I want to take this time to put in perspective just how much we spend on defense. If you look at the chart below, you'll notice that we outspend everybody in the world by several times over! Is this really necessary considering all that money did nothing to stop a few terrorists on 9/11. I think to realistically attack the national debt, we are going to have to look towards the Pentagon to do some serious cutting. It was Dwight Eisenhower (a Republican) who warned us of a "military-industrial complex" when he said
"This conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience. The total influence - economic, political, even spiritual - is felt in every city, every State House, every office of the federal government. We recognize the imperative need for this development. Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications. Our toil, resources, and livelihood are all involved; so is the very structure of our society."
Actually I am very pleased the US has the military this size with the technology they have and the presence they have in the world. Nations will take a swing at us but I'm glad its only a swing. The reason Eisenhower said that about the Industrial Military Complex was, the very reason Jack Murtha(Democrat Pa) is being investigated about, government contracts and kick backs and favors. Not that the military is evil and will hurt US citizens(3rd amendment in Constitution). Don't forget it was LAWYERS that did not allow the sharing of information between the FBI and CIA and NSA that caused 911. Some strange rule we cannot investigate a green card holding Arab with the FBI cause the rule applies to CIA info. that cant be shared. LAWYERS thats whats in the office now. If we can spend 500B in so called stimulus(CZARS everywhere-excecutive power?,the start of socializing medicine.etc) that MIGHT save and or create jobs, why not keep the techies and people that support the military at work.* This is what I see happening in Afganistan. Obama already waved the white flag, this is what I mean. He commits 17K troops, looks hawkish on the surface, then turns around and allows the images of coffins with flags on them being taken @ Dover. Obama knows just like Vietnam it will not keep the public support, hence the pullout. If this happens he put politics first and winning second and sacrifised those soldiers. If it were up to him Iraq would have been a total failure, That was the illegal war some say. Well he got his legitamite war lets see how it ends. Lastly if the US reduces by say 1/4 the personnel and nukes etc. What message does that send friend and foe? Friends will be scared and nervous and foe will get bolder and stronger. With strength comes peace.
ReplyDelete