General Discussion

truebluegreen

(9,033 posts)

83. There's an element of that,

Wed Dec 4, 2013, 10:32 AM

Dec 2013

but they are also damn lousy at their jobs. This is the same organization that flew 6 nuclear warheads around the country for a day and a half without realizing they were missing.

On a more fundamental level, WTF is the military--or anyone else--doing involved in covert operations? Making us safe from the Soviets? Or our Most Favored Nation trading-partner the Chinese? As it was put recently, we spend more on "defense" than the next 26 countries combined, 25 of which are allies.

I'd like to see a debate about the rationale for any DoD spending. Who are we defending, and what are we defending against and why does it take more than half of the discretionary budget every year: would anyone like to argue that it makes Americans' lives better, or even more secure?

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8.5 TRILLION !!! - The Pentagon's Doctored Ledgers Conceal Epic Waste - Reuters [View all] WillyT Dec 2013 OP

kick for visibility BlancheSplanchnik Dec 2013 #1

seriously. another kick and a rec. Voice for Peace Dec 2013 #5

I am not suprized at all. Heather MC Dec 2013 #34

really. BlancheSplanchnik Dec 2013 #45

I think 60 minutes is going to do a story on this. rhett o rick Dec 2013 #54

ha! BlancheSplanchnik Dec 2013 #56

Obama Wastes 8.5 Trillion on Benghazi Massacre. valerief Dec 2013 #67

And therefore the failed invasion of Iraq was Obama's fault. Put Lara on it. nm rhett o rick Dec 2013 #85

What a fucking racket! Why should I pay taxes for this bullshit? Comrade Grumpy Dec 2013 #2

The US is the biggest banana in the history tina tron Dec 2013 #3

+1000000 Chrom Dec 2013 #96

Good god sakabatou Dec 2013 #4

Darryl Issa announced hearings! Tea Party demands repeal of Pentagon! Ian_rd Dec 2013 #6

I always like to needle the Repugs who want to cut the budget, Ace Acme Dec 2013 #15

Prob been going on at some level or another for a very long time... Tikki Dec 2013 #7

Since 1860! Hubert Flottz Dec 2013 #78

"The Union�s �Shoddy� Aristocracy" Hubert Flottz Dec 2013 #81

$8.5T would be the total of DoD budgets for 1996-2013 JHB Dec 2013 #8

Right, we got warehouses full of $1000 hammers and $1500 toilet seats. nt Ace Acme Dec 2013 #13

We do have warehouses with tools and parts... JHB Dec 2013 #25

K&R me b zola Dec 2013 #9

It's not lost or waste NightWatcher Dec 2013 #10

"In a well-ordered republic ... Deny and Shred Dec 2013 #23

September 10, 2001, Donald Rumsfeld announced that the Pentagon could not account for Ace Acme Dec 2013 #26

Agreed. Don't get me started � (eom) Deny and Shred Dec 2013 #28

Yep, Rumsfeld, Cheney, Bush and their cronies got to pocket $2.3 TRILLION in stolen money... harrose Dec 2013 #64

I would sure hate to be a "truther." dotymed Dec 2013 #80

Funny how those types of coincidences happen. nt valerief Dec 2013 #68

The DoD really does not spend $350 for a hammer. Drahthaardogs Dec 2013 #52

There's an element of that, truebluegreen Dec 2013 #83

Repurposing the DoD to the defense of the national borders of the USA Ace Acme Dec 2013 #86

I'd go for that and then abolishing--not outsourcing-- truebluegreen Dec 2013 #88

Because we are Rome. Drahthaardogs Dec 2013 #91

Yeah, I know. truebluegreen Dec 2013 #94

But I guess in the history of the world, someone always has to be Rome. Drahthaardogs Dec 2013 #95

How much proof that we are a fascist nation dotymed Dec 2013 #79

I blame needy seniors and needy disabled people. merrily Dec 2013 #11

I agree--we can fix this by cutting foodstamps! Orrex Dec 2013 #12

Simply... TRoN33 Dec 2013 #14

We don't have money to feed the poor The Wizard Dec 2013 #16

quick! G_j Dec 2013 #17

Rumsfield tried to get it under control Ezlivin Dec 2013 #18

Look, just know that the "missing $$$" are not missing. They are in the pockets of the MIC. kelliekat44 Dec 2013 #55

