First of all, the military is one of the few things that are actually a proper function of the Federal government. This is actually the most important fact.
Second, it's not like we aren't spending any money on Americans in need. Programs for the elderly alone run over twice the military budget each year.
Third, it isn't like the military budget is dumped down a drain. Those billions go into high-tech industries, their research and development, and their employees.
Fourth, we carry a lot of other nations on our military budget, and have for decades.
That all being said, there is fat in there, much as there is for any government program. And like all government programs, each gram of fat has a friend in Congress. Watch what happens in the coming months when Rumsfeld starts closing military bases.
Current Events » in reply to re: US military spending
re: US military spending