Posted on 11/27/2012 9:44:54 AM PST by jazusamo
The Department of Defense (DOD) is responsible for protecting national security and providing military forces to deter war, yet it blows tens of billions of dollars on preposterous things unrelated to its mission.
A variety of unimaginable examples are featured in a baffling report (“Department of Everything” ) published this month by a Republican U.S. Senator, who asserts the Pentagon could easily save around $70 billion over ten years without cutting any Army brigade combat teams, Navy combat ships or Air Force fighter squadrons. It could be done simply by getting rid of the waste, according to the findings.
That’s because the DOD has a monstrous $629 billion annual budget and a chunk goes to dubious projects that are tough to justify as defense expenses. For instance, the senator’s probe reveals that the Pentagon funded $6 billion in studies that have little or nothing to do with national defense or medical needs related to military service.
Here is an example of where defense dollars are going; an anthropologist at a public California university got $681,387 to examine whether men holding pistols are viewed as taller, stronger and more masculine than those wielding objects such as saws, paint brushes and caulking guns. For the record, guys with guns do in fact appear bigger, stronger and more masculine, the study found.
Another good one involves fish. For $5.2 million researchers at an Ivy League university found that golden shiner fish could show the nation how to overcome political polarization and promote democracy. The Office of Naval Research spent $450,000 to study how babies interact with robots. The DOD also burned $700 million on “duplicative and unnecessary alternative energy” projects and $1.5 million to create its own brand of beef jerky treats.
The Pentagon also spends more than $9 billion to operate 254 grocery stores throughout the United States to benefit military retirees. Most of the stores, known as commissaries, are actually located just blocks from major chain grocery stores. The money spent on these questionable projects could fund a third of the planned fleet of new strategic Air Force bombers, according to the Oklahoma senator, Tom Coburn, who exposed the waste.
“I prepared this report because the American people expect the Pentagon’s $600 billion annual budget to go toward our nation’s defense,” Coburn said in a statement posted on his official website. “That isn’t happening. Billions of defense dollars are being spent on programs and missions that have little or nothing to do with national security, or are already being performed by other government agencies.”
bflr
I know this report has a lot that needs to be cut..but how else will the big wigs line their pockets? and if their budget is cut..it won’t stop ..just the care and well being of solders will go down..
How many of these are covers for ‘dark’ projects?
If I, as a hetrosexual soldier or salior, wants to go impregnate some woman to whom I am not married, I'm expected to pay child support out of my regular military pay. So it should be for military who contact STDs with their openly homosexual lifestyle.
Good luck finding Republican or conservative legislators to do anything about it, though.
What the Pentagon wants, it gets. Heck, it even gets stuff it doesn't want & did not ask for.
Quite the sacred cow.
“First place the Pentagon should cut: No health benefits to be paid for the treatment of STDs which are the result of “lifestyle choices.””
Right! Obamacare will spend your tax money on JUST THIS in the general population. Make us all pay for sin inflicted disease.
Why are our soldiers any different?
This article reminded me of corrupt elected officials such as former Rep. Murtha that have power and reward their friends and contributors with this type graft.
I seriously doubt those high up in our military channel funds for these type programs, more likely many of these project funds are from Congress and earmarked for them.
Actually, they benefit active duty military families AND retirees.
Frankly, I am not a fan of commissaries. One can find better products for the same price off base. But there are some bases that don't have a grocery store nearby.....
Republican Golden Calf (pork) ping!
To get their budget approved the military must do some odious things. The Navy was required to buy a bomber that was so obsolete we couldn’t give them, brand new, to our allies. The plant was in the budget chairman’s district. Bush H. finally put the kibosh on it because every time it dropped its iron bombs in Iraq it hit a school, a hospital or a huddling family of tiny children. The Green movement has forced the military to buy oodles of incredibly expensive “green” fuel. The military is now buying Chevy Volts, so too, is the State Department.
A contract may be for five years, but the money to pay for it is approved one year at a time. This forces the contractors to pony-up mullah to Congressmen’s (pardon, Congressperson’s) re-election campaigns. This also prevents money-saving expenditures such as automation. If you knew you had a five year contract you could save lots of money by automating production. But, instead, every major item is virtually hand-built by expensive labor. (Then, that labor gets laid off the moment the contract blips; a condition I’m in as of November 16th.)
Paying themselves and friends.
Much of the “waste” in the defense budget is added on Capitol Hill before the budget “mark” is sent back to Defense. Every member of congress with a pet project will try to get it into a defense bill or steer more defense dollars to their district. When Defense gets their budget back, it will contain all manner of things they never asked for and don’t want. If DoD needs A, they had better to be willing to take B also if Senator Blank wants B funded.
” ....Here is an example of where defense dollars are going; an anthropologist at a public California university got $681,387 to examine whether men holding pistols are viewed as taller, stronger and more masculine than those wielding objects such as saws, paint brushes and caulking guns. For the record, guys with guns do in fact appear bigger, stronger and more masculine, the study found.”
DUH
I would have done this in one afternoon for free : )
The 4’ 10” intruder with an AK-47 asked, “Do I look short to you?”
The 5’ 10” to 6’ 2” dwellers replied, “Ah..., no?”
End of study.
I would do it for a mere $100K and save the taxpayers the other $581K .
I keep a very close eye on my family's grocery spending. The commissary is indeed much cheaper. We routinely save well over $100/mo on commissary shopping vs. chain store shopping. And, since commissaries have the same products as any normal grocery store, I'm not sure how you can "find better products."
Fort Irwin, CA...35 miles to civilization and I mean civilization, but right next to Death Valley.
ALL of the ‘entitlement’ budget is a combo of unnecessary, bloat, waste, white-collar welfare, shiftless bum welfare, and theft.
Good luck finding ANY legislators to do anything about it, though.
What the Entitlement State wants, it gets. It would get stuff it doesn’t want, if any such actually existed.
Quite the sacred cow.
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