Defence spending as insurance and domestic investment

How would you answer the claim that defence spending is simply destroyed money?

Defence spending provides insurance against greater destruction and, where procurement stays domestic, supports industry, skilled jobs and research with civilian applications.

Defence expenditure is defended as insurance that gives a state the capacity to respond when international conditions deteriorate. Domestic purchasing is also described as investment in infrastructure and production. Where procurement stays within the economy, it supports well-paid jobs. Research and development can produce commercial spin-offs and benefits to ordinary civilian life. The central justification remains having the capability to react to a crisis.