Kucinich: Trillions for War and Now ZERO for Peace!

[kpete]

Kucinich: Trillions for War and Now ZERO for Peace!
Submitted by davidswanson on Thu, 2011-02-17 20:02

Sacrifice of Peace Can Finance War for 142 Minutes

Washington D.C. (February 17, 2011) – Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) today released the following statement after the House of Representatives voted 268-163 to eliminate all funding for the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP).

“It is a sad day when the House votes to eliminate one of the few programs in the budget which is dedicated to conflict prevention and non-violence, while at the same time, enabling another $158 billion in the same budget for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have spent $1.1 trillion for war in the past decade, and in striking funding for USIP, Congress has demonstrated that it is on the war path. Everything in the path of war had better take careful notice,” said Kucinich.

The Weiner Amendment to H.R. 1, the Fiscal Year Continuing Appropriations Act for FY2011, struck all funding - $42.7 million - for the U.S. Institute of Peace, which was created by Congress in 1984 as an independent government-sponsored organization dedicated to conflict prevention. “The two wars will consume $42.7 million in 142 minutes if $158 billion can finance the wars for an entire year.” Kucinich pointed out.

“This is a wake up call for all Americans who believe in the cause of peace. We must not permit the forces of war to annihilate any hope for peace in our society. This is a time when all Americans who work for peace to come together, to stand as one, to finally unify our efforts and to demand that our government stand for peace,” added Kucinich. “The USIP funding must be restored.”

the rest:
http://warisacrime.org/content/kucinich-trillions-war-and-now-zero-peace

[Newest Reality]

1. Think of the poor, poor defense contractors!

How will they make their mega-bucks from our taxes? That's a huge industry and Holyburton and others are skimming lots of green into their coffers. It would be unthinkable to cut them off. What would they do?

I mean, they have to be very important because, well, the deadbeat rich seem to be the top priority and I can't imagine any us poor folk doin' the contractin'.

[Gregorian]

2. How ironic that this destructive "big government" is not included in the conservative mantra against

big government.

This should reveal their true motivation.

[ProSense]

3. Weird. Here's Weiner's argument:

JASON CHAFFETZ AND ANTHONY WEINER: Small Budget Cuts Add Up

<...>

The USIP has a role to play in our modern world, but the level of taxpayer support that this private organization receives is excessive. Since 1985, taxpayers have forked over more than $720 million (inflation adjusted). That has included support for a gleaming new 150,000 square foot office building in the shadow of that other taxpayer-supported institution devoted to peace: the State Department.

President Obama has applauded recent pledges by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to eliminate billions in unnecessary defense spending, but these cuts feel like a tough sell when we're using taxpayer money to fund a private organization. Our defense and diplomatic establishment has helped promote stability for hundreds of years, and it should be the place we invest taxpayer dollars intended to further peace.

The USIP is a case study in how government waste thrives. The idea began during the Cold War as a modest proposal with $4 million in seed money. But the organization received government funding year after year essentially because it had been funded the year before—and because it had important allies. The late Sen. Ted Stevens air-dropped (via conference committee) $100 million for the USIP in 1985, despite the absence of any allocation in the spending bills already passed by the House and Senate that year.

In 2010, the USIP received $34 million in operating expenses from Congress, $17 million in transfers and reimbursements from the State Department and the Pentagon, and another $15 million from Congress for its new building. According to its own estimate, the institute expects about $54 million from taxpayers in 2011.

<...>

[upi402]

4. And this man is called lunatic left by "Democrats"

Thanks Dennis, fight the good fight!

[gratuitous]

5. Yeah, and . . . ?

You expect the government to fund opposition to our national religion? We worship war, death and destruction in this country, fella. If you don't like it, you know what you can do.