Our community tried to work with the Navy on excessive overflights. What we found out in the process is that the only check that our government has on the military is appropriations. And once the military has the money, there is no real oversight and no hammer to get them to obey by the law. Everything can become a "national security" issue and thus an excuse to do whatever they want.
Surprised The Bureaucratic Realigning of Officers through Tactical Hegemony and Executive Loyalty (BROTHEL) program wasn’t mentioned. You know Pete likes to keep his hoes in check.
The Pentagon is a mafia boondoggle. Since its inception it has only started wars it did not win. Feed it more money, it merely gets fatter. Put the tubby bastard on a diet, make him walk a treadmill, give him a very restricted income like the rest of us. And maybe democracy will find a way.
Well, Ms STRokes-- I in fact don't own any guns. Some of which might be actually necessary to "take over" "my" government. And I've protested every war "my" government initiated. But you stay there in your Outback, trolling.
"outback trolling!" I do not live in your digusting country but I did for 20yrs which was nothing but sewage and shopping. NO care for countries you decimated..
Well Ken, as Hegseth so blithely told us, it takes money to kill bad guys. But apparently that money isn't also going into, say, the hospitals that will be needed to treat the casualties of this insane war - witness Fort Gordon, Grorgia's Eisenhower Medical Center imminent conversion from a hospital to an ambulatory care center with no in-patient services and a shift from emergency care to urgent care - or into the stockpiling of more cost effective weapons like drones. Instead it all goes down a rathole with no accountability. Just the way our fearless leaders like it.
A labyrinth which I think President Eisenhower warned us about. That entire 1961 farewell speech is worthwhile to remember/re-read. Congress pokes its own eyes out looking away because many of their voters work within that labyrinth and are not shy about warning off ambitious efforts to control it.
Ken, as a former civilian business restructuring consultant, I expect the people problems at the heart of feeding this behemoth are the same: employee resistance, traditions no one wants to stop observing like printed reports no one reads but 15 people collaborate on monthly, money to play with, Congressional (or managerial) cowardice and reluctance to lose a lovely budget, and did I say money, comforting weekly schedules/revulsion toward change. entitlement, and money.
Thank you for that great long list. If we fix healthcare, the pentagon, and the rich paying their fair share, we will be wallowing in every kind of wealth and security.
In the same frustratingly slow way as ever. We have to expose the budget (Ken's piece really helps) to everyone we can, let our reps at state and federal levels know how we feel and what we want, keep pushing and mouthing off (with data) as often as possible. I knew the budget was an inexcusable monster but the breakdown from Ken exposes the depth of the mess and the clear complicity of every officer in it. Patriots my hind patootie.
Two problems, one of long standing is the ability to wave the flag and pass out money without question as if there is no limit either to contractor profits or the federal debt. It used to be that Republicans would sound the alarm on the budget but that is long gone. This is just another example of the victory of the 1% in our democracy of lobbies.
The other problem is having a macho man as defense (war) secretary. Hegseth clearly thinks himself the alpha male, reveling in his job as if the US military were a reflection of him. He, just like Bondi and Noem, treats Congress with contempt, refusing to acknowledge the Constitutional right of the legislature to question the executive. This common trait of no respect for the law in the cabinet shows it is a gang that must be removed from office including the scofflaw in chief.
To my mind it really does not matter much to me how the Western Empire dies......there are good people in the West but if you grew up like I did (colonial kid in Sri lanka) I would hope that the western Colonial idea dies a very nasty death.
I am white living in France and I am disgusted with the West.
We are now (not me) planning a war against Russia which saved us from Nazi Germany................upside down/elitist bullshit/money/money /money.
Our community tried to work with the Navy on excessive overflights. What we found out in the process is that the only check that our government has on the military is appropriations. And once the military has the money, there is no real oversight and no hammer to get them to obey by the law. Everything can become a "national security" issue and thus an excuse to do whatever they want.
This is an important point - Congress has SO MUCH power if it only chose to use it.
Surprised The Bureaucratic Realigning of Officers through Tactical Hegemony and Executive Loyalty (BROTHEL) program wasn’t mentioned. You know Pete likes to keep his hoes in check.
lmao
The Pentagon is a mafia boondoggle. Since its inception it has only started wars it did not win. Feed it more money, it merely gets fatter. Put the tubby bastard on a diet, make him walk a treadmill, give him a very restricted income like the rest of us. And maybe democracy will find a way.
Mafia Boondoggle would be a great title for a book!
