Comments on: “QDR Is Broken,” Opines Heritage

By: saeed

saeed — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 07:58:37 +0000

HI I’m an Iranian. I think American people are very good people in the word that work for development and peace in Afghanistan.
I hope you can make a peaceful country and have good result in war against terrorism.

By: Silvrt01

Silvrt01 — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 14:53:45 +0000

Pennst98: “…face economic collapse and certain military defeat with their weakened state and lose everything in the US/NATO reprisals.…… ”

And this is why the true “enemy” are those with nothing to loose.

By: pennst98

pennst98 — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 02:49:32 +0000

DOC75: A collection of hype cycle stories about a military doing what militaries do isn’t analysis.…it’s called listing. Saying China is a peer competitor is like saying a high school and the Indianapolis Colt are peer competitors because they both have kickers, QB’s, etc.…… Factor in strengh, power, experience, morale, training and you realize that while they all have the same parts, the talent and funding is nowhere close.

The question I throw back to you is exactly under what scenario are we worried about Russia or China? China can’t project its forces and sustain them in and number, and upon firing the first round would commit economic suicide. The Russian can project some of its military, but only enough for a suicide run that causes less damage than a hurricane; and they would also face economic collapse and certain military defeat with their weakened state and lose everything in the US/NATO reprisals.……

By: pennst98

pennst98 — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 02:34:41 +0000

Could you ever make a point without brining up someone’s political affiliation? It’s so ignorant and childish. It’s like pointing out someone’s skin color everytime you comment on their work. It’s either good or bad; their color is an extraneous factor.

Oh.…and I believe the Republican Congresses of the 1990’s signed off on those military cuts under republican SecDefs.……so enough with the blame games.

By: William C.

William C. — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 22:55:43 +0000

But I guess you, Byron, and others whining about the “EVIL neo-conservatives” isn’t briging up somebody’s political affiliation.

Bush Sr. began it, Clinton continued it, and now Obama to repeat similar cuts and force reductions.

By: William C.

William C. — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 22:49:42 +0000

http://www.businessandmedia.org/articles/2007/200... Hmm, what did you say about that 46 million figure being correct? But I guess it would be difficult to look up the facts rather than demand the universal healthcare and say childish things like "Limblob" and "Faux News." And I am supposed to believe that all of the people working for these right wing think tanks are morons while anybody working for a left wing think tank or for the CBO, GAO, NIH, and CDC are geniuses? No it is the welfare queens who are welfare queens. Homeless veterans need whatever medical support when can give them, and the VA has been addressing that. Yet you want to subtract that cost from the money that goes towards military procurement. Allowing people to live off the welfare system rather than help them get back on their feet is not "spending tax dollars wisely", Paying for people who bought homes they couldn't afford is not "spending tax dollars wisely". Paying for weapons systems that ensure we maintain the technological and qualitative edge over the enemy, systems that save lives through better armor, firepower, and capabilities, that is spending tax dollars wisely. Despite what those trying to justify the public option say, people don't get turned around at the hospital for a lack of health insurance. And plenty of people with insurance die from treatable illnesses as well because not everything is diagnosed correctly, people don't visit a medical specialist in time, and treatments don't always work. I am sorry to interupt the liberal alternate reality where no one WITH health insurance dies. That's why no one ever died in Soviet Union where they had public option health care, and they all had free education, free homes, and free food And that's why they won the Cold War of course! Perhaps you need to stop getting all your information from Democratic party talking points pushing this abomination of a healthcare bill. This bill that is magically supposed to "not add a dime to the deficit."

By: 1EachBENNIS

1EachBENNIS — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 20:53:33 +0000

Here. This is some of what I am saying, just more articulate. For all the GD QDR's in the world wont make one wit if, as happened, we buy useless crap "not worth a Pomeranen grenaders bones."-Bismark http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Outside_View_Stra...

By: Silvrt01

Silvrt01 — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 15:27:27 +0000

Doc75:
What a great link. This is a very informative figure, but slightly misleading. While “defense” proper is significantly smaller than social programs of welfare, health, and pension, one important thing to keep in mind that much of the Pension and some of the Health are legacy costs for defense (both civilian and military). I read an interesting article that broke that information out and it is pretty amazing the shift it causes. Of course I can not find the link, but if I come across it i will post it up. It includes things like the GI Bill within education, and healtchcare/Pension for servicemen and civilian defense. I am not saying those benefits should be reduced. I personally think that those that served deserve the support they were promised, but looking at the numbers on a whole helps us understand the true-er costs of war and defense spending.

By: BOOMER

BOOMER — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 13:43:12 +0000

The QDR is possible if you look at it as a warrior and not a politician or liberal. We have the capability right now to go into a country and inflict serious damage in a matter of days. If we had pulled out of Iraq and Afghanistan within the forst couple of months while they were in ruins and had fewer American casualties, rather than hanging around trying to convert them our way and make money under the table through our buddies corporations given contracts at the US publics expense. If we had pulled out it would have sent the message dont mess with us period, rather than dont worry if you mess with us we will rebuild and make your country better. If we had just kicked but and left the population would have eventualy turned on thier own government. What we need to do is increase the number of deployed expiditionary forces and at sea battle groups to a minimum of four (2 on each coast) then we need to cross train with the Army to get them sea going expeditionary force capable as well. This would allow us to reduce or completely remove our troops from most overseas locations that cost way too much to maintain. But since a warrior thought of this rather than a politician it wont happen because it makes too much sense.

