New Budget Numbers

National Security Takes Big Hit, and
What We Can Do About It

The New York Times reports todayon some details of the budget that is being proposed for the country in 2005.  The budget calls for a 4.8% increase in military spending, not including the five billion dollars per month for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.  However, it also includes a cut of 9% for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

I know I've harped on this string before, but it is an important point, and it also helps to have actual numbers to illustrate a point. 

The point is this: the war in Iraq has not saved any American lives; in fact, it has led to at least 1300 deaths and about seven times that number in serious somatic injuries. 

In this post, I argue that the war in Iraq has not made us safer; in fact, the opposite is true.  The war presents a direct threat, does not reduce any threats, and causes us to make sacrifices that further endanger our health.  Read the rest at The Rest of the Story.