Congress is Trying to Scuttle Committee’s Legal Obligation to Cut Defense, page
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Topic started on 28-10-2011 @ 03:22 PM by Vitchilo
Not a big surprise from these warmongers in congress.

Congress is Trying to Scuttle Committee’s Legal Obligation to Cut Defense
Moves are being made in Congress, along with heavy lobbying from defense firms, to avoid a requirement to cut defense budgets

The initial deal to reduce the deficit by $1.5 trillion over the next decade in exchange for raising the debt ceiling contained what is called a trigger mechanism: if the debt committee couldn’t pass a budget cutting proposal, automatic across the board cuts would be activated – including defense.

But now members of Congress are working to overturn that key element of the deal. The Joint Committee on Deficit Reduction, the 12 Republicans and Democrats appointed to the task otherwise known as the “super committee,” needs to have a plan by November 23, but is said to be short of the $1.5-trillion goal. And public statements and intense lobbying from defense corporations indicate the trigger mechanism will be scuttled by Congress.

Senator Jon Kyl of Arizona said he would walk away from his position on the super committee if any defense cuts were at all a part of its final proposal. Senator John McCain, who is not on the committee, has said he would try to eliminate the mandatory defense cuts before the deadline. And Rep. Howard P. McKeon, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, spread fear that steep mandatory cuts would require the military to institute the draft.

Senator Lindsey Graham, too, wants defense cuts off the table. ”It would be the dumbest thing,” he said. “I am disappointed in my Republican Party for allowing that to be part of the puzzle.”

This kind of talk in Congress has been lent additional legitimacy and leverage from Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, who has been railing against serious cuts to his budget for months, recently comparing the notion to suicide.

War, war and war, the only thing congress cares about.

edit on 28-10-2011 by Vitchilo because: (no reason given)



reply posted on 28-10-2011 @ 03:59 PM by Vitchilo
reply to post by neo96


Cut defense by cutting the wars. Yeah jobs will be lost... so what. Jobs that kill people ain't jobs Americans should want.


reply posted on 28-10-2011 @ 07:15 PM by Southern Guardian
reply to post by Vitchilo


Warchickens I refer to them as. Happy to send american citizens to their deaths, all for the profit of the military industrial complex. You know, even if we were to cut our defense in half, we'd still have a larger defense expenditure than any other country, more than that of the European union combined. Unbelievable.... but nobody seems to care how bloated our military budget really is...


reply posted on 29-10-2011 @ 05:58 AM by TheImmaculateD1
reply to post by Vitchilo


You notice that it's only the GOP extreme calling to block this.

Regardless if someone leaves the Committee the cuts will still be activated and since Congress can't agree on anything anyhow the trigger will be pulled as scheduled!


reply posted on 29-10-2011 @ 06:12 AM by backinblack
reply to post by neo96


Those people who get paid by government funds are not introducing new wealth into the system.


And that would be every member of the military..

So how would cutting that budget effect the economy as you state??

Yes, maybe more unemployed but even their dole payments would be far cheaper than keeping them in active service..


reply posted on 29-10-2011 @ 06:21 AM by TheImmaculateD1
reply to post by backinblack


Plus with the end of the Iraq Theatre by the end of the year will save like $30 Billion a week ($120 Billion a month or $2.4 Trillion a year) stands to save us $2.4 Trillion in Year 1 alone! Which for us stands to save $24 Trillion in the next decade!

This can knock at least $12 Trillion off of the overall debt of about $55 Trillion.

How's that for Fiscal Conservatism? Personally I'd rather spend that $24 Trillion in America fixing up roads, bridges, homes, infrastructure, new construction. You know, putting Americas to work. Something the GOP seem to hate!
edit on 29-10-2011 by TheImmaculateD1 because: (no reason given)



reply posted on 29-10-2011 @ 08:03 AM by TheImmaculateD1
reply to post by upstairsjim


November 23 is fast approaching. The general Congress itself is powerless to stop it. This will happen like it or not!



reply posted on 29-10-2011 @ 08:10 AM by CherubBaby
reply to post by Southern Guardian


Yes big money to be made in war, for example. The US tax payer is charged $28.00 for each empty styrofoam plate given to every Serviceman, Army, AF, Marines, Navy etc in the Iraq or Afghanistan War!! Even if the plate is empty and $56.00 if another plate is used for a lid!! VP Dick loves us.. s/f op thx.


reply posted on 29-10-2011 @ 08:49 AM by Vitchilo
Originally posted by TheImmaculateD1
reply to post by Vitchilo


You notice that it's only the GOP extreme calling to block this.

Regardless if someone leaves the Committee the cuts will still be activated and since Congress can't agree on anything anyhow the trigger will be pulled as scheduled!

Ya but both parties are making money off the wars. Remember that democrats hold congress from 2006... and they never stopped the wars. Obama is president, never stopped the wars.

Both parties love war.


reply posted on 29-10-2011 @ 08:15 PM by TheImmaculateD1
reply to post by Vitchilo


So, Iraq ending by the end of this year is what? A whitewash? A Lie? Afghan theatre concluding 2014 means nothing?

The 2 main conflicts are ending on his watch yet you say he's continuing them? Where is your logic?

That is a major default and problem with the GOP is that their hate for him is so deep rooted that they can't give him a win on anything!
edit on 29-10-2011 by TheImmaculateD1 because: (no reason given)



reply posted on 31-10-2011 @ 05:02 AM by backinblack
reply to post by TheImmaculateD1


well didn't Obama say he'd bring them home the DAY he was elected??

So far all we have is words and more troops deployed..

Now there's talk that many troops will actually stay deployed in various other ME countries..

That's not exactly the same as "Bringing them home"...


reply posted on 31-10-2011 @ 05:29 AM by TheImmaculateD1
reply to post by backinblack


He did say that they'd come home on the campaign trail and even when he got elected but gave no specific timetable until just recently as to when it'd actually transpire.

Meaning in about 4 months the only active campaign will be Afghan theatre!

What 3 wars?

edit on 31-10-2011 by TheImmaculateD1 because: (no reason given)



reply posted on 31-10-2011 @ 01:44 PM by Southern Guardian
Originally posted by backinblack
reply to post by TheImmaculateD1


well didn't Obama say he'd bring them home the DAY he was elected??


Obama promised in the primaries that he'd withdraw all US troops from Iraq by August 2011. We could say he's broken that promise. There are claims that all troops will be withdrawn by December 2011, but define withdrawal. There will be a considerable number of troops moved to Kuwait.

That's not exactly the same as "Bringing them home"...


Agreed, but this is unfortunately the case for troops over the years. The United States has had troops based South Korea, Germany, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Britain, for years upon years on end. There are far too many money makers in the defense industry to let anything change.....
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