This Just In: the “Dirty Dozen (aka) My Beef with the Department of Defense
A pun for the 12 bipartisan members of the Congressional Super Committee charged with negotiating a budget that can pass the muster of either side. Well, loosely quoting from the classic 1967 WWII film, if anyone one these members screw up and no agreement is reached, Sgt Bilko gets one in the head, savvy? We progressives have the upper hand in this instance. If the committee does not come up with a plan that pleases all by November 23rd , then the automatic trigger will go into force. Automatic cuts, known as sequesters will occur. The nature of the trigger and what will be “shot” was known to all parties on either side of the isle and was part of a concession to getting the debt ceiling raised last Summer. Now after the Republicans had agreed to the terms of the cuts, they now want to renege. They are terrified about the possibility of substantial defense cuts and now want to rescind the actions of the automatic budget cutting robot that they help to build and activate. But, it is ALIVE and has no ‘off’ switch. I guess you should have thought about all of that when it was built. The robot does its thing after the November 23rd deadline and nothing with the exception of a negotiated agreement from the committee before that date will stop it. The Democrats will never allow for a GOP rescinding of the arrangements. There is no point in their trying because they don’t have the votes. Can you say checkmate? Just like Yosemite Sam said to Bugs Bunny in a cartoon “Ok, varmint, this time you are a gonna dive” So I tell the GOP that if they want to save their precious sacred cow from the slaughter house, they had better put Norquist on the shelf and get serious about budget negotiations and compromise RIGHT NOW!
As a former and proud member of the U.S. Air Force, I do not take a weak military lightly. But the thing I loathe about Republicans is that they give us a choice of no defense at all verses a bloated largesse of an agency. The sons and daughters of liberty who the GOP extols so often are actually bombs and aircraft carriers. I am well aware of the Constitutional obligation of government to provide for the common defense, but that is no excuse to tolerate waste anywhere by any entity of our government. Someone needs to tell me why:
We have over 1000 military facilities circling the globe. How much does all this cost? How does this presence in other societies make us any safer?
We are the lumbering giant of a dupe that fails to recognize that the race does not necessarily go to the one with the most bombs. We are being economically unraveled by China, and they do not have to fire a shot. This cold-war mentality of our defense people is part and parcel of a larger problem of Twentieth century thinking in a changed world.
We spend our treasure providing protection for our allies that have always been slow to lend a hand. Brazil and nations like it can take their resources and put them toward more plowshares (a robust economy), since they do not have to buy swords.
The structure we currently have reminded me more of a Dept of Offense, and it certainly does offend. Based on the fuss they GOP has made and the paltry budget provided veterans who serve, who or what are they really interested in? It is about making the world fertile for the American prerogative, to go and do what ever we want in any part of the world. This is a pipe dream and a terrible waste of money. It is about getting into a family squabble between Taiwan and Mainland China, sending submarines into the area. What would we say if China was caught with submarines just off the coast of Florida? The winners are the defense contractors and the money changers that make fortunes in the name of “defense of liberty”.
For goodness sake, we got our clocks cleaned engaged in conflict with a third rate military power like Iraq. Who was it that said, “Mission Accomplished”? Have we really won? Are the outcomes permanent, worth the lives lost and the treasure spent? I say, no, resoundingly. If Iran obtains a nuclear weapon, what are we prepared to do about it? Preemptive war? Proliferation of these weapons is inevitable as those new members of the nuclear club want to insure their security from the outside. That is our logic, why should it not be the logic of anyone else? Isn’t that the story why the ancient warriors always sought the high ground?
An accumulation of ‘fools errands’ that I am not willing to pay exorbitant amounts for , sustaining the continued illusion at the expense of sustenance for people that live and work here. There is always going to be a need for military service in a dangerous world, but lets not waste time and money both of which the rightwinger seems to have no problem providing without limit. Where is all that fiscal responsibility that they boast about so often? So, at some point the hunt for a boogie-man needs to end.
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Because of the way we live, and the way our society has developed, we have become the world's police. We are supposedly the ones meant to keep order, but instead of funding our schools so our children can have better lives, we find ourselves being a global force of arms. It's sad, but what can be done with a limited budget?
Right on! Right on! Right on! The US elected officials would rather see the whole country fail than give up their precious lobbyists' contributions to their campaigns. We need to fire everyone in the House and Senate and start over.
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Phoebe, thanks so much for taking the time to read and comment. The beast known as the military industrial oomplex, in truth, has no master, but many slaves. Its power trumps that of any of the so called lofty offices within the US Government. Its ruthlessness in its pursuit of its goal of self-preservation and continuity has no peer. Who says that we have to be the ones to keep order?
