U.S. Senate backs massive increase in military spending

[webfact]

U.S. Senate backs massive increase in military spending

By Patricia Zengerle

 

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Secretary of Defence Jim Mattis leaves a news conference after a NATO defence ministers meeting at the Alliance headquarters in Brussels, Belgium on June 29, 2017. REUTERS/Eric Vidal/File Phot

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate passed its version of a $700 billion defence policy bill on Monday, backing President Donald Trump's call for a bigger, stronger military but setting the stage for a battle over government spending levels later this year.

 

The Republican-controlled chamber voted 89-8 for the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2018, or NDAA, which authorizes the level of defence spending and sets policies controlling how the money is spent.

 

The Senate bill provides about $640 billion for the Pentagon's main operations, such as buying weapons and paying the troops, and some $60 billion to fund the conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and elsewhere.

 

The 1,215-page bill includes a wide range of provisions, such as a 2.1 percent military pay raise and $8.5 billion to strengthen missile defence, as North Korea conducts nuclear weapons and ballistic missile tests. It also bans Moscow-based Kaspersky Labs products from federal government use.

 

The House of Representatives passed its version of the NDAA at a similar spending level in July.

 

The two versions must be reconciled before Congress can consider a final version. A fight over spending is expected because Senate Democrats have vowed to block big increases in funds for the military if spending caps on non-defence programs are not also eased.

 

The versions of the bill increase military spending well beyond last year's $619 billion, defying "sequestration" spending caps set in the 2011 Budget Control Act.

 

Trump wants to find more money for the Pentagon by slashing nondefence spending. His fellow Republicans control majorities in both the House and Senate, but they will need support from Senate Democrats to change the rules and allow a bigger Pentagon budget.

 

Senator John McCain, the Republican chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has been shepherding the legislation through Congress as he undergoes treatment for an aggressive type of brain cancer.

 

Arguing for increased spending, McCain said more men and women in uniform are dying in avoidable training accidents than in combat. "Where's the outrage? Where's our sense of urgency to deal with this problem?" he asked before the vote.

 

Both the Senate and House rejected Defense Secretary Jim Mattis' plan to close more bases starting in 2021.

 

Despite partisan divides that have kept Congress from passing much major legislation recently, the NDAA has been passed for 55 straight years.

 

Trump has criticized parts of the NDAA, but has not threatened a veto.

 

(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-09-19

[Rancid]

See "Defense Contractor" stocks went up on the news, obviously with the 20 trillion dollar deficit even more money goes to the largest military in the world (defending against who?) rather than into infrastructure or other useful projects. I guess America First wasn't actually about working families but rather to further fatten the wallets of societies parasites.

 

The irony here of course being that those that stay at home nice and safe get even richer while the returning mentally and physically injured Vets are still poorly treated.

[craigt3365]

2 hours ago, Rancid said:

See "Defense Contractor" stocks went up on the news, obviously with the 20 trillion dollar deficit even more money goes to the largest military in the world (defending against who?) rather than into infrastructure or other useful projects. I guess America First wasn't actually about working families but rather to further fatten the wallets of societies parasites.

 

The irony here of course being that those that stay at home nice and safe get even richer while the returning mentally and physically injured Vets are still poorly treated.

Conflict is happening all over the world.  From Ukraine to North Korea to Syria.  Hardly a time to back down on military spending.  Can't blame the US for all these problems.  China, Russia and others are ramping up their expenditures also.  Perhaps time for a reset?

[ALLSEEINGEYE]

2 hours ago, craigt3365 said:

Conflict is happening all over the world.  From Ukraine to North Korea to Syria.  Hardly a time to back down on military spending.  Can't blame the US for all these problems.  China, Russia and others are ramping up their expenditures also.  Perhaps time for a reset?

The US already spends more on defense than the next 10 largest countries in the world. Last thing they need is to spend another trillion!!

 

All about the rich getting richer, corruption at its finest!! 

[craigt3365]

2 minutes ago, ALLSEEINGEYE said:

The US already spends more on defense than the next 10 largest countries in the world. Last thing they need is to spend another trillion!!

 

All about the rich getting richer, corruption at its finest!! 

