Speaking Security

Speaking Security critically analyzes and discusses global and US-specific security and military policies, arms sales, fiscal priorities involving military vs. social spending, and the impacts of these policies on societal welfare and international relations, emphasizing the consequences through a class and economic perspective.

Military and Defense Spending Arms Sales and International Relations US Domestic Policies and Social Welfare Military Intervention and Conflict Analysis Economic Inequality and Security Political Economy of War and Peace Human Security and Civilian Welfare

The hottest Substack posts of Speaking Security

And their main takeaways

Biden bombs Yemen so Israel can bomb Gaza

393 implied HN points • 26 Jan 24

Biden is bombing Yemen in response to attacks by the Houthi movement disrupting global shipping.
An easy solution to the crisis would be for Biden to end Israel's military offensive with a single phone call.
The ongoing bombings in Yemen by the US-backed coalition and Biden's actions are deemed cruel and ineffective.

The Senate's foreign aid bill is a scandal

275 implied HN points • 08 Feb 24

🌍 World Politics Foreign Aid Israel Genocide Humanitarian Aid

The Senate's foreign aid bill contains $17 billion for Israel's war on Gaza
The bill removes $2 billion in humanitarian aid for Ukraine and Gaza
The bill gives unconditional military support to Israel, enabling ongoing war

Attacks on US troops stopped almost entirely during the ceasefire

196 implied HN points • 01 Feb 24

🌍 World Politics Ceasefire Middle East Conflict resolution

Attacks on US troops significantly decreased during the ceasefire
Politicians advocating for military intervention often endanger troops
Ceasefire and troop withdrawal are effective options to protect troops

Updated figures: US aid to Ukraine

334 implied HN points • 10 Jul 23

🌍 World Politics Ukraine Military Humanitarian Strategy

At least $137 billion in aid has been sent to Ukraine since February 25, 2022, with two-thirds being military aid.
The structure and volume of US aid suggests a trend towards endless war in Ukraine.
Access to accurate data on civilian deaths, military losses, and aid totals could challenge misleading narratives about the costs of war.

Reversing a $146B military buildup

294 implied HN points • 17 Jul 23

🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Military Spending

The Pentagon budget has significantly increased under Biden's administration.
Biden's military buildup is not directly related to the war in Ukraine.
Reversing the military buildup could fund $600 tax rebates and improve human security.

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How much does it cost to shoot down a balloon?

412 implied HN points • 17 Feb 23

🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy Defense Government National Security

Recent reports suggest expensive costs to shoot down balloons.
Government documents and media were used to estimate the cost.
Different aircraft and missiles contributed to the overall cost.

US accounts for nearly 40% of global military spending

412 implied HN points • 29 Apr 23

🌍 World Politics Strategy International relations

The US accounts for nearly 40% of global military spending.
Global military spending reached $2.3 trillion in 2022, with a 3.7% increase from the previous year.
European military expenditures had the biggest year-to-year increase since the end of the Cold War, going up by 13%.

Senate votes down Sanders amendment to cut Pentagon spending

255 implied HN points • 29 Jul 23

🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy Legislation Government

The Senate passed the FY2024 NDAA with $886 billion for the Pentagon.
An amendment by Bernie Sanders to cut Pentagon spending by 10% was defeated.
Senators who voted against the cuts received significantly more campaign contributions from military contractors.

Comparing arms sales under Trump & Biden

353 implied HN points • 08 Mar 23

🌍 World Politics Trump Biden Human Rights

The US is the world's top arms dealer, with about 40% of global arms exports.
Trump's arms sales policy was mainly driven by economic factors, leading to a significant increase in US weapon exports.
Despite initial hopes of a shift towards human rights, Biden's arms sales volume exceeded Trump's during the second year in office.

Redistribution of wealth in the bipartisan budget agreement

294 implied HN points • 08 Jun 23

🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social programs Political Impact

The bipartisan budget agreement includes significant cuts to social programs, potentially leading to more austerity measures in the future.
The bill imposes more work requirements on SNAP, reducing program participation and decreasing food aid.
While social welfare programs face cuts, the agreement favors corporate welfare, allocating substantial funds to the arms industry.

Biden cuts food assistance despite increased demand

334 implied HN points • 06 Apr 23

🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy Government Economy Social Issues Finance

Extra funding for the SNAP program ended, impacting millions in need
Biden signed a bill leading to a drop in food assistance benefits despite increasing demand
There's a concerning mismatch as SNAP enrollment is rising while resources are decreasing

House passes the Biden-McCarthy debt limit/spending bill

275 implied HN points • 01 Jun 23

🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Legislation Bipartisanship Fiscal policy Budgeting

The House passed the Biden-McCarthy debt limit/spending bill with a 314 to 117 vote.
The bill places strict limits on discretionary budget spending, giving less money to non-military initiatives and more to the Pentagon.
The Biden-McCarthy bill reflects a bipartisan consensus to prioritize military spending over other areas, with the Pentagon receiving a record-setting budget while other sectors face cuts.

US sold weapons to 57% of the world’s autocracies in 2022

294 implied HN points • 13 May 23

🌍 World Politics Foreign Policy Democracy International relations

US sold weapons to 57% of the world's autocracies in 2022.
Biden's framing of international politics may not be accurate.
Dividing countries into democracies and autocracies can hinder diplomacy.

Evaluating human security conditions in the US

216 implied HN points • 29 Jun 23

🇺🇸 U.S. Politics

Human security focuses on the well-being of people, not just the state.
Measuring economic and food insecurity can provide insights into the real conditions people are facing.
Despite macroeconomic improvements, rates of economic and food insecurity in the US are worsening.

Biden’s industrial policy

275 implied HN points • 14 Mar 23

🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Policy Economy Government

Industrial policy involves government intervention to support specific economic sectors
There's a debate on whether the US already had an industrial policy before Biden's initiatives
Military spending has historically been the main industrial policy of the US

Privatizing the Iraq war

255 implied HN points • 24 Mar 23

🇺🇸 U.S. Politics War Spending Military Policy

During the Iraq war, there were more US-funded contractors than US troops.
The US spent over $155 billion on contractors in Iraq between 2003-2022.
Contracts for the Iraq war were carried out not only in Iraq but also in nearby countries.

Tracking federal subsidies to police

255 implied HN points • 05 Feb 23

Police violence reached a decade high in 2022, with most killings happening in non-violent situations.
Federal subsidies to police hit a 10-year high in 2022 and continue to increase in funding every year.
The funding enhances police power through hiring, surveillance, and equipment purchases.

Biden’s FY2024 budget request

216 implied HN points • 10 Mar 23

🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Budget Military Legislation

Biden's FY2024 budget request includes $1.7 trillion in base discretionary spending.
Two-thirds of Biden's proposed spending is for military, law enforcement, or prisons.
The budget request outlines funding for Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, Veterans Affairs, and more.