[Paul Ross]

The "capital" that the U.S. people have invested in our military advantage (both deployed and its industrial infrastructure) is being deliberately dissipated by the Administration.

Another form of "dis-savings", and "living off the seed-corn"?

[Leisler]

Peace time military is pretty poor capital. Lots of people in the way, weapons bought and invested in that don't work, work poorly, were the wrong weapons. Ditto personal at all ranks, tactics
As an example I give you mainland Europes military that can not even drive to Serbia.
Part of the Iraq war, with Iran coming nuclear, Islamo fascists wanting to take over the world's oil supply is that we are getting a trained military. Todays 1st Lieutenant will be colonel in twenty or a general.

So, you could say we are paying the price for a war, and a big one, that 50/50 will come.