Pentagon’s Christmas Present: Largest Military Budget Since World War II

[cory777]

Source: Blacklisted News

On December 22 both houses of the U.S. Congress unanimously passed a bill authorizing $725 billion for next year’s Defense Department budget.

The bill, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011, was approved by all 100 senators as required and by a voice vote in the House.

The House had approved the bill, now sent to President Barack Obama to sign into law, five days earlier in a 341-48 roll call, but needed to vote on it again after the Senate altered it in the interim.

The proposed figure for the Pentagon’s 2011 war chest includes, in addition to the base budget, $158.7 billion for what are now euphemistically referred to as overseas contingency operations: The military occupation of Iraq and the war in Afghanistan.

Read more: http://blacklistednews.com/Pentagon%E2%80%99s-Christmas-Present%3A-Largest-Military-Budget-Since-World-War-II/12032/0/0/0/Y/M.html

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Activist News http://activistnews.blogspot.com

[ixion]

1. A trillion dollars a year to make war

what a lovely species we are... not.

[egoclothes]

2. "refusing reparations to victims of the World War Two Japanese occupation"....

Little opposition to the Afghan war!!


.........The defense authorization bill passed on December 22, despite its monumental and unprecedented size, has been routinely described in the American press as stripped-down, scaled-down and pared-down because an arms manufacturer or two, their lobbyists and obedient congresspersons didn’t get every new defense contract and weapons project they desired three days before Christmas.

The December 22 vote in the House was, as Associated Press accurately described it, conducted without debate or discussion – and “without major restrictions on the conduct of operations” – particularly in regards to the $158.7 billion for the military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, $75 million to train and equip the armed forces of Yemen for the counterinsurgency campaign in that country and $205 million more to fund Israel’s Iron Dome missile shield.

Regarding the first vote on December 17: “This year’s bill is mostly noteworthy for its broad bipartisan support during wartime….Unlike during the height of the Iraq War when anti-war Democrats tried to use the legislation to force troops home, the House passed the defense bill Friday with almost no debate on Afghanistan.” <7>

Aside from voting for the repeal of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy as a stand-alone measure, excising an amendment to allow abortions to be performed on military bases, and refusing reparations to victims of the World War Two Japanese occupation of the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam (apparently $100 million for the purpose was considered excessive in the $725 billion authorization), there was no meaningful dissent in either house of Congress..............

;(

[HillbillyBob]

3. Merry F in xmas we can afford 748bn for this but they want

to steal the SS which was set aside so granny can afford purina catfood instead of store brand.
I guess its back to the store brand dry kibble.
As someone struggling to survive on the miserly ssd fuck you congress, you pricks will never miss a meal.

[Kolesar]

5. Aircraft carriers so they can pretend they are still chasing Yamamoto

Spy satellites so that the congressman from Boeing can reward his campaign contributors.

[Fumesucker]

6. Store brand is just as nutritious..

The texture and flavor may not be as haute cuisine as Purina but we all have to make some sacrifices, Granny will be fine..

[xchrom]

4. recommend

[snappyturtle]

7. Defense? What in the hell are we 'defending'? A better term might be

'occupation' expense.

[Robeson]

8. Easy rec.

[Scottybeamer70]

9. Defending??

The only thing we're defending is the right of the billionaires to make more billions.
I haven't heard a single politician explain "why" we are there........they wouldn't dare!