Jay Leal Blog
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Rethinking the $968 Billion the U.S. Spent on War in 2024
In 2024, the United States allocated a staggering $886 billion to defense. That’s more than China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea combined—with China, the next highest spender, trailing by over $300 billion.
What do we call the deliberate destruction of land, water, and infrastructure during war? The term “ecocide” has circulated for decades in legal debates, but it is not yet codified as an international crime. As environmental data from Gaza mounts, the question is no longer abstract. It is structural.