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octoberlib

(14,971 posts)
Sun Oct 21, 2012, 03:20 PM Oct 2012

ROMNEY’S NEW ‘MILITARY ADVISORY COUNCIL’ PACKED WITH MILITARY CONTRACTORS

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by muriel_volestrangler (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: Think Progress

Mitt Romney’s campaign yesterday announced a “Military Advisory Council” of retired military officers who support his candidacy for president. “While many of those on the Council are clearly decorated veterans,” boldprogressive.org’s Zaid Jilani observes, “one curious aspect of the list is how many of these military figures left the government only to become highly paid consultants and board members to major weapons makers.” Romney plans on increasing military spending by more than $2 trillion should he become president (without any plan to pay for it) and perhaps Romney’s new supporters plan on cashing in. Jilani lists some members of Romney’s council and their defense industry affiliations here.

Read more: http://thinkprogress.org/security/2012/10/18/1044441/romneys-new-military-advisory-council-packed-with-military-contractors/

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ROMNEY’S NEW ‘MILITARY ADVISORY COUNCIL’ PACKED WITH MILITARY CONTRACTORS (Original Post) octoberlib Oct 2012 OP
This needs to also be communicated tomorrow night reflection Oct 2012 #1
Tie it into to war for profit is Mitt's foreign policy JohnnyBoots Oct 2012 #7
work and job skills qkvhj Oct 2012 #13
"If they flew F-16's and commanded flight squadrons" Ptah Oct 2012 #15
I am interested in Obama winning this debate. reflection Oct 2012 #17
On Monday Night's Debate, This Should Be Brought Up chuckstevens Oct 2012 #2
Hell no! fleur-de-lisa Oct 2012 #8
You may be right chuckstevens Oct 2012 #10
Sorry, I meant 'Hell No' to your last question . . . fleur-de-lisa Oct 2012 #11
The only thing you need to know is John Bolton is a Romney advisor still_one Oct 2012 #3
Maybe he needs them for a military coup after Obama is sworn in for a second term. alfredo Oct 2012 #4
General Franks would fuck that up too MajPayne2 Oct 2012 #19
The only high officer I liked was Col Lew Millet. He was the commander of Ft Devens. alfredo Oct 2012 #22
The only jobs Republicans ever have any intention of creating are for Wars 'r' us. patrice Oct 2012 #5
So which one of those ROMNEY underthematrix Oct 2012 #6
Gee, I wonder if that has anything to do with the plan to increase defense spending? Justice Oct 2012 #9
Romney's wars will be Turbineguy Oct 2012 #12
kick Nancy Waterman Oct 2012 #14
Now I get it... defacto7 Oct 2012 #16
Military Spending elbloggoZY27 Oct 2012 #18
They haven't been weened from the government welfare trough... Historic NY Oct 2012 #20
Remember when Romney met with Cheney? Spitfire of ATJ Oct 2012 #21
All the Halliburtons Rosa Luxemburg Oct 2012 #23
Locking - not Latest Breaking News muriel_volestrangler Oct 2012 #24

reflection

(6,287 posts)
1. This needs to also be communicated tomorrow night
Sun Oct 21, 2012, 03:28 PM
Oct 2012

to underscore the point that Romney has surrounded himself with people that have a vested interest in war.

 

JohnnyBoots

(2,969 posts)
7. Tie it into to war for profit is Mitt's foreign policy
Sun Oct 21, 2012, 03:56 PM
Oct 2012

as evidenced by his war council being made of MIC leaders.

 

qkvhj

(57 posts)
13. work and job skills
Sun Oct 21, 2012, 04:44 PM
Oct 2012

Some years ago I retired from the military. I had to take the marketable skills that I had acquired through my military training and experience and find work in the civilian world. First I had to find the jobs where these skills were in demand. Then I had to sell myself and my ability/knowledge to that company to get the job.
If one gets out of the military with computer expertise they do not look for a job fixing skateboards.
These officers retired from the military with a certain set of skills and experience. That knowledge and experience is most valued by the defense industry. Where else does it make since for them to look for employment?
If they flew F-16's and commanded flight squadrons they should apply to be a brain surgeon??? If this was each of you trying to support your family you also would look for employment in jobs that valued your experience and paid you well for that knowledge and ability.
Sometimes we need to back up and apply a little common since to issues.

Ptah

(34,122 posts)
15. "If they flew F-16's and commanded flight squadrons"
Sun Oct 21, 2012, 04:59 PM
Oct 2012

If they flew F-16's and commanded flight squadrons, it would make more sense for them
to work for airlines, not advise the president what to do with the military.

reflection

(6,287 posts)
17. I am interested in Obama winning this debate.
Sun Oct 21, 2012, 05:09 PM
Oct 2012

We can argue about the post-career trajectories of retired military people if/when Obama wins his second term. My post was meant to advocate a line of attack for the President to achieve his objectives.

