[Cronos]

Nice read

[iowamark]

this constitutes 41% of global expenditure on defence.

This just reflects the fact that US servicepeople are paid decent wages and benefits for their service.

[cranked]

Old news quite frankly.

The US gathered several reports of its own that predict that the BRIC states will equal or overcome the US economically by 2025.

Here is one example; be warned it is a large .pdf:
http://www.dni.gov/nic/PDF_2025/2025_Global_Trends_Final_Report.pdf