Would You Host a Bake Sale for the US Military?
This past weekend the Washington Post ran an article about Yuri Biryukov, a Ukrainian business man who has raised $11.5
million to fund much needed equipment for the Ukrainian military. The money purchased items like bulletproof vests, sleeping bags, blankets, and boots. Despite peace talks and tentative agreements between Ukraine and Russia, fighting continues in the contested regions of the east. According to the Post’s article, Ukraine’s military has diminished since it separated from the Soviet Union in 1991. Believing the nation was safe, each subsequent Ukrainian administration continued to cut the military budget. Today their defense force has 180,000 members, which are undertrained and lacking proper equipment. With the country teetering on the brink of war since spring, the military has been stretched beyond its capacity, and where the government has not been able to provide, citizens like Biryukov have stepped up.
Last year alone, the United States spent $640 billion on the military. The next closest country was China, who spent $188 billion. The US’s spending represents 39% of the world’s total expenditures on military and defense operations. Over the years, the US budget has fluctuated for the military, up during war years, down in peace time. The immediate response when debates arise is typically that defense spending should be down in times of peace because there is not an immediate need, and there are always more pressing domestic issues. But one look at Ukraine’s current situation and that theory could hold less weight. The obvious rebuttal is ‘that kind of depletion could never happen here.’ Perhaps not, but what if it did?
Current enlistment numbers for the US are at 2.2 million, but imagine that number is slashed to 440,000 and the spending on equipment and training is also slashed. While the US currently spends the most money, North Korea, China and Russia all have militaries with far more enlistment. China and Russia have over 3 million military personnel, while North Korea has almost 8 million reservists. As it stands, we are already out numbered, but imagine the above scenario where we are drastically reduced and then a situation arises and we need a strong defense. Would you be a citizen that donated money directly to the soldiers and sailors on the front lines? Would you do bake sales, car washes, go door to door? Would you be a Biryukov and fundraise to get needed equipment to the men and women risking their lives for your country?
It is an odd scenario for Americans to even consider. However, the debate over military spending is an ongoing one, so perhaps it’s not too crazy an idea to ponder.
Image courtesy of Thermometertemplate.com.
