An Unconscionable Affront To The American People

Here’s Obama speaking out against wasteful military spending to the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Phoenix today:

You know the story. The indefensible no-bid contracts that cost taxpayers billions and make contractors rich. The special interests and their exotic projects that are years behind schedule and billions over budget. The entrenched lobbyists pushing weapons that even our military says it doesn’t want. The impulse in Washington to protect jobs back home building things we don’t need at a cost we can’t afford.

This waste would be unacceptable at any time. But at a time when we’re fighting two wars and facing a serious deficit, it’s inexcusable. It’s unconscionable. It’s an affront to the American people and to our troops. And it’s time for it to stop.

I guess this doesn’t count as an ‘indefensible’ or ‘exotic’ project:

Some American troops will soon find themselves stationed at military bases scattered across the South American nation of Colombia with a mission to use advanced Predator drone technology to aid in fighting the drug trade and to combat terrorism, according to published reports Saturday.

Or this:

Israel Develops Military Robot Snake

Israeli defense researchers are working on a robot snake that can sneak through cracks and into buildings to send back sound and video of enemy movements — or even plant explosives.

So the latter snippet is from Israel, but we know where they get the money to fund their exotic projects.

Apparently, there is wasteful military spending and “wasteful military spending,” and good, sensible Americans know the difference.

Funny, when it comes to military technology the sky is the limit and science fiction is always becoming a reality, by golly; but mention single-payer health care in the United States and you may as well be suggesting we invest in time travel. Can’t happen. Impossible. Unrealistic.

I find this an unconscionable affront to the American people.