- Home
- Politics
- Entertainment
- Sports
- Health
- Religion
- Society
- Tech
- Money
- People
- Science
- Galleries
Politics
Video: Congress Tries to Force U.S. Army to Accept New Tanks on Behalf of Defense Contractors
More than 2,000 M-1 Abrams tanks are sitting in a parking lot in Herlong, California because of a disagreement between the U.S. Army, Congress and the military industrial complex.
The U.S. Army's chief of staff General Raymond T. Odierno told Congress, earlier this year, that the U.S. has more than enough combat tanks and the U.S. Army can save taxpayers as much as $3 billion if they do not off repair, or make new tanks, for three years when new technologies are expected, reports CNN (video below).
However, 173 House Democrats and Republicans are urging Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, to support their decision to produce more unwanted tanks.
The 173 members of Congress claim that if the U.S. Army stops tank production and repair, the actions will damage the nation's economy.
While Congress claims they are worried about the economy, their fears seem to be about the military industrial complex. Defense contractor General Dynamics, which builds tanks, gives contributions to Congress when votes come up on weaponry.
Rep. Buck McKeon, Chairman of the House armed services committee, actually told CNN that he didn't know General Dynamics had given him $56,000 in campaign contributions since 2009.
Rep. Silvestre Reyes, who has received $64,000 from General Dynamics since 2001, said he is worried about the workforce if General Dynamics' Lima, California plant is closed for three years.
Sign up for the OV Daily Newsletter
Comments
The idea that that very plant
The idea that that very plant is only capable of producing the M1A1-3 Abrams MBT is retarded, they can produce any number of military/heavy vehicles out of the same plant if "idled" for 3 years the simple fact of the matter is however that the profit margins are highest on tanks.
You are correct... this is a
You are correct... this is a whine. They probably have a line tooled up for the Abrams MBT. It could be converted to any number of other uses. The autos do this all the time when they change lines.
This is why Ike warned us of
This is why Ike warned us of the tyranny of the MIC and why we need to purge Congress of all of the dead wood in both parties. This is also Congress trying to do what Romney said that he wants to do....increase military spending beyond what the military even asks for. Talk about tax and spend....it sure as hell ain't Obama doing that.
The Armed forces know what they need and how best to accomplish those goals. Congress needs to do nothing more than approve budgets that mesh with that; not try to force wasteful spending on the military or on the American people.
The insanity principle is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results. The far right, the far left, vegans, creationists and other extremists believe in the insanity principle, religiously.
I wonder what Gen. Odierno
I wonder what Gen. Odierno thinks will happen to the skilled workers, foundries, and specialized production machinery if they are idled for three year. Does he think General Dynamics will just let the equipment and real estate sit while the company continues to pay property and real estate taxes on it? Does he think those workers will twiddle their thumbs hoping to get their jobs back in three years? Or does he understand that the capability of manufacturing that kind of specialized weaponry could disappear for good, leaving our nation dependent upon foreign purchases to arm our troops? I don't know if this Chief of Staff is an Obama appointee but his actions seem to indicated that he shares our current President's apparent desire to neuter our nation's armed forces.
[url=http://startaid.co.in]st
[url=http://startaid.co.in]startaid[/url>] | [url=http://slashdotbookmarks.in]slashdotbookmarks[/url]| [url=http://mylinkvault.co.in]mylinkvault[/url] | [url=http://mister-wongbookmarks.in]mister-wongbookmarks[/url] |[url=http://jumptags.co.in]jumptags[/url] | [url=http://buddymarks.co.in]buddymarks[/url] | [url=http://blogcatalog.co.in]blogcatalog[/url] | [url=http://dmozbookmarks.in]dmozbookmarks[/url] "The latest draft also acknowledges the role played by alternative investments, including private equity and hedge funds, in diversifying risk and enhancing investment returns. It must be emphasised that the ultimate responsibility of protecting the interests and investments of pension fund members vests squarely with the trustees of pension funds," said Treasury.
startaid | slashdotbookmarks
startaid | slashdotbookmarks | mylinkvault | mister-wongbookmarks | jumptags | buddymarks | blogcatalog | dmozbookmarks "The latest draft also acknowledges the role played by alternative investments, including private equity and hedge funds, in diversifying risk and enhancing investment returns. It must be emphasised that the ultimate responsibility of protecting the interests and investments of pension fund members vests squarely with the trustees of pension funds," said Treasury.
startaid | slashdotbookmarks
startaid | slashdotbookmarks | mylinkvault | mister-wongbookmarks | jumptags | buddymarks | blogcatalog | dmozbookmarks "The latest draft also acknowledges the role played by alternative investments, including private equity and hedge funds, in diversifying risk and enhancing investment returns. It must be emphasised that the ultimate responsibility of protecting the interests and investments of pension fund members vests squarely with the trustees of pension funds," said Treasury.