Name one nation where the rich don't want to get richer. LOL

 

The US spends a lot, but as a leader in global commerce, it's paid off quite nicely.

[ilostmypassword]

2 hours ago, craigt3365 said:

Conflict is happening all over the world.  From Ukraine to North Korea to Syria.  Hardly a time to back down on military spending.  Can't blame the US for all these problems.  China, Russia and others are ramping up their expenditures also.  Perhaps time for a reset?

Because the US will be intervening more?

[craigt3365]

7 minutes ago, ilostmypassword said:

Because the US will be intervening more?

Always with the anti-US comment.  You're like a broken record.  How about trying to deal with this?

 

https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/bosnia-herzegovina/2017-09-06/russias-bosnia-gambit

Quote

But they are also major blows to the regional aspirations of Russia, which hopes to keep the still unincorporated segments of the former Yugoslavia “neutral”—that is, outside the EU-NATO fold. Moscow actively sought to prevent the pro-Western transitions in Macedonia and Montenegro, sometimes in dramatic and violent fashion, and will doubtlessly continue to meddle in the affairs of both countries. But the target of Russia’s next Balkan gambit—possibly the most forceful one yet—is in the region’s strategic center: Bosnia and Herzegovina.

 

Sometimes, there are 2 sides to a story.  You should try to look on the other side.  For just once. LOL

[Machiavelli]

2 hours ago, craigt3365 said:

Conflict is happening all over the world.  From Ukraine to North Korea to Syria.  Hardly a time to back down on military spending.  Can't blame the US for all these problems.  China, Russia and others are ramping up their expenditures also.  Perhaps time for a reset?

700 billion and North Korea with a two dollar nuclear weapon is running circles around you. 

[kamahele]

And how to pay for it as they are also promising huge tax cuts to the rich.... By cutting health care and other social welfare programs for the poor of course. Even after the cuts, they will still have to continue spending more money than is coming in as the expense is so huge and the willingness to raise taxes or cut tax loopholes to raise income is not there for either party.

[craigt3365]

38 minutes ago, Machiavelli said:

700 billion and North Korea with a two dollar nuclear weapon is running circles around you. 

Hardly a two dollar nuclear weapon, but nice troll post.  Perhaps the reason for no action yet is to try and protect our allies.  A good thing to do, right?  Hopefully you agree with that. LOL

[rijb]

1 hour ago, Machiavelli said:

700 billion and North Korea with a two dollar nuclear weapon is running circles around you. 

You'll be the first one crying when NK pushes the button, and the world economy takes a dump.  

[Thaidream]

The only crying that needs tobe done is that the Us Congress has passed a bill raising the Defense Budget to 700 Billion Dollars and at the same time not passing a universal healthcare bill; not passing Immigration reform; not raising taxes on the wealthy and generally not giving a damn about the average American who struggles.  you can also add Senior citizens who have seen little to nothing in a raise on their entitlement for the last few years.  There is absolutely no reason to raise defense spending to this level. It is already the highest in the World. Instead of waging war  how about a pullout of troop from the Middle East and Europe and let other countries pay for some of the defense.

Absolutely ridiculous to deprive Americans of  Healthcare while increasing defense to this level.

[craigt3365]

14 minutes ago, Thaidream said:

The only crying that needs tobe done is that the Us Congress has passed a bill raising the Defense Budget to 700 Billion Dollars and at the same time not passing a universal healthcare bill; not passing Immigration reform; not raising taxes on the wealthy and generally not giving a damn about the average American who struggles.  you can also add Senior citizens who have seen little to nothing in a raise on their entitlement for the last few years.  There is absolutely no reason to raise defense spending to this level. It is already the highest in the World. Instead of waging war  how about a pullout of troop from the Middle East and Europe and let other countries pay for some of the defense.

Absolutely ridiculous to deprive Americans of  Healthcare while increasing defense to this level.

[Jonnapat]

And millions of people are without health insurance. Always plenty of money found for the military though.

[Machiavelli]

4 hours ago, craigt3365 said:

Hardly a two dollar nuclear weapon, but nice troll post.  Perhaps the reason for no action yet is to try and protect our allies.  A good thing to do, right?  Hopefully you agree with that. LOL

If you think 700 billion is for protecting so called allies rather than lining the pockets of the military industrial complex, you must be living in la la land.

