, and some may disagree with it, but the figures prove the statement accurate.
Korea’s Financial Gain From U.S. Military Presence
The United States military has been formally involved with Korea since the 1950’s. Today, there are 28,500 troops stationed there (some with their families) in almost 30 locations according to the DoD travel webpage. If the average income was that of a corporal, the fourth enlisted rank in the Army and Marine Corps, with three years of service then that would mean that on a regular basis, there are $64,858,590 flowing into the economy of South Korea, not to include the money that is spent by servicemen and women who go to Korea for temporary assignments such as training with the ROK Marines and performing landmine clearing along the border.
South Korea has the 15th largest economy in the world. Part of this is from their burgeoning manufacturing industry and some comes from tourism. And a large part of it comes from the money they save by not spending nearly as much as they may on defense because of the presence of the US military.
South Korea has the luxury of a very powerful and intimidating physical force without having to train or pay them. On top of this, their economy receives an influx of almost $65 million each month.
Annual net benefit to South Korea : $780,000,000 in servicemen's salaries alone.
Germany’s Financial Gain From U.S. Military Presence
After World War II the Allied Control Council decided that Germany couldn’t behave itself well enough to have a military. As a result, much of it was dissolved until 1955. Of the results, a situation like South Korea’s evolved minus the constant reminder that an imminent threat is only meters away to the north; theirs was to the east.
Today, Germany has the 5th largest economy in the world. Like South Korea, it has a military of its own with 504,000 in its active and reserve components, but it also has 52,440 US troops with families stationed in 173 locations. Using the average income being that of a corporal with three years of service, Germany’s economy has a fantastic monthly cash flow of $125,331,600.
Annual net benefit to Germany : $1,503,000,000 in servicemen's salaries alone.
It is important to note that these salary figures are very conservative. While the COLA adjustment for a service member is calculated in, the housing allowance for troops living off base is not, and neither is the sustenance allowance, which is money troops receive for food each month.
How Many Countries is the US Military in?
As of this article being written, the United States has bases in 130 countries, such as Belgium, England, Canada, Japan, and Spain with hundreds of thousands of troops deployed to non-war zones. On top of this, the money spent on air conditioning for troops in the Middle East cost $2 billion in 2010. As a veteran of the War in Iraq the author can attest to the appreciation one has for air conditioning in June, July, and August, but not for the U.S.’s plans to stay there long-term as proven by the 99-year leases that were purchased in 2005.
What About Suppporting the Troops?
To support the troops, they should be brought home. To support the country, home should be in the United States. The influx of cash from service members' salaries into areas like Biloxi, Mississippi, Albany, Georgia, and 29 Palms, California where they would buy homes and support local businesses would be an ongoing economic stimulus that no short-term government program can match.
For those who think that military income and the cash flow it provides is not a big deal, it should be noted that Fort Polk Army Base in Louisiana is the largest economic contributor to the entire state, bringing in more money than the state’s growing gambling, oil, and film industries.
Instead, we are enriching the nations of the European Union, boosting them up while we stumble as we carry their weight.
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