Quote:It is supposed to be about our common defense, and to that end our military has no peer. But when you look at the lobbying efforts around base closure procedures, or money poured into unnecessary weapons or equipment programs, please don't try to tell me it's all about our defense.

 

Why do you think Rep. Charlie Bennett had a stranglehold on his job so many years? He brought jobs to his district. He kept the bases here open.

 

Don't throw that smokescreen of insult in my face. I respect those who serve more than you may realize. Military personnel are but a fraction of the jobs created by the military industrial complex, which is a term coined by none other than Dwight Eisenhower, who saw what was happening with the military and warned against it.

 

As in all things, if you want answers to what is going on, follow the money.

 

Regarding our military "has no peer", it's not as people believe.  Our military is weakened so much that countries pose a very real threat to us and our allies.  The militaries of other countries are equipped well enough to defeat our current capability.  As an example, an "outdated" Russian submarine can launch a nuke right off of our coastline without ever being detected in advance.

 

I'll agree that there is certainly "lobbying" when it comes to base closures and it certainly is about money and the economy.  Many cities very existence depends on the presence of a military base.  The people that a base brings in is vital to business big and small.

 

Money poured into "unnecessary weapons or equipment programs" shows your lack of knowledge regarding why these programs are in place.  Much of the military thrives on, trains on and does it's job using outdated technology.  Updating and bringing this technology into the 21st century is an important thing for us to remain a "super power". 

 

So yes, it's all about the common defense.

 

And it's not a "smokescreen".  I have pretty thick skin and rarely get offended or insulted, but your comment that the military is a "jobs program" and that's what the "military industrial complex is all about" really offended me.  But what offended me more is when you claimed that the military is "a massive jobs and economic stimulus program, mixed in with corporate welfare".

 

I didn't serve my country under some "jobs and economic stimulus program".  I served my country honorably because it was the right thing to do at that particular time in my life.  When 9/11 happened I even tried to go back because I believed that our military needed every able bodied person.

 

Many like you who (understandably) have not served have no idea what it's about and what it means.

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