More Spending, Less Security | Benjamin H. Friedman | Cato Institute: Commentary

More Spending, Less Security | Benjamin H. Friedman | Cato Institute: Commentary: "A more modest defense strategy would increase security and cut debt. If we let rich allies defend themselves and admitted that we lack the ability to fix disorderly states, we could have a smaller, more elite, less strained, and far less expensive military. With fewer missions, we could cut force structure, slash administration and lower operational costs."

"The biggest savings should come from the ground forces. To occupy Iraq and Afghanistan, we added almost 100,000 service-members to the Army and Marine Corps."

"Counterterrorism, as last week's events remind us, does not require occupational warfare. With raids and drones we can deny terrorists safe havens without trying to build states from chaos."

"If we avoid repeating that mistake after the wars end, the ground forces will have far less to do. Their ranks could shrink by at least a third, saving upward of $30 billion annually. By embracing our geopolitical fortune, rather than going out looking for trouble, we can protect ourselves at far lower cost."