Opinion | Biden Has a Spending Choice: Guns or Butter

The last American President who tried to finance a war along with a new Great Society was Lyndon Johnson. It ended in inflation and retreat in Vietnam. President Biden now wants Congress to help allies win two wars abroad, and deter a third over Taiwan, yet he wants to continue spending on everything as if nothing in the world has changed. He won’t be able to do both.

Mr. Biden has asked Congress for $106 billion for arms to Ukraine and Israel, plus money for the U.S. southern border and the Pacific theater. These are urgent priorities as two wars rage and the U.S. military isn’t remotely prepared to meet the growing threat of a Russia-Iran-China axis. Border security is the price of entry for GOP votes.