There is a strong consensus that the U.S. is set to embark on a multi-year period of defense budget growth. Pentagon leadership says 3-5% annual spending growth above the rate of inflation will be needed to increase the size of U.S. forces, modernize equipment and keep the military in a better state of readiness. A primary belief behind this is that “the world is a more dangerous place.” The fate of the fiscal 2018 federal budget remains an open issue, however, and the Pentagon ...