 

chuckstevens

(1,201 posts)
2. On Monday Night's Debate, This Should Be Brought Up
Sun Oct 21, 2012, 03:29 PM
Oct 2012

If I were President Obama, I would remind people that the makers of weapons were the ones who made it possible for contractors in Iraq making X10 what our soldiers were making and the billions of "missing" taxpayer money. Do we really want to go back to these people having that much control over our foreign policy?

fleur-de-lisa

(14,704 posts)
8. Hell no!
Sun Oct 21, 2012, 04:05 PM
Oct 2012
 

chuckstevens

(1,201 posts)
10. You may be right
Sun Oct 21, 2012, 04:21 PM
Oct 2012

You may be right; I guess that would make him look weak. However, the reality is that a Romney administration (God Help Us) will just be a return to the policies of the Bush administration.

fleur-de-lisa

(14,704 posts)
11. Sorry, I meant 'Hell No' to your last question . . .
Sun Oct 21, 2012, 04:29 PM
Oct 2012

"Do we really want to go back to these people having that much control over our foreign policy?"

 

still_one

(98,883 posts)
3. The only thing you need to know is John Bolton is a Romney advisor
Sun Oct 21, 2012, 03:31 PM
Oct 2012

alfredo

(60,301 posts)
4. Maybe he needs them for a military coup after Obama is sworn in for a second term.
Sun Oct 21, 2012, 03:35 PM
Oct 2012

He has to fulfill the Mormon prophecy.

MajPayne2

(202 posts)
19. General Franks would fuck that up too
Sun Oct 21, 2012, 07:30 PM
Oct 2012

he was my commander in Korea and he is the dumbest general officer I have ever met. He hides it with his good ole boy schtick

alfredo

(60,301 posts)
22. The only high officer I liked was Col Lew Millet. He was the commander of Ft Devens.
Sun Oct 21, 2012, 08:49 PM
Oct 2012

I was there for AIT.

He led by being loyal to us. He looked after us ditty boppers and other "listeners." One night some Navy Seals jumped one of our unit. The next day Millet went to their commander's office and told him that if they laid hands on any other of his men, he had 3,000 under his command. The Seal commander was wise enough not to cross "Ole Blood and Guts" Millet.


He would pop in on us when we were out in the "VC" village. Sometimes he'd bring some "soldier's Joy." A bit of that took off the jagged edges off the New England winter.


patrice

(47,992 posts)
5. The only jobs Republicans ever have any intention of creating are for Wars 'r' us.
Sun Oct 21, 2012, 03:36 PM
Oct 2012

We are war slaves to them.

American Exceptionalism is about killing and death for hire.

underthematrix

(5,811 posts)
6. So which one of those ROMNEY
Sun Oct 21, 2012, 03:43 PM
Oct 2012

contractors got the contract to take out Ambassador Stevens and his 3-man team of Navy SEALS? Just asking.

Justice

(7,261 posts)
9. Gee, I wonder if that has anything to do with the plan to increase defense spending?
Sun Oct 21, 2012, 04:06 PM
Oct 2012

Turbineguy

(40,074 posts)
12. Romney's wars will be
Sun Oct 21, 2012, 04:31 PM
Oct 2012

profitable!

Nancy Waterman

(6,407 posts)
14. kick
Sun Oct 21, 2012, 04:51 PM
Oct 2012

important story

defacto7

(14,162 posts)
16. Now I get it...
Sun Oct 21, 2012, 05:07 PM
Oct 2012

Romney wants to privatize war! Oh, that makes sense. This isn't about WWIII, we would be entering the First World Corporate Conflict, or maybe CorpWarI.

 

elbloggoZY27

(283 posts)
18. Military Spending
Sun Oct 21, 2012, 05:21 PM
Oct 2012

Military spending is out of control and so are wars. The three most dangerous countries for the West are Iran, Syria & North Korea which exists on despicable treatment of its citizens.

General MacArthur was right about North Korea way back in the early fifties and it is a worse country today.

At present I do not think that a lot of military spending is needed since I am sure if we had to those three countries would not exist.

What this Country needs is JOBS JOBS JOBS.

Historic NY

(40,037 posts)
20. They haven't been weened from the government welfare trough...
Sun Oct 21, 2012, 08:13 PM
Oct 2012

they exchanged their pensions & uniforms for selling out to the highest bidders.

 

Spitfire of ATJ

(32,723 posts)
21. Remember when Romney met with Cheney?
Sun Oct 21, 2012, 08:43 PM
Oct 2012

You KNOW Dick bragged about how much money he made from war...

Rosa Luxemburg

(28,627 posts)
23. All the Halliburtons
Sun Oct 21, 2012, 09:00 PM
Oct 2012
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