General Discussion

DissidentVoice

(813 posts)

17. DND is not a good steward of the public purse

Tue Jul 30, 2013, 11:33 AM

Jul 2013

I know this because I was in the Air Force.

I knew an officer with 20+ years service whose last posting was at the Pentagon...he said all the jockeying for big money about drove him crazy.

The F-22 is an overpriced piece of hardware that the Air Force didn't even want...and which isn't allowed for export to our allies.

The F-35 is becoming a money pit that allies who are waiting on it are starting to doubt. The Royal Australian Air Force decided to purchase off-the-shelf, much cheaper F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, and the Royal Canadian Air Force is reconsidering THEIR participation in the F-35.

Meanwhile, the Swedes (SAAB Gripen) and the British/Germans/Italians/Spanish (Eurofighter Typhoon) are doing quite well selling cheaper, but still highly capable, aircraft to countries WE used to sell to (including other NATO countries).

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

40 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

A Little Basic Math: The Trillions We Waste in 'Defending' the US [View all] xchrom Jul 2013 OP

The US military is all about defending CORPORATE INTERESTS,. not the people of America!!! Civilization2 Jul 2013 #1

And that is the TRUTH!!! nt kelliekat44 Jul 2013 #6

YES! Troops out now (and contractors) Rosa Luxemburg Jul 2013 #35

And of course the owners of those corporations, the shareholders. nt raouldukelives Jul 2013 #14

It has been some time since the bulk of earnings of corporations truebluegreen Jul 2013 #15

And yet they still line up to support them financially in the hopes of getting a little back. raouldukelives Jul 2013 #18

Yep. More fools they. truebluegreen Jul 2013 #27

Aye, tried and failed. If you can't beat them, join them is the refrain. nt raouldukelives Jul 2013 #29

and the working poor (and unemployed poor!),. i.e. non-stockholders, get the trickle down? Civilization2 Jul 2013 #28

To modify a line from The Outlaw Josie Wales... awoke_in_2003 Jul 2013 #31

Meanwhile, it's BECOME the corporate interests corkhead Jul 2013 #33

The USA military is the biggest consumer of petroleum SHRED Jul 2013 #2

^^^THIS^^^ valerief Jul 2013 #5

That's the Big Secret, isn't it? Egalitarian Thug Jul 2013 #3

Is that what matters? Making us loved? Pelican Jul 2013 #7

Way to completely miss the point. n/t Egalitarian Thug Jul 2013 #9

And illustrate his own point: truebluegreen Jul 2013 #16

. Egalitarian Thug Jul 2013 #21

But where will the wealthy steal their money if they can't steal from the Treasury? nt valerief Jul 2013 #4

The real purpose of the Defense Dept. is to transfer wealth to the few from the many. Coyotl Jul 2013 #8

That's not the plan. It's just a massive coincidence. nt hay rick Jul 2013 #12

"The real purpose of the Defense Dept. is to transfer wealth to the few from the many." Civilization2 Jul 2013 #30

And think of the jobs that conversion would create. Waiting For Everyman Jul 2013 #10

K & R ctsnowman Jul 2013 #11

I'm looking for the energy-wealth of $4 trillion, Progressive dog Jul 2013 #13

DND is not a good steward of the public purse DissidentVoice Jul 2013 #17

we absolutely should reduce defense spending but Dustin DeWinde Jul 2013 #19

What scares me is the al Qaeda Naval Fleet leftstreet Jul 2013 #20

Afraid not. The American perception of the world is an image of fear, Egalitarian Thug Jul 2013 #22

This message was self-deleted by its author Dustin DeWinde Jul 2013 #25

wtf are you talking about? Dustin DeWinde Jul 2013 #26

LOL! You didn't answer the question. Who is it that has these metaphorical swords that Egalitarian Thug Aug 2013 #36

seriously?? Dustin DeWinde Aug 2013 #37

And still, you don't answer the question. Egalitarian Thug Aug 2013 #38

you are not a serious person Dustin DeWinde Aug 2013 #39

"Anyone" is not an answer. It is a very serious question and one which none of you Egalitarian Thug Aug 2013 #40

$50 billion a yr is equal in taxes to $6 a gallon gas. ErikJ Jul 2013 #23

Do those numbers include the costs to the States of fighting those wars? dickthegrouch Jul 2013 #24

Kicked and Recommended! nt Enthusiast Jul 2013 #32

K&R nt Mnemosyne Jul 2013 #34