Senate Passes Record Defense Budget, but Are We Safer?

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After hours of impassioned debate about terrorism, Secretary Rumsfeld and the war in Iraq, the Senate passed the defense-spending bill yesterday by a vote of 98-to-nothing. Congress is about to do the same. The legislation's $500 billion provides for more military spending than the rest of the world combined.  In a post-9/11 election year--with wars going on in Iraq and Afghanistan--no politician in either party wants to be labeled "anti-defense." The Pentagon has admitted it can't keep track of all of that money.  So who knows if bigger spending really means greater protection?  Are threats to America changing faster than the military can get ready to meet them?  Does Congress focus on oversight or pet projects?   

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Host:

Warren Olney