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Old 07-21-2013, 11:46 AM
 
Location: Barrington
63,919 posts, read 46,487,374 times
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Originally Posted by MTAtech View Post

The Abrams tank provides one such example of where the Pentagon says it can save billions of dollars by freezing work on upgrading the Abrams tank from the M1A1 to the M1A2 version for the next three years. In spite of this, there are some in Congress who insist that this money be spent because the work is to be performed in their districts.
We gifted them to our pals in Egypt.

Government gives aid to X nation.

X nation uses money to fund defense contracts with U.S. gun and military manufacturers.

Some folk in some districts get to keep their jobs, because U.S. government is the source of funding the work.

Reducing or eliminating foreign aid means cancelled contracts and instant unemployment for many people employed in the broad defense industry.
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Old 07-21-2013, 12:50 PM
 
9,300 posts, read 16,593,074 times
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Originally Posted by MTAtech View Post
Those cuts weren't made by the Administration. They were agreed upon by the Administration and Congress, to be so devastating that all sides would come to a mutual agreement. Failing to do so, the cuts went into effect.

What is notable is that while you complain about Defense cuts, you don't mention a single word about domestic cuts, like to Medicare, aid for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP); the National Institutes of Health; The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Border security; Immigration enforcement; Airport security; Head Start; FEMA’s disaster relief; Public housing support; the FDA; NASA; Special education; The Energy Department’s program for securing nukes; The National Science Foundation; The FBI; The federal prison system; State Department; Global health programs; the Millenium Challenge Corp. sees a $46 million cut, and USAID a cut of about $291 million; The Nuclear Regulatory Commission; The SEC; The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum; The Library of Congress and the Patent and Trademark.

Given that Congress has often added items to the Defense budget that the Pentagon said they don't need, I am not really worried that the nation is defenseless.

The Abrams tank provides one such example of where the Pentagon says it can save billions of dollars by freezing work on upgrading the Abrams tank from the M1A1 to the M1A2 version for the next three years. In spite of this, there are some in Congress who insist that this money be spent because the work is to be performed in their districts.
When I mentioned the Defense department I was referring the our troops, specifically their pay and Hagel's recent announcement that the sequester will continue and probably get worse for our troops. Obama brought the sequester to the table and our administration, Dem or GOP, let it happen. To make an across the board 10% reduction in the government offices was a move that was total poor judgment. Hundreds or thousands Americans have been adversely affected financially by this yet we continue to give money to countries that hate us.
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Old 07-21-2013, 01:07 PM
 
9,300 posts, read 16,593,074 times
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Originally Posted by middle-aged mom View Post

Reducing or eliminating foreign aid means cancelled contracts and instant unemployment for many people employed in the broad defense industry.
I served 20+ years in the military and worked another 20 in the defense industry. In the past year, many, many of my co-workers and friends have been laid off by the defense companies which was not related to foreign aid. The Defense industry is highly dependent on research and development and contracts for the next generation weapons, aviation, tanks, etc. In most cases these take years to design and develop. The US defense industry's sales of aviation, tanks, etc. to foreign countries has increased quite a bit in the last few years, which is not related to foreign aid. Many of the treaties, like the one with Egypt were signed by Carter. Maybe someone needs to relook at them.
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