How much do we pay for defense in FY2012?

Looking at Obama's budget for FY2012 one would answer $676 billion. However, if you look at defense costs that are embedded in areas other than DOD, the number becomes much higher. Chris Hellman has looked at these other areas and the number becomes higher, much higher. In fact, by his calculations the number is at least $1,219 billion.

Here are some of the areas that are concerned with our nation's security that do not come out of the DOD budget:

• nuclear weapons activities
• counter terrorism
• homeland security
• intelligence
• veterans benefits
• military aid to other countries
• pensions to the military and DOD employees
• DOD's share of the debt.