Given that there has not been a declared war since 1945, what accounts for this rise in spending throughout the Cold War and into later decades? How did competition with other powers like the Soviet Union drive the increase in arms spending? In historical hindsight, was this justified? Congress continues to dump vast amounts of money into the defense budget, even after an incremental withdrawal from the longest military conflict in US history, Afghanistan. What continues to drive massive military spending in the US and how is the spending seen by the general public? Positively or negatively? Cite examples.

Given that there has not been a declared war since 1945, what accounts for this rise in spending throughout the Cold War and into later decades? How did competition with other powers like the Soviet Union drive the increase in arms spending? In historical hindsight, was this justified? Congress continues to dump vast amounts of money into the defense budget, even after an incremental withdrawal from the longest military conflict in US history, Afghanistan. What continues to drive massive military spending in the US and how is the spending seen by the general public? Positively or negatively? Cite examples.