If you ask your father for bread, why would he give you a stone instead? The american tax payer is being strung along in such a fashion.. I think that you will find that the budget is not so limited if we can get the selfish and greedy to stand down for just a moment or two. All the best Cred2
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Greetings, CP, thanks for reading and commenting. With some of the behavior in see in congress, its coming down to an us verses them scenario. This is an aristocrisy known as the House of Lords that would sell us all out for their perks. This was not the intent of the "Framers'
I say that we need to vote them out and insist on structural reforms within the institution that should be imposed by an impartial overseer, since they cannot behave like adults on their own. It is naive to think that they are actually going to vote to curb their own excess. Cred2
"They are terrified about the possibility of substantial defense cuts and now want to rescind the actions of the automatic budget cutting robot that they help to build and activate. But, it is ALIVE and has no ‘off’ switch. I guess you should have thought about all of that when it was built. The robot does its thing after the November 23rd deadline and nothing with the exception of a negotiated agreement from the committee before that date will stop it."
Our first and only goal must be to get those idiots out of our House and our Senate, Democrat and Republican. I say, recall elections everywhere they live!
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Xenonlit, thanks for reading and providing commentary. It all seems to take on the air of being quite silly, doesn't it? My problem with the GOP, you remove their people but they will bring back people with the same objectives. While all parties are to blame, I consider the Dems the lesser of the two evils. The GOP has shown itself time and time again as the more obstinate of the two parties...Cred2
Credence2,
You may be a "proud former member of the USAF" but you are anti-military. Also, based on your world view when it comes to U.S. military affairs, it is quite obvious you were not in the combat arms.
And the fact that you cannot see why the U.S. does not want Iran to develop and possess nuclear arms defies logic and is downright unAmerican.
As far as I am concerned, all of my tax dollars can be spent on the U.S. Armed Forces, including that which goes towards "wasteful military spending."
I want the U.S. to always have a glut of combat aircraft, sea vessels, land vehicles, missiles, bombs and other arms.
When it comes to federal expenditures, the military should come first and everything else should be a distant second.
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Feenix, I am also a tax paying citizen, anti-waste fraud or abuse. Typical rightwing approach, give the agency all its wants whether it is warranted or not?
As for Iran, I see it, my question to you is what are you prepared to do to stop it, start WWIII? that is certainly a lot of Beetle Bailey reasoning. Just more blustering bravado BS, do you not have interest in the result of your reckless approach? I don't care to get involved with the rightwinger schoolyard scuffles.
That glut for you is fine feenix, but I and my progressive groups are resisting and are not going to pay for it, regardless of what you and folks think.
As far as you are concerned, ain't as far as I AM CONCERNEd, sorry
BTW, Those cuts that you say you don't want will happen if your dopey rightwing friends on the committee do not cooperate, and there is nothing than can stop it.
Thanks for reading and giving your opinion, all the same Cred2
Hello, Credence2,
Actually, you need to let Israel know that you are opposed to going to war against Iran if that country develops nuclear weapons. In fact, I look for Israel to launch an pre-emptive strike against Iran -- from out of the blue -- any day now.
And whether you "progressives" like it or not, the U.S. will have to "have Israel's back" and start firing some Cruise missiles from the subs and other Naval vessels that are positioned off the shores of Iran.
So, what all of this might be about is the lead up to Armegeddon, The Battle of Good versus Evil. And as things will turn out, Good (we conservatives) will prevail over Evil (y'all) ;-)
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Feenix, Israel can do what ever it wants or feel its needs to do in regards to Iran, but not on my nickel. I and many others are questioning it and your position as to our "having Israel's back" may not be a foregone conclusion. The evangelicals are manipulating all this based on THEIR interpretation of scripture and there are many that are not going to go along. Cred2
Hello, Credence2,
If Israel does launch an attack against Iran and Iran strikes back, the U.S. certainly will join in. That is written in the wind, because there is a very powerful and influential Israel lobby in this country and NOT a one of its members is an Evangelical. In fact, there are NOT any Christians in that lobby at all.
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Yes, Feenix, I may have well forgotten about that. If this lobby drags us in to another conflict in a part of the world with endless conflicts, woe be to all of us.
One Virginia politician who is known for his straight talk said today and I paraphase just a little, "if the super committee can't come to an agreement on this most important issue, we should all be fired". I agree!
You always seem to hit the nail right on the head which makes you comments "spot on".. Great job...enjoyed reading and thinking about what you wrote.
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Hi, Dee, thanks for reading and providing comment. Yes, indeed, we ought to fire everybody. For the salaries that these guys bring down, I, as a taxpayer, have a right to expect more. The term 'super' is obviously a misnomer, as the twelve are just as confused as the other 523 legislators.
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