>I disagree with you. Underneath the result is a huge amount of new science knowledge that may be used in many peaceful ways, including super high speed communication.
The "war is good for science" is among the lamest excuses. The total budget for NASA is still below the level of acceptable accounting error of the defense budget.
If only a minor percentage of defense expense was diverted into just plain science, maybe a few weapons manufacturers would feel a dent in their profits (or not, they'd keep the profits and just fire a few thousand [s]workers[/s] associates), I guess we'd all be far better off. They may finally harness cold fusion, zero point energy, make efficient solar cells and who knows what.