[Machiavelli]

3 hours ago, rijb said:

You'll be the first one crying when NK pushes the button, and the world economy takes a dump.  

Nuclear war ain't going to happen. Everyone with an ounce of a brain knows this. Scare tactics to rip Americans off. American tax payers are easy to rip off when they are scared. 

[rijb]

54 minutes ago, Machiavelli said:

Nuclear war ain't going to happen. Everyone with an ounce of a brain knows this. Scare tactics to rip Americans off. American tax payers are easy to rip off when they are scared. 

Who said anything about a 'nuclear war'?  Why do we need the U.N. if we have you?

 

Why are you concerned about American tax payers?  What's your skin in the game?  Are you trying to dazzle us with your brilliance?

 

Where's your concern for the people of NK?  They pay a lot more (hunger, executions, etc.) than taxes.

 

Do you think the people of China and Russia have been ripped off by their leadership's military spending?  

 

Are you being ripped off by your country?

[craigt3365]

1 hour ago, Machiavelli said:

Nuclear war ain't going to happen. Everyone with an ounce of a brain knows this. Scare tactics to rip Americans off. American tax payers are easy to rip off when they are scared. 

So missiles fired off over Japan, massive nuclear weapons tests that almost bring mountains down,  etc, are all scare tactics? Another troll post.

[connda]

I think it's time for Team America - World Police to be substantially defunded and that money earmarked for the reconstruction of the US infrastructure.  War's a racket.

[sirineou]

9 hours ago, craigt3365 said:

Conflict is happening all over the world.  From Ukraine to North Korea to Syria.  Hardly a time to back down on military spending.  Can't blame the US for all these problems.  China, Russia and others are ramping up their expenditures also.  Perhaps time for a reset?

Create a problem and then solve it for a fee, an excellent business strategy,

[craigt3365]

1 hour ago, Machiavelli said:

If you think 700 billion is for protecting so called allies rather than lining the pockets of the military industrial complex, you must be living in la la land.

If you think North Korea only spent two dollars for their weapons, you must be living in la la land. Or was that just trolling?  LOL

[wwest5829]

The largest amount of discretionary spending in the U.S. budget while calling for social program cuts for citizens and refusing to tax the wealthy at a reasonable amount considering they profit most.

[hawker9000]

10 hours ago, wwest5829 said:

The largest amount of discretionary spending in the U.S. budget while calling for social program cuts for citizens and refusing to tax the wealthy at a reasonable amount considering they profit most.

"Reasonable".  ROFL    Wealthy definitely pay more than the not-so.  But you, like any good socialist, won't be happy until they're left with no more than the not-so (which I presume would perhaps include, umm, YOU?).   So yeah, go with that and watch what happens with no economic incentive to innovate and produce.   You might take a little trip to, oh, I don't know, Venezuela or N, Korea, and see what it's like when socialism sucks up everything and no one has any particular reason to compete any more, leaving only the thugs who cash-in on violence and intimidation.   Some members, the America-haters, moan CONSTANTLY on TV about evil, greed-driven America; but why the heck do you think people by the MILLIONS will do ANYTHING to come here, even illegally, and always have!?

 

Here's a clue:  usually (not always, but generally) those who PROFIT the most ACHIEVE the most!   Yeap, that leaves a lot of non-achievers (and liberal politicians) obsessed with envy at what the achievers have.  And that's the name of your game; you just want what somebody else has, and you think you're going to get it by doing your bit to incite class warfare.

 

 

 

 

[ilostmypassword]

1 hour ago, hawker9000 said:

"Reasonable".  ROFL    Wealthy definitely pay more than the not-so.  But you, like any good socialist, won't be happy until they're left with no more than the not-so (which I presume would perhaps include, umm, YOU?).   So yeah, go with that and watch what happens with no economic incentive to innovate and produce.   You might take a little trip to, oh, I don't know, Venezuela or N, Korea, and see what it's like when socialism sucks up everything and no one has any particular reason to compete any more, leaving only the thugs who cash-in on violence and intimidation.   Some members, the America-haters, moan CONSTANTLY on TV about evil, greed-driven America; but why the heck do you think people by the MILLIONS will do ANYTHING to come here, even illegally, and always have!?

