So, now, $65 bil unaccounted for in Afghanistan. WTF!

[lonestarnot]

Are we paying room and board for Osama and his whole crew or what?

http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Issues/Budget-Impact/2010/12/27/US-Cant-Account-for-Billions-Spent-in-Afghanistan.aspx

[gratuitous]

1. But an extension of unemployment benefits has to be accounted for to the nickel

Exhibit 2,349 in How the Republicans Have Fucked Up Our Country and Our Political Discourse, a never-ending series.

[undeterred]

3. And those unemployed people should be tested for drugs..

How else could they spend all that free money? :sarcasm:

[Festivito]

22. The rich should be tested for drug use before they get their tax breaks. /nt

[FiveGoodMen]

23. No one should be tested for drug use and the rich should not get a tax break.

Two wrongs do not make a right.

[Kurovski]

2. K&R. (nt)

[Poll_Blind]

4. I had to actually read part of that story because I couldn't believe the figure quoted.

Some of that money isn't just going to Afghan warlords or shitty construction companies. I would bet you a good chunk of that money is being siphoned off to the people who are going to eventually have the brazenness to walk into our houses and slip a noose over our childrens' necks at dinner time.

And they ain' Al-Quaeda, either.

PB

[lonestarnot]

6. Isn't that a pisser.

[pacalo]

5. Remember when Bush was given free reign over the money congress approved

for the Iraq invasion? He requested -- & congress approved -- the stipulation that there would be no accounting of that money. Then we began learning about ridiculously inflated military expenditures, then a missing $9 billion...

What the heck is going on; who's going to listen to us?

Edited to change $5 billion to $9 billion, first paragraph!

[lonestarnot]

7. I recall that as 8 bil and then it grew from there.

:shrug: no one is listening, we must get louder.

[pacalo]

10. I just looked it up & edited in the amount -- it was $9 billion!

:grr:

[lonestarnot]

26. Meh, what's a couple of billion.

:grr:

[starroute]

8. The military-industrial complex is a machine to extract value from taxpayers

Start with Iraq and Afghanistan. Add in the $500 million we're paying for a rocket system that has already been canceled. And the 80% of former top military brass who go on to hold lucrative positions with defense contractors.

In Smedley Butler's day, it was only war that was a racket. Now they don't even need the wars -- though that makes it easier, of course. Defense is the most blatant area where we spend without question and under conditions of considerable secrecy -- two conditions that make it easy to siphon off large amounts without scrutiny. (Homeland security is another, but it has a long way to go to catch up with defense spending.)

It's easy to get up in arms about how we're being ripped of by the upward transfer of wealth to the already wealthy. But for pure government-sanctioned theft, nothing beats the military-industrial complex.

[WorseBeforeBetter]

9. But by God Social Security needs to be "reformed"! (n/t)

[Amonester]

11. I bet it 'could' be found 'burried' (e.g. 'invested') in many places...

like in Dubai, for instance.

Same criminal sh*t, different location.

[slay]

12. It's in the pockets of exactly who it was intended for

right wing assholes and shadowy corporations mostly.


WAR IS A RACKET!

Foreword
Excerpt from a speech delivered in 1933 by General Smedley Butler, USMC

War is just a racket. There are only two things we should fight for. One is the defense of our homes and the other is the Bill of Rights. War for any other reason is simply a racket.

It may seem odd for me, a military man to adopt such a comparison. Truthfulness compels me to. I spent thirty-three years and four months in active military service as a member of this country's most agile military force, the Marine Corps. I served in all commissioned ranks from Second Lieutenant to Major-General. And during that period, I spent most of my time being a high class muscle-man for Big Business, for Wall Street and for the Bankers.

I suspected I was just part of a racket at the time. Now I am sure of it. Like all the members of the military profession, I never had a thought of my own until I left the service. My mental faculties remained in suspended animation while I obeyed the orders of higher-ups. This is typical with everyone in the military service.

I helped make Mexico safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys. I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefits of Wall Street. I helped purify Nicaragua for the international banking house of Brown Brothers in 1909-1912. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for American sugar interests in 1916. In China I helped to see to it that Standard Oil went its way unmolested.

more: http://www.wanttoknow.info/warisaracket

[Divine Discontent]

14. thank you for this post. n/t

[HEyHEY]

13. Karzai's brother

[lib2DaBone]

15. $65 Billion missing... but stripping Soc Security is "The Logical" thing to do... so say the Repukes

Mr. Obama is done. Even if he runs again.. I will not vote for him. The attack on Social Security has begun.. and its shameless... while they watse Billions in Afghanistan.

[toddwv]

16. Eh...what is a few hundred billion out of the 2-3 TRILLION that we've sunk into these "wars"?

I mean come on, look at the long-term benefits that we will receive:

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)

If that's not enough "payback" for you then you just ain't the right kind of 'Merican!

[costahawk1987]

17. Pallets of cash went missing in Iraq, too

But most people were more comcerned with how Katrina refugees spent their relief money.

[kentuck]

18. How is that possible?

It's not "unaccounted" for. It was stolen. There are thieves in Afghanistan.

[WinkyDink]

20. And they are US citizens.

[Rex]

19. Funny how us wee people have to account for every last dime

YET the powers that be expect no accountability from the billions given away to companies, 'to win over the hearts and minds' man I hate that saying. I can' believe we don't have responsible adults in charge of the govt yet...65 billion can go 'walking' out OUR door and it is okay, cuz the govt did it and the govt is never wrong or held accountable. Just at election time, now make your selections!

[xchrom]

21. recommend

[Hydra]

24. But Single payer or another stimulus is "Too expensive"

Are they even TRYING to hide this stuff anymore?

[Poboy]

25. recommend.