By: Todd

Todd — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 07:35:12 +0000

well, since I’m still in and here, your not(by the sounds of it) it is broken, i read last years addition, Did not account for Russia, nor China. Russia is back in the barrel again, Putin has said that to the media. China has been playing a very good game since the 90’s. Look first, arm yourself. Speak only when spoken too.

By: William C.

William C. — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 07:29:52 +0000

Apparently Byron thinks his own opinion is so amazing he won’t bother responding to anything or anybody. He might as well just start his own blog and join the other self-aggrandizing liberals who pat each other on the back while spewing opinions nobody reads.

By: doc75

doc75 — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 06:00:31 +0000

"The national debt problem is real, the banks that were to big to let go down added from $5-7 trillion in debt, something has to give. With the growing need for social programs..." Umm, not really. See link below. If you want to address the debt, you better consider looking at the social programs/entitlements because that is where the vast majority of government spending can be found. I am not sure besides politics what is driving the "growing need" for social programs. America won World War II, landed man on the moon, won the Cold War, invented the Internet and other technologies without this "growing need" for social programs. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Us_gov_spending...

By: Daniel Russ

Daniel Russ — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 05:46:25 +0000

The figures came out of the Bush Administration’s CBO and GAO, the NIH and the CDC. I know all those PHDs and MDs and researchers aren’t as smart as you, but they do have three digit IQs and hearts that work– something you might not experience. The only people who debunk them are Rush Limblob and Faux News who cherry pick their facts, or get them from fake universities called Think Tanks where people are paid for a specific point of view, not independent thinking. The figures are accurate, whether it makes your sphincter slam shut or not. Homeless veterans are welfare queens? Holy crap. People losing their homes need no help?

Why are you pooping in your pants just because the President is trying to spend tax dollars wisely? Being efficient and smart is not the same thing as gutting the military. Spending too much and getting too little is gutting the military and frankly it’s un American.

That all said, why should my tax dollars go pay for more useless wasteful weapon systems that support mainly shareholder dividends and lobbying and do nothing for the national defense or the soldiers in the field?

Every year 45000 Americans die from treatable illnesses because they cannot afford medicine. That’s the equivalent of a 9/11 every few months. I guess sick Americans who can’t afford our overpriced medicine are all welfare queens.

My suggestion for you is to, from time to time, turn off the TV, remove your cranium from that hole in the ground, or take walk around and see what’s actually going on. Maybe even read something.

So yes, there is a pressing need for more social programs. Thanks for helping me make my point.

Respectfully,

Daniel Russ
Civilianmilitaryintelligencegroup.com

By: William C.

William C. — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 05:02:42 +0000

Yep. And meanwhile the liberals are trying to repeat the cuts of the 1990s at an even greater scale.

By: William C.

William C. — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 02:24:05 +0000

For God’s sake that 46 million figure has already been proven to be a load of nonsense, some people choose not to by health insurance, the “stimulus” has already shown that tossing over a trillion of dollars at the economy doesn’t fix anything, and why should the government use my tax dollars to pay for these peoples houses? Government is not the solution to all of your woes. It wasn’t a matter of veterans getting “bottom-shelf” care either, the system was simply overwhelmed and that is already being addressed and rightfully so.

Enough playing the pity card. Millions of people living in the street? Is that supposed to justify the gutting of our military, wealth redistribution, or this public option? There are more than enough welfare kings and queens in this country, and we don’t need to create more.

By: doc75

doc75 — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 01:03:40 +0000

Hey look! Non-existent near-peer! http://china-pla.blogspot.com/2009/12/top-pla-sto...

By: daniel

daniel — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 21:51:06 +0000

whatever you say but id love to see your credentials.

By: Daniel Russ

Daniel Russ — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 21:33:23 +0000

There is no immediate need for more social programs in the United States, if you are not one of the 46 million Americans with no health insurance, or if you are not one of the quarter of a million Americans a month that lose their jobs, or if you’re not one of the 25% of mortgage holders who’s home is worth less than you owe on it, or if you are not one of the tens of thousands of wounded Veterans who continue to get bottom shelf care despite your wounds or sacrifices, or if you are not one of the millions of Americans who are literally living in our streets, or if you are not one of the millions of hard working class Americans whose pensions were emptied by the robber baron bankers after decades of dedicated sacrifice.

Other than those easy to ignore Americans, those who do not deserve the bandwidth of Tiger Woods or Paris Hilton, who never show up on our news, then for sure we don’t need any more help.

Respectfully,

Daniel Russ
Civilianmilitaryintelligencegroup.com

By: pennst98

pennst98 — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 21:25:37 +0000

I'll admit there is some truth to that, however even without red tape you need billion dollar shipyards / factories and decades of expertise, that's all I'm saying. Without advanced foundries and hundreds of subcontractors you can't produce advanced techonology. It's an odd thing for most people to grasp, because we all still remember that for decades you just stole the plans and built your own, but since the mid 80's all the software and advanced circuitry prevents an adversary from building to print. I'm not saying no one could do it. I'm saying it would be VERY hard, VERY expensive, and you have to ask yourself WHY would you build it if you don't need it? Militaries are used to either secure the nation's defense, or gain something. (land, territory) The Chinese are shoring up their defenses, but the Russians are a shell and we don't bother them. Hell, they are bending us over every day on trade.......if they want it they buy it. Why screw that up?

By: Byron Skinner

Byron Skinner — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:58:25 +0000

Good Morning Folks,

Since I’m restricted from addressing individuals or institutions here and I simply can’t see any contribution to the argument from others I guess this topic is done. Other then personal attacks and statements that are irreverent to the topic I can find nothing here to respond to.

ALLONS,
Byron Skinner