The sacred military sow remains at the trough.

[sad sally]

While all the angry talk (including from me) is about the pillaging of social security, medicare, medicaid, food programs and education, all to benefit those whose needs aren't ones most of can relate to (multiple vacation homes, private jets, etc., etc.), why are the voices opposing the truly wasteful military spending - including the waste of human lives and foreign lands - barely recognized?

Austerity? Yes, we'll all tighten our belts so the wealthy can become more and more wealthy AND so the military industrial complex can drive the US economy into the ground.


updated 7/8/2011 4:37:22 PM ET

WASHINGTON — Money for the Pentagon and the nation's wars in Iraq and Afghanistan is proving largely immune from the budget-cutting that's slamming other government agencies in the rush to bring down the deficit.

On a 336-87 vote Friday, the Republican-controlled House overwhelmingly backed a $649 billion defense spending bill that boosts the Defense Department budget by $17 billion. The strong bipartisan embrace of the measure came as White House and congressional negotiators face an Aug. 2 deadline on agreeing to trillions of dollars in federal spending cuts and raising the borrowing limit so the U.S. does not default on debt payments.

While House Republican leaders agreed to slash billions from the proposed budgets for other agencies, hitting food aid for low-income women, health research, energy efficiency and much more, the military budget is the only one that would see a double-digit increase in its account beginning Oct. 1

-snip

"In the midst of a serious discussion about our nation's debt crisis, House Republicans demonstrated responsible leadership that sets priorities and does not jeopardize our national security interests and our nation's ongoing military efforts," Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee, said in a statement.

But Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass, scoffed at the suggestion that "everything is on the table" in budget negotiations between the Obama administration and congressional leaders. "The military budget is not on the table," he said. "The military is at the table, and it is eating everybody else's lunch."

[Mendocino]

1. Thank you Barney,

someone who sees through the fog of war.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

2. The military is fighting those wars at the pleasure of the President

The financial requirements of the DoD are driven in no small part by those activities.

[sad sally]

3. Right! Imagine a President who wanted the US to be seen as a

peaceful nation rather than a waring one.

Those defense costs don't include the veterans costs either. While I believe veterans should get everything due them, if they weren't being inflicted with wounds that for many are debilitating life-long ones fighting forever war after forever war at the pleasure of Presidents rather than for honest purposes, maybe the costs wouldn't be so great.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

5. We thought we were electing one like that, turns out that...

[msongs]

4. President Petraeus wouldn't like it. nt