The United States faces a significant military spending problem, with the Department of Defense reporting a cost of approximately $525.4 billion last year . The Washington Post reported that "the United States spent more on its military than the next 13 countries combined in 2011." While military spending represents a significant part of the state budget, and there is enough room to reduce it provided that a set of precautions are taken which the government cannot eliminate. By removing unnecessary aircraft carriers, naval and military bases, we can reduce the amount of money needed to operate these bases and use it in another budget plan for military spending or other government-funded programs. . We can remove some of the military bases located in Europe along the Atlantic Ocean and move forces to other necessary locations thanks to the NATO pact signed in 1949, which will ensure that military forces will come together in a crisis or terrorism. . According to NATO, approximately 82% of the 28 countries listed have their own military force, meaning: "...they have the mili...