Posted on 05/19/2006 7:37:38 PM PDT by muleskinner
The real threat to U.S. security
By Rick Steves
Special to The Times
Rick Steves
The greatest risk to our society today is not Islamo-fascist terrorism, but the people who use that term to scare us. As the human, fiscal and ecological damage caused by our nation's economic priorities grows, it's becoming clear that we're addicted to more than oil — we're addicted to military spending, too.
The United States spends as much on its military as the rest of humanity combined: more than $400 billion annually (not including the hundreds of billions of dollars for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan). These military expenses are "off limits" as we sharpen our collective pencils to find $39 billion to cut from domestic programs. And yet, despite our already huge military expenditures, these days it's hard to get elected without promising even more military spending.
Recently, San Francisco Supervisor Gerardo Sandoval appeared on the Fox News program "Hannity & Colmes." Frustrated by our government's budget priorities, Sandoval suggested America would be better off without a military. Instead, he said, "we should invest our money in our kids." Right-wing pundits pounced on these statements, and even many prominent Democrats distanced themselves from Sandoval.
Should we abolish the American military altogether? Of course not. But daydream with me for just a moment: What if we gradually scaled down military spending, chose not to rush off to foreign wars based on questionable motives, and began to take the name of our "Department of Defense" literally?.....
(Excerpt) Read more at archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com ...
Well, get a load of this! Full on bend over for Osama. The military? They can get by on 1/4 of their budget.
Sure Rick, while impotent mainland Europe hides quaking in our shadow. They've had a free ride for 60 years.
Steves is a total leftist hump who has not only drunk the Kool-Aid, but makes it. Conservatives and any moderates on FR should avoid his website, products and travel services. F'em.
Now, can anyone suggest an excellent travel website that isn't run by some goofy leftist?
But daydream with me for just a moment: What if we gradually scaled down military spending, chose not to rush off to foreign wars based on questionable motives, and began to take the name of our "Department of Defense" literally?.....
Someone should tell this Marxist that this is exactly what Bubba Clinton during the 90s, and we got 9/11 for it. I loathe idiots like this - they are as dangerous as the Islamofacists we are fighting.
ARTICLE SNIPPET:
"The greatest risk to our society today is not Islamo-fascist terrorism, but the people who use that term to scare us."
Hmmmm.....
===
ON THE NET...
http://www.truthusa.com/911news.html
http://www.truthusa.com/911news2.html
http://www.truthusa.com/911.html
http://www.memri.org/jihad.html
http://www.memritv.org
http://www.jihadwatch.org
http://www.internet-haganah.com/haganah/index.html
chose not to rush off to foreign wars based on questionable motives
Bubba Clinton did do this in the Kosovo when he bombed the hell out of Serbia, without the approval of the Almighty UN, for absolutely reasons that literally had absolutely nothing to do with our security. I bet that this dingbat finds no fault whatsoever with the Great Stainmaker though.
I used to like this guy. Now he's added to my list of people to boycott like many, many so called actors and musicians.
These people want to commit national suicide.
Does this idiot really think there's no threat from Islamofascism? What will he say after they nuke NYC and DC?
Of course his travel program is on PBS and all the begging channels who don't really need your money.
Awww... I still like his show.
Bingo. The real answer to the rhetorical question that the author poses is: Himself. Socialist morons just like him.
Gee, the "U.S. is always wrong" argument. How original.
Those "Frankies and Johnnys" were named in honor of Americans, as in the American military which saved Europe's butt in WWII. Amazing how some people forget those tiny details.
In a way, I partly agree with this article. Let's just concentrate on us after this Iraq business. Then, when Europe (who won't defend itself) gets their rears in a sling, we can just sit back and watch, while people like this article writer scream that we should do something.
Just goes to show, there's a huge difference between intelligence and wisdom. And I'm not sure about the intelligence part on this one.
Tits on a bull.
It is quacks like this that REALLY make me wish for a Roman Empire styled U.S.A where the military would kindly take offense at such words and take the quack behind the barn for a few words of correction.
Perhaps Rick Steves should take his face -and move to another country/any country. With haste.
Here is another line from the article:
Let's be honest: Is there anyone out there who would actually want to — or, more importantly, be able to — invade the United States?
To answer the first question for this brainless wonder, yes, there are quite a few people/countries that would like to to invade us. To answer the second question, no, no one would be able to....BECAUSE WE SPEND ALOT OF MONEY ON OUR MILITARY!! That's why we don't cut back on defense spending, you moron. Does this guy even read what he writes, to avoid looking like a complete tool, before he publishes it?
If Steeves had any brains he'd realize his trips to France would be NON-Existent without the military.....France would be GERMAN!
Easy.
* Conservatives / neo-cons / Christians / Republicans provoked the Muslim Terrorists. QED...we "deserved" it.
* Reagan & Bush's fault for building up the military after methodical decimation by DemocRATic Presidents, again provoking the Muslim Terrorists.
* We've spent too much money on defending ourselves and not enough on "understanding" & "dialogue".
* We're simply not tolerant enough.
* We haven't paid slave reparations.
* We haven't raised taxes and reversed the tax cuts.
* We haven't impeached Bush & Cheney and replaced them with the candidates who had the election "stolen" from them: President Gore & Vice President Kerry.
* It's the fault of Talk Radio, FOX News, Free Republic, etc. for not providing "equal time".
Take your pick...mix & match. The Apologist/Appeasement Gene is dominant in all liberals.
That saves more than $300 billion a year ($400 billion less $100 billion), which we could use to tackle not "Islamo-fascism," but more-fundamental concerns: dependence on oil, both foreign and domestic; a skyrocketing debt that allows other nations (such as China and Saudi Arabia) to gain economic and political leverage over our homeland; progressively violent weather and a rising sea caused by global warming...We could even let the wealthy keep their tax cuts.
I don't think that any further comment is needed here ROFL!!!
How did you know some or all of the many things that many of my "friends" and relatives have said to me at one time or another?
Oh and by the way have at him:
rick@ricksteves.com
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