US Presidency
1992

And let's not cut down our insurance policy, which is participation of American forces in NATO, the greatest peacekeeping organization ever made. Today, you've got problems in Europe still bubbling along, even though Europe's going democracy's route. But we are there. And I think this insurance policy is necessary. I think it goes with world leadership. And I think the levels we've come up with are just about right. Mr. Lehrer. Mr. Perot, one minute, sir. Mr. Perot. If I am poor and you're rich and I can get you to defend me, that's good. But when the tables get turned, I ought to do my share. Right now we spend about $ 300 billion a year on defense. The Japanese spend around $ 30 billion in Asia. The Germans spend around $ 30 billion in Europe. For example, Germany will spend a trillion dollars building infrastructure over the next 10 years. It's kind of easy to do if you only have to pick up a $ 30 billion tab to defend your country.