......and no screening for te Pentagon.
What is the budget for the Pentagon? Nobody knows and the americans don't care!
Oh many of us care. Many detest the place and what we pay for it. But the unemployed keep sending them their kids.
IF you care so much..........what are you doing?
How many of you have guns?
Don't waste my time with this bullshit ...........you could take over your Government but you are all pussies.
None of you in your country have had to deal with war BUT you simply did not care when YOUR country attacked others!
Well, Ms STRokes-- I in fact don't own any guns. Some of which might be actually necessary to "take over" "my" government. And I've protested every war "my" government initiated. But you stay there in your Outback, trolling.
Maybe `YOU don't own any guns but 10000's do.
"outback trolling!" I do not live in your digusting country but I did for 20yrs which was nothing but sewage and shopping. NO care for countries you decimated..
Well Ken, as Hegseth so blithely told us, it takes money to kill bad guys. But apparently that money isn't also going into, say, the hospitals that will be needed to treat the casualties of this insane war - witness Fort Gordon, Grorgia's Eisenhower Medical Center imminent conversion from a hospital to an ambulatory care center with no in-patient services and a shift from emergency care to urgent care - or into the stockpiling of more cost effective weapons like drones. Instead it all goes down a rathole with no accountability. Just the way our fearless leaders like it.
No business model like a good shakedown!
Damn! I am retired Army and had no idea we had all these duplicative offices! You are good! Hegseth is BAD.
Thanks Cathleen!
Really curious what the “Beholders Gaze Experiment” does? Or did you just put that in there to see if we were reading the list?😀
You can read about it here: https://www.army.mil/article-amp/282889/devcom_cbc_contributes_to_successful_beholders_gaze_24
A labyrinth which I think President Eisenhower warned us about. That entire 1961 farewell speech is worthwhile to remember/re-read. Congress pokes its own eyes out looking away because many of their voters work within that labyrinth and are not shy about warning off ambitious efforts to control it.
Ken, as a former civilian business restructuring consultant, I expect the people problems at the heart of feeding this behemoth are the same: employee resistance, traditions no one wants to stop observing like printed reports no one reads but 15 people collaborate on monthly, money to play with, Congressional (or managerial) cowardice and reluctance to lose a lovely budget, and did I say money, comforting weekly schedules/revulsion toward change. entitlement, and money.
Thank you for that great long list. If we fix healthcare, the pentagon, and the rich paying their fair share, we will be wallowing in every kind of wealth and security.
And it doesn't help that we are living in a Pathocracy. How do we stop them?
In the same frustratingly slow way as ever. We have to expose the budget (Ken's piece really helps) to everyone we can, let our reps at state and federal levels know how we feel and what we want, keep pushing and mouthing off (with data) as often as possible. I knew the budget was an inexcusable monster but the breakdown from Ken exposes the depth of the mess and the clear complicity of every officer in it. Patriots my hind patootie.
I think I am in love with you Ken from a 77yr old woman living in France.
What I do really want to know which nobody seems to talk about: WITHOUT Earth minerals from China how are the US going to build this force?
I seriously doubt Hogsbreaath has any idea!
When the US gave up on educating its people I was there for 20yrs) my kid
learned NOTHING in the USA. I think hogsbreath is the same age as my daughter.
Watch The Pentagon Wars if you in doubt :o)
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 for the reporting work
👎🏻👎🏻👎🏻 for the findings of said reporting work
That’s just WAY too many orgs
So many!
Two problems, one of long standing is the ability to wave the flag and pass out money without question as if there is no limit either to contractor profits or the federal debt. It used to be that Republicans would sound the alarm on the budget but that is long gone. This is just another example of the victory of the 1% in our democracy of lobbies.
The other problem is having a macho man as defense (war) secretary. Hegseth clearly thinks himself the alpha male, reveling in his job as if the US military were a reflection of him. He, just like Bondi and Noem, treats Congress with contempt, refusing to acknowledge the Constitutional right of the legislature to question the executive. This common trait of no respect for the law in the cabinet shows it is a gang that must be removed from office including the scofflaw in chief.
To my mind it really does not matter much to me how the Western Empire dies......there are good people in the West but if you grew up like I did (colonial kid in Sri lanka) I would hope that the western Colonial idea dies a very nasty death.
I am white living in France and I am disgusted with the West.
We are now (not me) planning a war against Russia which saved us from Nazi Germany................upside down/elitist bullshit/money/money /money.