I say let them just go out of
I say let them just go out of business and sellout to someone who knows how to run a business. That's capitalism. Competent companies survive, incompetently managed companies fail. We bailed out the Banks and they went right back to the same risky behaviors & frauds that caused the 2008 crash, because they expect taxpayers to always bail them out. Any govt contractor so dependent on the govt tit that they don't have diversified products & buyers probably should go bankrupt. The US Military is a great client but no business can survive with one client. Other contractors diversify. Maybe General Dynamics needs a new board, management team & CEO. I have no doubt if Gen Dynamics had to sellout, their facilities would be purchased by someone with better long-term business plans.
The general did not create
The general did not create this situation, nor is it his responsibility to assure peoples' incomes from making military hardware. Over the years many communities have had to experience this situation without any recourse, and it need not be military-associated. That just part of life. Maybe the general can move those 2000 tanks after negotiating with some middle-eastern nation in preparation for the "Battle of Armageddon."
jaysea
This wasn't the chief of
This wasn't the chief of staff, this was the military itself saying that they already have too many tanks and they don't need any more of the current crop, and won't for at least 3 more years - when technical advances will roll out a new model of tank.
The tanks produced over the next 3 years would just end up being replaced right away because the newer tanks make them obsolete.
So the military is pleading with us to not waste money, and because all of the MIC's lobbyists whine loudly enough, congress will insist on wasting the money. And they'll still complain about government waste, and how we need to elect them to cut back on government excess and waste.
How many of you will remember who votes to waste these billions of dollars when election day rolls around?
Are these employees and factories completely unable to make anything but tanks? That sounds like more of a reason to get rid of them now than keep them around.
Sadly nobody will remember
Sadly nobody will remember whom voted for what. How many people read this type of news anyway. I see a lot of the same people in here and it's not many. That is why governments can get away with this crap. Nobody is watching but you and I. We are screwed, invest your money wisely.
Economics is weird when you
Economics is weird when you have one producer and one buyer. The government doesn't need more tanks for the time being, but if they cancel their contract then the single supplier will either shrivel or pay its employees to sit and wait and count on making a big score when the next generation of tank is available. Or, next time they'll have to charge the government more so they can offer huge bonuses to recruit people from safer jobs. (They'll need these huge bonuses to fund their likely periods of unemployment.)
Maybe they are for Obama's
Maybe they are for Obama's secret troops for if he refuses to accept being voted out of office & tries to go dictator on us.
What geniuses have taught you
What geniuses have taught you to think any POTUS could ever become a dictator? Or did you think of that by yourself?
jaysea
I like to believe Holysmokes
I like to believe Holysmokes just enjoys being provocative, but he isn't the only person on this site to regurgitate Evangelical teachings about Obama, the military and the end of world (which they thought was happening in '08). Their obsession with Armaghettan, the Rapture, the 2nd coming & inciting civil war is truly scary when you combine that with their belief that all this must happen in their life time. They do not want the world to go on without them, which makes them different than other human beings who instinctively know they live on through their children & grandchildren. These people don't want to protect the future. They delude themselves into believing if EVERYONE dies with them their families will all live on together in heaven. These apocalyptic preachers & political religious organizations that grew out of the "Me" 80's into the Christifascism we see today. Sorry this is off the topic on military equipment, except that I think those people fear any delay in US military buildup could delay their agenda.
51% of Evangelicals polled at the World Evangelical Conference believe Christ will return in their lifetime ( http://m.christianpost.com/news/global-evangelical-leaders-believe-in-rapture-imminent-second-coming-of-jesus--51504/ ( . I wonder how many believe it is their duty to insure this comes about? Christofascism is a serious threat to American values & our Constitution. I do not think those who believe in it should go unchallenged. http://www.opednews.com/populum/pagem.php?f=The-Cost-Of-Christofascism-by-Rev-Dan-Vojir-120726-347.html
"HolySmokes?" What the hell
"HolySmokes?" What the hell have you been smoking? Wow!