Saturday, April 22, 2017

Defense Secretary James Mattis Has Privately Told Congress That President Trump's Budget Will Not Fully Rebuild The Military



CNN: Sources: Mattis tells Hill Trump budget won't fully rebuild military

Washington (CNN)Defense Secretary James Mattis has privately told Congress the Trump administration's Pentagon budget request isn't sufficient to cover the cost of rebuilding the military as President Donald Trump has vowed to do, four sources familiar with the conversations told CNN.

Trump has repeatedly said he would rebuild the military with a massive defense spending increase, but the funding planned for next year's budget is less than what the Pentagon sought, according to sources with knowledge of the deliberations.

Mattis is not publicly raising concerns about the $603 billion Pentagon budget plan, aligning himself with the White House's decision, though it's a stance that's sparking frustration from some Republican defense hawks in Congress. But the Pentagon's private assessment matches lawmakers' public criticisms of Trump's budget plan.

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Update #1: Mattis tells lawmakers Trump budget won't fully rebuild military: report (The Hill)
Update #2: Mattis doubts Trump budget will cover military buildup: Report (Washington Examiner)

WNU Editor: Apparently the hawks in Congress want $640 billion.

2 comments:

B.Poster said...

As I've patiently explained here and elsewhere a number of times, how much money a country spends on it's military is a bit like "time of possession" in American football. Experts in American football have referred to this statistic as the "least important statistic."

While the statistic is not unimportant, it is not the where all end all statistic. The same applies to military spending except the gross amount a country spends on it's military is even less important than time of possession in American football. Why did Mr. Mattis sign up for a military career? 1.) Did he do so to defend America and it's interests? 2) Did he do so to become rich and famous beyond measure? 3.) Did he do do to defend America's "allies" even at the expense of America?

Most military personnel sign up for reason 1. From such a ridiculous "private" statement to Congress it appears the motivations of Mr. Mattis must be 2 or 3. I've been told in Vietnam that soldiers sometimes executed their commanding officets rather than follow their ridiculous orders that would've gotten them all killed. Mr. Mattis may well be no different.

If these ridiculous idiots truly are the leaders, America is ripe for a coup. Such things have happened numetous times throughout history. Thete is nothing unique, special, or exceptional about America. ss such, American leaders would be ill-advised to think they are immune.

Russia has pound for pound built the most powerful military on earth. This has been done on a fraction of the budget the United States has. I already know how this happened. The good general Mattis needs to ask such questions and get with the program. If he doesn't, he can hang from the same post as the rest of American "leaders" when the coup occurs.

Tne coup may well be the least bad option. The nation's enemies aren't going to strive with it forever.

Unknown said...

B.Poster, when A.Poster is unavailable.