America's Top Military Chief: Debt is Main Threat to U.S. National Security

[Swede]

In February 2009, the head of U.S. intelligence - Dennis Blair - said that the global financial crisis was the largest threat to America's national security. All of America's intelligence agencies apparently agreed.
The same month, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff - Admiral Mullen - also agreed.
Now, Mullen is focusing on a specific economic threat. Specifically, Mullen is focusing on the debt:
The national debt is the single biggest threat to national security, according to Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Tax payers will be paying around $600 billion in interest on the national debt by 2012, the chairman told students and local leaders in Detroit.
“That’s one year’s worth of defense budget,” he said, adding that the Pentagon needs to cut back on spending.


http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2010/08/chairman-of-joint-chiefs-pentagon-must.html

[Raster]

1. The Pentagon's prodigious appetites are the biggest threat to U.S. national security.

Does the Pentagon still exist to serve the Republic, or does the Republic now exist to serve the Pentagon? Unfortunately, I fear the latter.

[RKP5637]

4. Yep, that's what I think too, the Republic now exists to serve the Pentagon. There are

such big corp. profits in the MIC. I often think the US pursues war and war-like situations out of habit and to also serve the MIC for profit. I really think the US needs a paradigm shift in just what is it we are trying to accomplish... And is this a nation only about greed and profit, or is it a nation of people working together for ALL of the people. Often I wonder... and just what path are we on...

[Raster]

7. I fear you are correct. Implements and infrastructure of warfare and destruction are now the

chief exports of the United States. The Pentagon's *ADMITTED* budget is now half of the total budget of the United States. Unfortunately, the United States needs wars and need conflicts. There will be no peace for the United States nor peace on Earth as long as the Military/Industrial Complex controls the United States government. And I believe that those that have tried to stand in it's way or tried to change our country's course have been dealt with severely.

[malaise]

11. +1,000 n/t

[ladjf]

2. Dead wrong. The far greater threat would be a financial collapse

caused by declining national product. Too much cutting back to hold down the debt could actually contribute to a business disaster.

[Raster]

8. Monies could be spent elsewhere. Funds do not have to be thrown down the military sinkhole.

I agree, now is the time to spend money on public works and national infrastructure: education, water, power, transportation. Not military. They consume far too much as it is, and a major contributor to our financial problems, if not THE MAIN contributor.

[ladjf]

10. I agree. nt

[lib2DaBone]

9. Yes..Ladjf.. you are very correct....

Austerity controls in the 30's tipped the world into the great depression.

At this point.. we dont need austerity.. we need a mssive Public Works Job Program.. a Maratorium on Foreclosures and a National Blueprint to rebuild our manufacturing base and our electric grid.

The answer is right there in ten-foot-high neon letters... but no one in Washington can see.

[valerief]

3. So let's stop spending money on the military. nt

[msongs]

5. Mullen's main job is to whore for war profiteer corporations n keep their $$ rolling in nt

[DJ13]

6. Whats next, Alan Greenspan giving us his estimate of war in Afghanistan?

[Fumesucker]

12. Where was this asshole in 2003?

I bet he was saying the Iraq war would pay for itself..

:banghead:

[Raster]

13. No doubt! Where are all of them that spewed this crap?

[RandomThoughts]

14. Then the people collecting that interest would be the problem wouldn't they.

That article thinks within systems, to find ways to support systems.

It is obvious the system is broken, the rest is spin.




Did they pay the debt owed to me? See what I mean, how can they rationalize some debt to a bank. It is ridiculous.

[nadinbrzezinski]

15. Empire is truly on the decline

and Mullen knows it... this is one reason why... debt.

IT is almost a law of Imperial decline, whether this is... Rome, where it started slowly, or the USSR where it was sudden... or Spain mid range, or England...

Mullen knows that he may just preside over it.

That's one reason that they are now going into budget revision and reduction.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

16. The invasion/occupation (of choice) in Iraq added a nice chunk of change to the nation debt

I don't know if they supported or opposed it but I'm glad to know that they plan on doing their part in "cutting back" on spending for the Pentagon even though plenty of money always seems to be able to be found/borrowed for the Pentagon while we are constantly lectured by "Deficit Hawks" that we need to cut back on entitlement programs, infrastructure, schools, etc.- you know, all that *wasteful* social spending that we need to pay to help care for other human beings in our country? :banghead:

[Raster]

17. While the invasion/occupation of Iraq added much to the public debt, the financial benefits,

as usual, have been privatized. All of that lovely oil and natural gas now comes under the auspices and control of private oil companies handpicked by the new puppet government. Remember the out-and-out lie used to promote the illegal and immoral way: it would pay for itself.:rofl:

[Proud Liberal Dem]

18. Privatized profits, socialized losses

Wash.rinse.repeat. :banghead: :puke:

[Raster]

19. Privatized profits and socialized losses = predatory, canivore capitalism

[newspeak]

20. yeah, the "war on terror" has been a goldmine to certain corporations

I remember in the nineties under Clinton, when they attempted to pass a bill to monitor banking transactions for terrorism. It was voted down--surprise, surprise, by mostly the repugs.

Now-I might sound over the top, but I remember in California there was a man who had a job as seasonal cook for the fire crews--well, he started a fire so he could work. Not saying there are no extremists, but what was and is the most effective way to really fight terrorism--it definitely is not going to war with every fekkin country that you think has terrorists, unless someone is making big moolah off of it.

And, since security has to do with the well-being and security of the american people, I'd say that our economic well-being should be a major concern.

And, you know what? Even though the Bin Ladens stepped on the board of Carlyle, I wonder how much money they've made off of it? After all, there in construction--they doing any business in Iraq?

[robdogbucky]

21. So, has this now replaced climate change as biggest threat?

Honestly, it's hard to keep up. Well, no matter which is the biggest threat de jour, it is at least promising to have people think of these things regarding their impact. Of course military debt is the most wasteful debt of all. Why not take another look at the 3-martini lunch (business lunch tax exemption)? Seems there is some bloat that could be trimmed aside from just the Pentagon's budget and their 783 bases worldwide.



Published on Sunday, February 22, 2004 by the Observer/UK

Now the Pentagon Tells Bush:
Climate Change Will Destroy Us
Secret Report Warns of Rioting and Nuclear War; Threat to the World is Greater than Terrorism

by Mark Townsend and Paul Harris in New York


"...A secret report, suppressed by US defense chiefs and obtained by The Observer, warns that major European cities will be sunk beneath rising seas as Britain is plunged into a 'Siberian' climate by 2020. Nuclear conflict, mega-droughts, famine and widespread rioting will erupt across the world.

The document predicts that abrupt climate change could bring the planet to the edge of anarchy as countries develop a nuclear threat to defend and secure dwindling food, water and energy supplies. The threat to global stability vastly eclipses that of terrorism, say the few experts privy to its contents.

'Disruption and conflict will be endemic features of life,' concludes the Pentagon analysis. 'Once again, warfare would define human life...'

...An imminent scenario of catastrophic climate change is 'plausible and would challenge United States national security in ways that should be considered immediately', they conclude. As early as next year widespread flooding by a rise in sea levels will create major upheaval for millions..."

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0222-01.htm


This was from 6 years ago! Interesting reference to flooding there, no?




Hands off my Social Security!
Hands off Latin America!




Just my dos centavos


robdogbucky