On AlterNet: defense spending

Stories, blog posts, and videos tagged as "defense spending"

Defense Cuts? Don't Believe it Until you See Them

Mark Engler, Dissent Magazine. July 27, 2011.

In the real world, talk of cuts to the military has a way of evaporating when it comes time for appropriations.

Are We Giant Suckers? While the US Blows Money on the Military, Europe Spends Dough on Social Programs

Joshua Holland, AlterNet. June 17, 2011.

Hawks simultaneously argue that lavish U.S. military spending subsidizes Europe’s social welfare programs, and that we’re the smarter party in this deal.

It Takes a Woman to Lead the Way to Peace: Mayor Kitty Piercy Leading the Way to Bring Our War Dollars Home

Jodie Evans, AlterNet. May 30, 2011.

We must encourage Congress to make rational, long-term decisions when debating oversight of the military.

Five Eye-Opening Facts About Our Bloated Post-9/11 'Defense' Spending

Joshua Holland, AlterNet. May 28, 2011.

A dollar spent on guns is one less buck available for butter.

Out-of-Control "Defense" Spending Must Be Tamed -- Here's How

Dina Rasor, TruthOut.org. February 10, 2011.

Routinely, DOD doesn't know if it has paid contractors once, twice, or not at all. It doesn't even know how many contractors it has, how many they employ, or what they are doing.

How Did Super Bloated Defense Spending Become Such a Sacred Cow That We Can't Have a Debate About Cutting It?

Andrew Bacevich, TomDispatch.com. January 27, 2011.

The U.S. military outlays today equal that of every other nation on the planet combined -- and we get very little for it.

Why It's So Hard to Slash the Bloated Pentagon Budgets

David Sirota, AlterNet. October 14, 2010.

Beware the sophistry of budget talking points -- especially those seeking to deter any criticism of defense spending.

One of Obama's Social Security Slasher Wannabes Threatens Small Town with Nuclear Annihilation

Mike Elk, AlterNet. September 1, 2010.

David Cote is so dangerous he's willing to risk nuclear fallout in order to force uranium workers to cut their retiree health care and pension plans.

America Can't Afford its Empire

William Collins, AlterNet. July 21, 2010.

One day the deficit will force us to bring all those troops home, like it or not.

What We Could Do with All That Money We Waste on War

Stephen Pizzo, News for Real. March 9, 2010.

If the government can't protect people from would-be enemies AND provide basic social services, those leaders are in defacto default of their social contract with their own people.

President Obama to Request Another $33 Billion for Unpopular Wars

Derrick Crowe, January 13, 2010.

The Associated Press reports that President Obama "plans to ask Congress for an additional $33 billion to fight unpopular wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Hawks in Congress Willing to Shell Out Trillions for War, but Won't Help Americans Get Decent Health-Care

Zaid Jilani, ThinkProgress. November 13, 2009.

Why?

Obama Touts the Money We'll Save with Health Reforms, While We Quietly Spend Billions on Bush's Wars

Byard Duncan, AlterNet. September 12, 2009.

The debates over health care reform and the war in Afghanistan are dogged by the same questions: What is the cost to us? How have our priorities changed?

Why Won't Lawmakers Give up Their F-22 Pipe Dreams?

dday, Hullabaloo. June 27, 2009.

Lawmakers are arguing that the addition of F-22 fighter jets, along with a second engine for F-35s, is vital to national security.

Krugman Calls Out GOP Hypocrisy on Job Creation and Defense Cuts

Amanda Terkel, ThinkProgress. April 13, 2009.

GOP up in arms over jobs losses only when it comes to cuts in defense spending.

Obama's Serious About Taking an Axe to Corruption and Waste at the Pentagon

Alexander Zaitchik, AlterNet. March 17, 2009.

Obama has been devoting time to talk about defense spending reform, and has assembled a team to make sure it happens.

Hey Obama, Downsize This: 25% Slash for Defense Spending Needed Now

Maya Schenwar, TruthOut.org. March 2, 2009.

With so many social programs desperately in need of better funding, progressive leaders are making a push to go after Pentagon budgets.

America Is Completely Broke, And Here We Are Funding Fantasy Wars at the Pentagon

Chalmers Johnson, TomDispatch.com. February 3, 2009.

Scam artists are making a huge fortune off inferior, poorly designed weapons.

Fighting the Greedy Defense Lobbyists: Our Schools vs. Their Worthless Weaponry

Conn Hallinan, Foreign Policy in Focus. December 22, 2008.

With less money to go around, why burn it on stupid projects for the defense industry?

The Pentagon Represents Astounding Excess in Spending and Firepower: Can Obama Take it on?

Frida Berrigan, TomDispatch.com. November 26, 2008.

Tackling the Pentagon, with its mega-budget and its mega-power, may be the hardest task Obama faces.

It's Time for a Trillion-Dollar Tag Sale at the Pentagon

Nick Turse, TomDispatch.com. October 29, 2008.

When we want to get serious about a long-term bailout strategy, we'll start dismantling the American empire and Pentagon programs.

Real National Security Begins at Home, Say Women Leaders

deleted, Media Consortium. October 26, 2008.

The Pentagon sucks up 54 percent of the federal budget. Yet politicians rarely challenge it. It may take women to fix our defense priorities.

The American Empire's $650 Billion Bailout Already Passed Congress

Chalmers Johnson, TomDispatch.com. September 29, 2008.

If we don't cut back our ever-increasing military spending in a major way, the bankruptcy of the United States is inevitable.

Fund Health Care, Not War

Norman Solomon, AlterNet. June 19, 2008.

The old claims of a justified war in Iraq have melted away. So have promises of a humane society back at home.

How Many Oreo Cookies Does It Take to Bankrupt a Nation? [VIDEO]

Adam Howard, August 3, 2007.

Ben & Jerry's Ben Cohen delivers a demonstration using Oreo cookies to illustrate what's wrong with America.