Thursday, December 23, 2010

U.S. Military Spending at Highest Level Since WWII

http://rickrozoff.wordpress.com/2010/12/23/pentagons-christmas-present-largest-military-budget-since-world-war-ii/

The blog "Stop Nato" has an article by Rick Rozoff. Here is an excerpt:

"On December 22 both houses of the U.S. Congress unanimously passed a bill authorizing $725 billion for next year’s Defense Department budget.

"The bill, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011, was approved by all 100 senators as required and by a voice vote in the House.

"The House had approved the bill, now sent to President Barack Obama to sign into law, five days earlier in a 341-48 roll call, but needed to vote on it again after the Senate altered it in the interim.

"The proposed figure for the Pentagon’s 2011 war chest includes, in addition to the base budget, $158.7 billion for what are now euphemistically referred to as overseas contingency operations: The military occupation of Iraq and the war in Afghanistan.

"The $725 billion figure, although $17 billion more than the White House had requested, is not the final word on the subject, however, as supplements could be demanded as early as the beginning of next year, especially in regard to the Afghan war that will then be in its eleventh calendar year.

"Even as it currently is, the amount is the highest in constant dollars (pegged at any given year’s dollar and adjusted for inflation) since 1945, the final year of the Second World War...."


Majia here: This is a good summary article. Meanwhile, there exists a gap in funding and a future funding crisis for Pell Grants
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703727804576017764011273204.html

Simultaneously, financially strapped states are gauging education at all levels and dramatically cutting social services for the poor, the elderly, the disabled, and anyone else who is "at risk" for utter impoverishment.

Where are you oh three ghosts of Christmas??

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