 

Here's a clue:  usually (not always, but generally) those who PROFIT the most ACHIEVE the most!   Yeap, that leaves a lot of non-achievers (and liberal politicians) obsessed with envy at what the achievers have.  And that's the name of your game; you just want what somebody else has, and you think you're going to get it by doing your bit to incite class warfare.

 

 

 

 

It's odd that the poeple who run and provide the brain power for Silicon valley and such, vote overwhelmingly democratic. And the 2 ethnic groups who also are dispproportionately econonically successful Jews and Asian Americans, also vote overwhelmingly Democratic. On the other hand we have the Red states, which are overwhelmingly takers from the Federal Government. Hmmmm.

[wwest5829]

1 hour ago, hawker9000 said:

"Reasonable".  ROFL    Wealthy definitely pay more than the not-so.  But you, like any good socialist, won't be happy until they're left with no more than the not-so (which I presume would perhaps include, umm, YOU?).   So yeah, go with that and watch what happens with no economic incentive to innovate and produce.   You might take a little trip to, oh, I don't know, Venezuela or N, Korea, and see what it's like when socialism sucks up everything and no one has any particular reason to compete any more, leaving only the thugs who cash-in on violence and intimidation.   Some members, the America-haters, moan CONSTANTLY on TV about evil, greed-driven America; but why the heck do you think people by the MILLIONS will do ANYTHING to come here, even illegally, and always have!?

 

Here's a clue:  usually (not always, but generally) those who PROFIT the most ACHIEVE the most!   Yeap, that leaves a lot of non-achievers (and liberal politicians) obsessed with envy at what the achievers have.  And that's the name of your game; you just want what somebody else has, and you think you're going to get it by doing your bit to incite class warfare.

 

 

 

 

What incites class warfare is any system that embodies injustice in its laws and an unsustainable wealth/income gap. I was not aware that the 90% top tax rate under Eisenhower brought ruin to companies and was a disincentive for the wealthy. Yes, like other periods of history, defend that class gap and you will same results. It needs no incitement from me, when the people of any country get a belly full, they will turn their anger to the streets. By the way, I said reasonable .. I do not call for the return to a 90% top rate we had under the Republican administration of Eisenhower, although I do support his reasoning contrary to your seeming outlook.

[Goodwill Jones]

What is criminal is that we have the technology to take NK's rockets out before they can get off the ground.  The public cannot know this because, then we could not rattle the sabers. Then it would be harder to  pick our pocket so easy to buy useless crap.  “We now have the technology to take ET home.” said Ben Rich from the Skunks works over 20 yrs ago. The ants have not confronted the grasshoppers yet.  This nonsense is about as useful as the combustion engines from 100 yrs ago. We have such great technology but only the chosen can know we have.

[DaddyWarbucks]

"We will be spending almost $700 billion on our military and defense. Our military will soon be the strongest it has ever been."

This short statement contains the key to unlock the reason behind the fact that while the US military is extremely good at killing people in large numbers, it is also extremely bad at winning wars.

Like most Americans, Trump is under the illusion that spending a lot of money "buys" you a better military. That's hogwash, of course. If spending money was the key to a competent military force, the US armed forces would have already conquered the entire planet many times over. In reality, they have not won anything meaningful since 1945.

 

[attrayant]

An $81 billion increase - am I reading that right?  

 

That's about twice the amount that Bernie's "Free College for All" plan would have cost, and many conservatives said his plan would bankrupt America.

[Pib]

Guess it costs a lot to help defend our allies in Europe, Asia, and other places....would be nice if they would spend more for their own defense.  

 

According to these Wikipedia references, an $81B increase is more than any U.S. ally spends on their entire military budget.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_military_expenditures

[craigt3365]

Perhaps this is a better way to view military expenditures.  Looking at the total is perhaps not the best approach???

 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/niallmccarthy/2015/06/25/the-biggest-military-budgets-as-a-percentage-of-gdp-infographic-2/#5a5b29d4c47f