The Mayors Have Had Enough of These Useless, Costly Wars

[marmar]

The Mayors Have Had Enough of These Useless, Costly Wars
By Robert Greenwald and Derrick Crowe


The Afghanistan War costs American taxpayers more than $2 billion a week at a time when communities are falling apart, and our mayors are fed up. On Monday, the United States Conference of Mayors is expected to pass a resolution calling for a speedy end of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars so we can use those funds here at home. The mayors are exactly right.

You can put the New York Times’ summary of the crises these cities are facing next to the National Priorities Project’s numbers and see how much these wars cost our hometowns.

* Citizens of Lansing, Michigan, paid $114.2 million on the Afghanistan War so far, and New York City paid $15.4 billion; these cities are about to have to close fire stations.
* Montgomery, Alabama paid $199.3 million and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania paid $1.7 billion; these cities are laying off teachers.
* Minneapolis, Minnesota paid $692.3 million; now they can’t fill potholes.

And here’s the big picture: “Local governments shed 28,000 jobs last month, the Department of Labor reported, and have lost 446,000 jobs since employment peaked in September 2008.” ............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://blogs.alternet.org/speakeasy/2011/06/18/the-mayors-have-had-enough-of-these-useless-costly-wars/

[rurallib]

1. for many people the costs of these wars are like a fantasy story

this helps bring it home.

[Brianboru]

2. And 0bama has started TWO MORE WARS!

When will he ever learn.....

[Initech]

6. I keep saying: Obama is the president IN NAME ONLY!

Someone else is in control now - and it's becoming clearer and clearer by the day. They clearly don't give a fuck about how bad this country is if it means they make a few extra millions. If we had an actual leader - we'd be a lot better off by now.

[RKP5637]

9. I don't want to sound like I'm having a DUH moment, but I've been convinced

for years that this country is really run by a shadow gov. of sorts. Politicians come and go, but the real wealth, power and control remains in the background hidden for the most part from the masses and it's driven by greed.

What always amazes me is how large segments of this population are controlled and manipulated to do their bidding. It's like wake the F up, but they are in a trance. Some have said the "faithful" are good targets for manipulation because they well might be predisposed to be controlled and act collectively as persuaded/told.

[WinkyDink]

15. The real wealth is also completely non-nation-state; their allegiance is to profit ONLY. THAT is why

nation-states will be allowed to collapse; why nationally self-destructive "wars" (illegal invasions) abound (the arms industries profit); etc.

[RKP5637]

17. Excellent point! And frighteningly erie. Profit trumps humanity. I guess

eventually humanity pretty well ceases on earth and starts anew. Reminds me of a sci-fi movie, the extremely wealthy sit in gated secured communities counting their wealth to spend in a non-existent society.

[Brianboru]

21. Follow the oil

Look at just a few the tragic human situations in the world –
- Iraq – oil, US intervention
- Rwanda – no oil, no US intervention
- Ethiopia - no oil, no US intervention
- Libya – oil, US intervention
- Sudan - no oil, no US intervention
- Syria - no oil, no US intervention
- Kashmir - no oil, no US intervention
- Afghanistan – could disrupt oil producing countries, US intervention
- Yemen - borders Saudi Arabia and the Straights of Hormuz – US intervention

It is so obvious what is happening.

[RKP5637]

22. It is, isn't it. Quite obvious, clearly oil wars/support. Thanks. n/t

[Brianboru]

23. Just surprised at how quickly 0bama changed. Two new wars

for oil. Extend the Bush tax cuts. Gitmo still open.

I wish we had a candidate who wouldn't lie to us.

[RKP5637]

24. It has all been different than I had expected. n/t

[Skittles]

14. Obama sure didn't start wars on his own

someone is certainly pulling his strings and it is NOT the American people

[Initech]

18. But he's not ending them either. That's what I'm getting at.

[XanaDUer]

3. I'm glad some are saying something

nt.

[villager]

4. Why, mayors! Have faith! It's bound to "change" eventually!

Not due to electing someone from one of the "two" parties to Washington, but rather, when the Empire goes completely bankrupt!

[RKP5637]

7. And it will happen. Our reserve capacity in this country is about

to break from being the worlds' police force. Too many are making huge profits off of it and our gov. is bought. I guess it will just end when, as you say, "the Empire goes completely bankrupt!" I'm convinced the "two" parties to Washington are clueless about most things.

[villager]

12. No candidate from either party is *allowed* to have a "clue" about anything...

That's what "Citizens" "United" was about -- more insurance so that the rare local candidate with an actual clue -- and who can articulate it -- is never, ever allowed to rise to a position where she might actually do something about it.

So much easier that way than deploying the Lone Nuts or plane "accidents" later...

[RKP5637]

5. K&R

[lib2DaBone]

8. NATO is sounding the alarm.. they are running out of rockets and bombs...

China has warned Obama.. if we attack Pakistan.. they will consider this an attack on China.

Will Obama listen? I doubt it. He answers to Wall Street.. and he is off starting more wars in Lybia and Yemen. Obama cares not about our economy.. he only answers to the Republican Bankers.

Also, I look for Obama to attack Pakistan , Syria and ultimatley Iran.

The Neo Con wet Dream is to attack Iran.. and Obama is working overtime to make sure they get every thing they desire.

[RKP5637]

10. Yep, I think we have the domino (ripple in the pond) effect going on and

the potential for a tsunami. There seems to be a lot of the world unraveling at about the same time. How, the US thinks it's going to intercede and control all of this is beyond me. Hell, we can't even get our own house in order.

[WinkyDink]

16. He's okay with being one-term. Better than bucking "them", IYKWIM.

[snot]

11. K&R'd!

[xchrom]

13. Silly mayors - you're not gonna get that money if those wars end.

There will be no money for you because they want you to outsource.
Supposedly for cheaper.
Until the reports come back & it isn't - then you have to cut some more.

No shadow government - there's agreement across the board.

& Obama is on board.

[chill_wind]

19. K & R.

[ImNotTed]

20. Can you blame them?

Our Grand Tour of the Islamic World has sucked the money out of everything except for payments of tribute to Wall Street.

[theaocp]

25. BREAKING: From the bottom of the ocean,

Bin Laden laughs own ass off.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aQwY7PFwX6oI&refer=us

[RKP5637]

28. Yep, that was his agenda, and here we go still trying to bankrupt ourselves.

Agree, Bin Laden laughs own ass off from the bottom of the ocean.

[Canuckistanian]

26. Not to mention...

That these mayors have also lost the full capabilities of their National Guard troops and equipment - siphoned off for the war effort.

[amborin]

27. too late to rec