Not to defend them but they may be 'using' a cumulative accounting strategy. One estimate of the cold war -I think using '47-'89- in terms of the defense budget was 9 trillion$. Add in environmental cleanup, indoctrination of the nation via school, films etc. and you're gonna get some big numbers over that time period. Ian
The language above suggests an annual number. As for WRL, I've looked at their stuff. They get some oversize yearly number too, tho it's nowhere near five trillion.
If you stretched defense to include lots of the energy dept and 'law enforcement' (sic), you'd still be under $400 billion. WRL threw in interest on military-related debt (which doesn't exist) and military pensions.
mbs