Thread: Why the Paranoia??

I have been wondering about the American paranoia and its consequences for the whole world. I think it is safe to say that the world is a far more dangerous place now if compared to the years prior to 9/11. American population if compared to the whole world is 5 to 6 % but American military speding is more than 50%.

Why are the Americans so paranoid??

OOPS...should have been in US domestic Issues......Mods help needed. Sorry.

Originally Posted by Khack

American population if compared to the whole world is 5 to 6 % but American military speding is more than 50%.

Could we get the details on these figures?

Originally Posted by aging one

Originally Posted by Khack

American population if compared to the whole world is 5 to 6 % but American military speding is more than 50%.

Could we get the details on these figures?

On Military Spending
- SIPRI Projects on Military Expenditure and Arms Production
SIPRI Yearbook 2006
SIPRI Yearbook 2008

Chapter 8. Military expenditure


Petter Stålenheim, Damien Fruchart, Wuyi Omitoogun and Catalina Perdomo
Click to download the full text of chapter 8

Summary

World military expenditure in 2005 is estimated to have reached $1001 billion at constant (2003) prices and exchange rates, or $1118 billion in current dollars. This corresponds to 2.5 per cent of world GDP or an average spending of $173 per capita. World military expenditure in 2005 presents a real terms increase of 3.4 per cent since 2004, and of 34 per cent over the 10-year period 1996–2005. The USA, responsible for about 80 per cent of the increase in 2005, is the principal determinant of the current world trend, and its military expenditure now accounts for almost half of the world total.

The process of concentration of military expenditure continued in 2005 with a decreasing number of countries responsible for a growing proportion of spending: the 15 countries with the highest spending now account for 84 per cent of the total. The USA is responsible for 48 per cent of the world total, distantly followed by the UK, France, Japan and China with 4–5 per cent each. The rapid increase in the USA’s military spending is to a large extent attributable to the ongoing costly military campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq. However, in 2005 the effects of hurricanes Katrina and Rita also played an important role. Most of the increase in US military spending resulted from supplementary allocations administered outside the regular budget, moving control of funding decisions from the Congress to the President.
A factor that has aided the upward trend in military expenditure is the high and rising world market prices of minerals and fossil fuels. This is reflected especially in Algeria, Azerbaijan, Russia and Saudi Arabia, where increased proceeds from oil and gas exploitation have boosted government revenues and freed up funds for military spending. The boost in the military expenditure of Chile and Peru is directly resource-driven, because their military spending is linked by law to profits from the exploitation of key natural resources.
China and India, the world’s two emerging economic powers, are demonstrating a sustained increase in their military expenditure and contribute to the growth in world military spending. In absolute terms their current spending is only a fraction of the USA’s. Their increases are largely commensurate with their economic growth.




Related content

• Appendix 8A. Tables of military expenditure
• Appendix 8B. Table of NATO military expenditure, by category
• Appendix 8C. Sources and methods for military expenditure data
• Appendix 8D. The reporting of military expenditure data
• Appendix 8E. International comparisons of military expenditures: issues and challenges of using purchasing power parities
• SIPRI Programme on Military Expenditure and Arms Production home page and publications
• About the authors

On Population


Ten Countries with the Highest Population in the World

^OP^
Not sure about your figures but they probably weren't a wild guess...still, are the US paranoid since 911 and is the world post-911 a more dangerous place because of that paranoia? If so, why do you think that is?

Look hard enough for long enough and you might find a clue in there.


Is it contentious or brazenly unjustified paranoia, for the US to be in Iraq and Afghanistan and wherever else they are in the world?

Instead of sniping with blanks in the hope of persuading the more shallow thinkers you have something to say, how about letting us in on your view as to how the US should have reacted to 911 and subsequent clearly stated islamic extremist threats and actions, or were all of these in response to US aggression?

Whilst you're at it, might as well let us know if the US should pack up and go home with no active military interest outside of their own borders...and would you then refer to them as isolationist?

Originally Posted by Khack

I have been wondering about the American paranoia and its consequences for the whole world. I think it is safe to say that the world is a far more dangerous place now if compared to the years prior to 9/11. American population if compared to the whole world is 5 to 6 % but American military speding is more than 50%.

Why are the Americans so paranoid??

It's not about paranoia.

You've completely misunderstood this whole concept.

Read more books, then come back and try to engage in thoughtful comments and questions.

The world is certainly a more dangerous place if you and your chums are intent on killing innocent civilians.

Most Americans are paranoid, because thats what the government wants them to feel. They can't go around picking fights with countries to take over their oil reserves if they don't have have at least some of their sheep backing them.....

Originally Posted by alphagirl

Most Americans are paranoid, because thats what the government wants them to feel. They can't go around picking fights with countries to take over their oil reserves if they don't have have at least some of their sheep backing them.....

Khack,

You hit it right on the head. There is a constant enemy. We must always be prepared. We in the US, have nuclear weapons and the finest training and military technology in the world. We have 2 oceans on either side of us, and the peaceful neighbors of Canada and Mexico.

But we must be on guard. We must spend lots of taxpayer money on arms manufactures like Northrup-Grumman, Raytheon. United Technologies, Boeing, Lockheed-Martin.

Our childrens' safety is at the stake.

After all our leadier is "trying to protect the American people."

"The people can always be brought to the
bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them
they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of
patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in
any country."
-Hermann Goering

Don't believe him, Khack, much better for the US to withdraw into its own borders, as the man said protected by friends and water.

Originally Posted by pickel

"The people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country." -Hermann Goering

THAI RAK THAI

Originally Posted by Milkman

Originally Posted by Texpat

The world is certainly a more dangerous place if you and your chums are intent on killing innocent civilians.

Yes, the Americans and their chums are going around and killing civilians.

No, they're not. Unless the woman or child is wearing a suicide vest, running toward a crowd of people yelling Allah Akbar!

The operative word, not included was: intentionally.

Originally Posted by Khack

Why are the Americans so paranoid??

Originally Posted by Khack

if compared to the years prior to 9/11

simply put...........it ain't paranoia when they're out to get ya...

How much of the aero industry is nothing more than aeronautical business? We do sell them you know. Our history has taught us what the history of war teaches everyone. The club over-came the stone, the spear over the club, the bow over the spear, the musket loader over the bow, the cruz missile over the bomber. Technology wins wars. We all know it's evil but the bottom line is, until we as a species reach a higher level, it's better to be the fucker than the fuckee.

Originally Posted by Camel Toe

We all know it's evil but the bottom line is, until we as a species reach a higher level, it's better to be the fucker than the fuckee.

Very machiavellian.

Is that an observation or a criticism? I mean surely you know there are professed freedom loving Westerners that would die to protect their democratic right to despise the West.