Following pledges from Director of National Intelligence James Clapper the US government has release its first ever figures detailing the entire cost of all American spying operations across its 17 civilian spy agencies and military intelligence organizations.
The result was largely in keeping with previous DNI Dennis Blair’s estimate in Congressional testimony that the total cost for 2009 was $75 billion. The official figures for the entire 2010 cost is $80 billion, with $27 billion in military budgets and $53 billion spread around the CIA and other groups.
This is presumably a record, though it is impossible to conclusively say as the US has never before released actual figures on its spending. The massive amount has sparked calls to reduce the overall spying budget, particularly given the budget crunch with record military spending.
But while most domestic outlets compared to cost and noted it was higher than what the US spends on other programs, perhaps even more interesting is that the US spends more just on spying than Russia spends on its entire military.
$80 billion dollars.
You get better info by reading Wikileaks.
$80 billion a year to hear how Saddam had WMDs. $80 billion a year to hear how Iran has a nuclear weapons program that no one can find.
You get better info by reading Wikileaks.
If we had any sense, we'd zero out this budget item, and use the money instead to generate some jobs in this country. Useful jobs. Not paying lying idiots to say what Obama wants to hear, but real useful jobs that actually builts something like a school that our kids can use.
You forgot something..It's 80 billions to make sure to keep American sheeple misinformed and numbed.
So, instead of spying on them, we could just BUY the whole Russian military. Or at least lease it for a year.
Isn't 'American intelligence' an oxymoron? Remember WMD's?
Looking at America both internally and internationally, it's difficult to see any real sign of intelligence! In both places there is unmitigated chaos.
Perhaps I should send my dog over to the States. He might be able to lend a hand, sort them out. He's a pointer!
http://www.dangerouscreation.com
Then they will arrest your dog on TERRORISM charges. American believe anything the government run media says. Remember a nation which doesn't understand Math, History & Geography is a nation which can be controlled.
That averages out to over $500 for every household in America. Every household should be assessed that much to get the point across. Where is the Tea Party on this?
this is a typo, it should read massive lack of intelligence in the US. Yes indeed very costly.