Charles, I think the more fundamental question involves what on earth GDP and military spending have to do with each other in the first place.  If the country produces more and more macaroni and cheese over time, why should this mean Americans need a commensurate increase in submarines and tanks?  The GDP thing is a typical trick by which military expenditures are made to seem low.  A more relevant figure would involve military spending as compared to that of other countries (and here the U.S. government spends as much as everyone else put together).

The Best of Tom Woods