The 2008 National Security Budget and Briefing Slides

President Bush’s fiscal year 2008 (FY 08) Pentagon budget seeks $624.6 billion, not including additional national defense costs for the Department of Energy and other federal agencies (an additional $22.6 billion). Moreover, a comprehensive calculation might also include the costs of the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Department of State (add another $159.1 billion). Combining all national security related costs would total $802.9 billion for FY 08.

The Pentagon’s budget alone calculates to $1.7 billion per day for 2008. It’s highly probable that our enemies in Iraq do not spend that amount in an entire year, and yet we are losing this war.

Three briefing slides prepared by Winslow Wheeler, director of the Straus Military Reform Project, track these costs using various perspectives.

For the briefing slides, click here. (slides currently unavailable)