should america support Israel?

[bberryhill0]

What are the dollar levels?

As I've opined elsewhere, I think the DoD budget should be capped at 4% GDP (2000 levels) unless Congress declares war.

Your conclusion about the 50's is a little off the mark.

Does that include the VA and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan? Pensions? Interest incurred on the Federal debt? Those aren't usually included as part of the military budget. Thanks for the info. I find data to be more useful in these discussions than speculation. Does that data go back further?

I would also take government spending out of the GDP to get a more accurate picture because that money was removed from the productive economy by taxes. That cuts the real GDP down by a quarter.