And the Repubbies want to slash Social Security to be sure the Pentagon, Inc. (R) gets oodles more Berlum Dec 2013 #19

Democrat Leon Panetta said, "Cut entitlements, not the military." Enthusiast Dec 2013 #72

Yep, that's pretty much the norm. DrDebug Dec 2013 #20

''Money trumps peace.'' -- George W Bush, Feb. 14, 2007 Octafish Dec 2013 #21

But, but, but... Our government doesn't do conspiracies. RC Dec 2013 #33

You should recognize that WE ARE NUMBER ONE! Enthusiast Dec 2013 #73

Yeah, we're #1 alright. RC Dec 2013 #82

That smirking SOB! trusty elf Dec 2013 #70

du rec. xchrom Dec 2013 #22

The biggest welfare trough in the universe, no little people allowed. K&R Egalitarian Thug Dec 2013 #24

9/10/11 - Rumsfeld presser about the 1,400 accounting systems used at DoD underpants Dec 2013 #27

You mean 9/10/01 of course, not 9/10/11, which is what you wrote. nt Electric Monk Dec 2013 #43

Oops yes underpants Dec 2013 #74

SO when they come around with thier hand out nykym Dec 2013 #29

Why wasn't/isn't this the main headline in every newspaper? OnionPatch Dec 2013 #30

The ACA website glitches are the top story Blue Owl Dec 2013 #48

General Electric (Defense Contractor & more) has their own major TV network... Dustlawyer Dec 2013 #60

Presidents come & go, the military is constant...who runs the country? spanone Dec 2013 #31

JFK and LBJ being a case in point. Ace Acme Dec 2013 #32

20-year-old men who foolishly do the bidding of the Pentagon criminals actually run valerief Dec 2013 #69

... 2naSalit Dec 2013 #35

And of course, when some of us look up at the sky, and truedelphi Dec 2013 #36

Isn't it about time for some bodies to go to gaol? Octafish Dec 2013 #37

K & R n/t glinda Dec 2013 #38

We really need to cut food stamps jsr Dec 2013 #39

Seems like a perfectly believable number to me. 99Forever Dec 2013 #40

let's see wildbilln864 Dec 2013 #41

Disgusting - especially when children go hungry and we're debating chained CPI. Just disgusting. K&R myrna minx Dec 2013 #42

Greedy fucking criminals looting the US treasury. JEB Dec 2013 #44

Who then? Let's see the possible names flamingdem Dec 2013 #46

"unsubstantiated change actions" should go down in history along with enhanced rendition. Festivito Dec 2013 #47

K&r Liberal_in_LA Dec 2013 #49

Funny how the teabaggers are so unconcerned about the giant satanic symbol Blue Owl Dec 2013 #50

Remember what happened last time they tried to audit the Pentagon? debunkthis Dec 2013 #51

Not surprised based off their budget and what they've got to show for it. Epic. Phlem Dec 2013 #53

but of fucking course! lonestarnot Dec 2013 #57

So much waste. And so many excuses. blkmusclmachine Dec 2013 #58

and k & r! n/t wildbilln864 Dec 2013 #59

But what about Bengazi(NT) The Wizard Dec 2013 #61

+1 uponit7771 Dec 2013 #62

Bet This Gets Zero Play From Faux News colsohlibgal Dec 2013 #63

Translation: Black programs nadinbrzezinski Dec 2013 #65

+1 Blue_Tires Dec 2013 #90

Yes yes yers. Black op programs, that are becoming more and more prevalent. truedelphi Dec 2013 #92

And who is going to do something about it?? We heard about this years ago. The Trilions that sabrina 1 Dec 2013 #66

And they cry like babies.. sendero Dec 2013 #71

The nation's real enemy is the military industrial complex. Enthusiast Dec 2013 #75

The MIC has got to find and return that money the way it tried to find Bin Laden.Sequester continues ancianita Dec 2013 #76

The "BAD APPLES" Hubert Flottz Dec 2013 #77

Right. That's called "trickle down". nt Ace Acme Dec 2013 #87

Disgusted K/R marmar Dec 2013 #84

Clearly illustrating the sound reasoning for this claim: ronnie624 Dec 2013 #89

But we're blaming retirees for our problems?? WinkyDink Dec 2013 #93