Our defense budget is 7% of our GDP, which is the 5th highest rate in the world (according to wiki). I would hardly call that free. Also, there is a shortage of tech talent here and the salaries are quite high. So there are also hidden costs with the military getting people to work for "free".
First it's 8.5% of GDP in 2009, but in absolute numbers it's only $14.3B (including US aid, which has to be spent in US).
This peanuts for being a regional superpower.
About half of the budget goes to salaries of officers, permanent servicemen and civilian contractors.
