US Military Budget : An interesting take

" [Nearly 70% of the military budget] is to provide men and weapons to fight in foreign countries in support of our allies and friends and for offensive operations in Third World countries .. Another big chunk of the defense budget is the 20% allocated for our offensive nuclear force of bombers, missles, and submarines whose job it is to carry nuclear weapons to the Soviet Union... Actual defense of the United States costs about 10% of the military budget and is the least expensive function performed by the Pentagon... "-- Rear Admiral Gene LaRoque, U.S. Navy retired

This is quite interesting. I have always felt uncomfortable by "US foreign policy" and have been of the opinion that a large portion of it is deterimental both to the US as well as to the rest of the world. (Iraq War is one example). But the above actual numbers are really an eye opener. Also Compare $700 billion dollar bailout package with the $500 billion annual US military budget!.