General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsArmy says no to more tanks, but Congress insists
Yet in the case of the Abrams tank, there's a bipartisan push to spend an extra $436 million on a weapon the experts explicitly say is not needed.
"If we had our choice, we would use that money in a different way," Gen. Ray Odierno, the Army's chief of staff, told The Associated Press this past week.
Why are the tank dollars still flowing? Politics.
Keeping the Abrams production line rolling protects businesses and good paying jobs in congressional districts where the tank's many suppliers are located.
If there's a home of the Abrams, it's politically important Ohio. The nation's only tank plant is in Lima. So it's no coincidence that the champions for more tanks are Rep. Jim Jordan and Sen. Rob Portman, two of Capitol's Hill most prominent deficit hawks, as well as Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown. They said their support is rooted in protecting national security, not in pork-barrel politics
Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2013/04/28/5378015/army-says-no-to-more-tanks-but.html#storylink=cpy
markiv
(1,489 posts)we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together.
RevStPatrick
(2,208 posts)This is exactly what Ike was talking about.
Lizzie Poppet
(10,164 posts)Wounded Bear
(58,437 posts)China would be interested, at least, or maybe North Korea...
.
.
.
.
.
.
Or is it?
markiv
(1,489 posts)a broken clock is right twice a day
The last capitalist we hang shall be the one who sold us the rope. ― Karl Marx.
he sure as hell nailed this one
jmowreader
(50,447 posts)Every year Newt Gingrich was in Congress, he made sure the Air Force got at least ten new C-130 airplanes. The Air Force had quite enough C-130s, and told Newtie that every year: no more C-130s, please. C-130s are the smallest airlifters the Air Force has, and they needed larger planes rather than more. But Newt, whose district contained the plant where C-130s are assembled, knew better than the Air Force what the Air Force needed...so they got 10 C-130s a year.
What the Army REALLY needs is a replacement for the 6-mpg, aluminum-floored Humvee, but they'll never get that. Trucks are not sexy.
Rex
(65,616 posts)It is so dam obvious.