03 June 2014

Obama requests $1,000,000,000 to boost U.S. military in Euroope

Standing with Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski, Obama said the U.S. plans to send more military equipment and rotate additional American troops into the region. He called on lawmakers back in Washington to provide the funding to sustain the effort.

"Today, I'm announcing a new initiative to bolster the support of our NATO allies here in Europe," Obama said at Warsaw's Belweder Palace. "Under this effort, and with the support of Congress, the United States will preposition more equipment in Europe."
After arriving Tuesday morning in Warsaw, Obama and Komorowski mounted a display of military solidarity as they greeted each other in front of F-16 fighter jets in an airplane hangar.
Right.  Because the 28 member countries of NATO can't be expected to expend their own resources to counter the perceived threat of a bellicose Russia.  Fortunately we don't have any other practical use for a billion U. S. taypayer dollars.

It never ends.  Every presidential administration pulls this kind of stunt.  I'm tired of it.

16 comments:

  1. A US president opens his mouth, the Military-Industrial Complex speaks. "In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the Military-Industrial Complex. [...] 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 [...]" including an economy not based upon war but upon technological development and societal advancement.

    I would be the happiest person on the planet if Obama requested $1,000,000,000 to research and develop a sustainable and renewable electrical power system or to give the impoverished a decent education so they stand a chance in society.

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  2. Smells like pork (which goes well with certain cruciferous vegetables).

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  3. How about spending $1,000,000,000.00 on the direct healthcare expenses of U.S. veterans and civilians? How about we make the lives of people measurably better in the short run instead of forcing people to pay to remain in fear?

    I'm not afraid of Russia sweeping into Europe to destroy the global economy and ruin the power of Russian oligarchs. Does Obama and his greedy advisers think we've forgotten the golden rule: He who has the most gold makes the rules? I'll worry about Russia when the Russian rich leave Russia.

    Time to stop letting frauds in our government (on both sides of the aisle) from shoveling our wealth into their buddies coffers, they have enough they don't need ours.

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  4. While I am no fan of the Military-Industrial Complex, I would not be so fast to judge this. The president did not spend a billion on military in Eastern Europe. He just called on Congress to spend it. Which, considering that Congress has not followed a presidential budget request in years, will most likely not happen. Meanwhile, NATO buddies in Eastern Europe are happy with the thought, and Putin is under little more pressure from more US presence in Eastern Europe.

    All in all, the president made a request that he will never have to follow up on with the sole goal of scoring from foreign policy points.

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    Replies
    1. I second morganna in agreeing with Nepkarel. This isn't about building new weapons or ordnance (which is what the military contractors make their money off of.) It is money for salaries, training and transporting of troops and existing weapons/defense items. This is a statement directly to Putin.

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    2. Yeah, my first thought was that it was just tossing a bone to Eastern Europe and looking tough on Putin... with no real threat that the money will go through.

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    3. George in GeorgiaJune 4, 2014 at 5:58 AM

      Completely agree - more calculated political BS from this empty suit

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  5. Even though it is a gesture, we can't get the same gesture of support this large for anything productive, just the war machine. That is MY point. We need to shift our focus. We have plenty of military strength to crush any organized state army and even a non-state ephemeral group like Al-Qaeda. Everyone knows it, so lets just get some focus on home and speak softly and carry a big stick.

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  6. Speaking of wars and all things military... if Hillary wins- you know she's gonna be required to prove, and is gonna jump at the chance to prove that she can be just as big a macho jerk as any male.

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  7. For a billion dollars, no one will be satisfied either way.

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  8. Even if the countries of Eastern Europe ordered half a billion dollars worth of arms right now - specifically, what is needed, aircraft - they won't get them for months or years. (The other half billion dollars would be for ammunition, fuel, etc for the land forces.)

    The US is part of NATO, btw.

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    Replies
    1. If other folks are paying for the things they want I've got no serious issue but our house has a leaky roof and a the bricks are slipping in the foundation there's a lot to fix here we can't be extending funds or floating purchases. No one should be getting a mid range tactical bombers today while promising to pay on Tuesday.

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  9. Deja moo. I've heard this bullshit before.

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  10. First of all: americans print money, they don't earn it.
    Secundo, Obama tries to prolong US supremacy undully, he's not helping us. Europe's situation is not insecure.
    America's policy is extremely stupid. You spy on everyone, you invade every country.

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