Much of the spending is pork. Existing programs that are hard to cut. The US has very expensive tastes when it comes to capability. However, modern EW technique

Much of the spending is pork. Existing programs that are hard to cut. The US has very expensive tastes when it comes to capability. However, modern EW techniques are far more bang for buck than most programs. The US doesn't get beat in the fight, they get beat by the strategy the US govt chooses. They keep wanting what is almost impossible (like a peaceful, democratic and tolerant Afghanistan that does grow opium) and half committing to do it.