Damaging or strengthen relations with other countries or reducing the tendency of the United States to be a global policeman are important issues. But sometimes the most fundamental parts of government (money) decide which programs or commitments go, and which ones stay.
CARD #1
Congressional Research Service 11 –
Moshe Schwartz, [Specialist in Defense Acquisition], Wendy Ginsberg, [Analyst in American National Government], and Daniel Alexander, [Research Associate], “Department of Defense Trends in Overseas Contract Obligations”, Congressional Research Service, July 22, 2011, http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/R41820.pdf, [Ethos]
“Understanding the costs associated with contractor support of overseas military operations could provide Congress more data upon which to weigh the relative costs and benefits of different military operations, including contingency operations and maintaining bases around the world.”
That report continues on to record the cost data of past and current U.S. foreign military commitments.
CARD #2
Congressional Research Service 11 –
Moshe Schwartz, [Specialist in Defense Acquisition], Wendy Ginsberg, [Analyst in American National Government], and Daniel Alexander, [Research Associate], “Department of Defense Trends in Overseas Contract Obligations”, Congressional Research Service, July 22, 2011, http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/R41820.pdf, [Ethos]
“From FY1999 to FY2008, DOD contract obligations increased from $165 billion (in FY2010 dollars) to $414 billion (in FY2010 dollars). Contract obligations also consumed an increasing share of total DOD obligations, increasing from 50% of total obligations in FY2003 to 60% in FY2008. In FY2009 and FY2010, DOD contract obligations decreased. In FY2010, DOD obligated $366 billion to contracts (54% of total DOD obligations). DOD Contract Obligations Performed Overseas DOD obligated $45 billion for contracts performed overseas in FY2010.
Although much of these funds were to support operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, a significant portion—$18 billion, or 40%—was spent to support DOD operations in other parts of the world. DOD contract obligations for work performed overseas occurred primarily in the area under the jurisdiction of U.S. Central Command (61% of total), which includes the Iraq and Afghanistan areas of operation. DOD contractors working abroad performed their remaining work in the geographic regions that fall under U.S. European Command (21%), U.S. Pacific Command (7%), U.S. Northern Command (7%), U.S. Southern Command (1%), and U.S. African Command (1%).”