Pentagon orders plan to close all commissaries

World Net Daily ^ | 25 Nov 13 | F. Michael Maloof

[SkyPilot]

WASHINGTON – The Department of Defense is seriously looking at eliminating all of the the military’s remaining commissaries as a budget-cutting measure, but the action, to begin in 2015, would cut one of the basic benefits allotted to military families.

Since DOD efforts to shut down the 178 stores statewide and another 70 overseas require congressional approval, there promises to be stiff opposition among lawmakers who are reluctant to cut benefits for the military.

There also is concern that elimination of the commissary benefit for service personnel who already receive comparatively lower pay when compared with civilian counterparts could negatively affect recruitment for the all-voluntary military.

The proposal to cut all commissary benefits to the military stems from the congressionally mandated sequestration to trim $1 trillion in government spending over 10 years, fully half of which would come from the defense budget.

[SkyPilot]

Just more of the same - military, veterans, and military families continue to be targeted for cuts and made to suffer, while the American Takers take even more.

Not only do military families have to face the pain and sacrifice of multiple deployments, the threatened quadrupling of the their TRICARE medical insurance, and enduring the DoD being put in a fiscal choke hold, now they get to see another benefit eroded before their eyes.

And to all those out there who laughed off the Sequester as having "zero consequences" - you are living in dream land.

Only 2 out of 42 Army Combat Brigades are combat ready, 4,000 doctors, nurses, and medical professionals have quit the DoD in disgust since June, Air Force squadrons cannot even afford flying hours, Navy ships are being mothballed, massive cuts to uniformed personnel begin next year, and on, and on, and on.

Military Faces Massive Budget Cuts Due To Sequester

Military Families Fear Housing Allowance Is at Risk

Sequester Causing Lasting Damage to Defense

The Sequester singled out the military, and it continues to do so.

I laugh at the self-identified "small government Conservative" - who spews rhetoric like Ronald Reagan, but supports policies that are to the left of McGovern. The military gets gutted while Entitlements expand logarithmically (especially their Entitlements), but they still (in their mind) think they are "Conservatives."

Don't hope for Congress to stem the tide against the assault on the military and our veterans. The mantra is "cut, cut, cut, and more Sequester!" There are no heroes anymore, just enemies (Democrats); and enemies who pretend they are friends but stab you in the back (Republicans).

And if war erupts in the Pacific or Middle East next week? The American people will "demand" something be done - and, oh, yeah....YOU military folks take care of that, will you? We are too busy swiping our EBT cards at Burger King and getting ready for Black Friday sales.

[Red Badger]

I thought commisaries and BX/PX were to be self-supporting?.............

[SandRat]

“could negatively affect recruitment”

Try retention too.

[PATRIOT1876]

That's where they get the money to waste on EPA enforcement and promotion of the AGW hoax and Obamaphones.

[SandRat]

They’re at it again.

[dfwgator]

It’s almost as if they don’t want anyone to volunteer for the armed forces anymore.

[rocksblues]

Looks like the plan to demoralize the military, causing anemic retention and enlistment numbers is working to perfection. Then they can do what they really want to do, bring back the compulsory draft.

[Wallace T.]

America may well be humiliated by a battlefield defeat by a power viewed as second rate, e.g., the defeat of the Russians at the hands of the Japanese in 1904, when the victory was attributed to better technology and intelligence on the part of the Japanese. That in turn helped destabilize the Russian Empire, leading to the failed 1905 revolution, the precursor to the successful Bolshevik Revolution a dozen years and a world war later.

That may be the underlying hope of Obama and his associates.

Purging uncooperative generals and admirals, making life for conservative Christians difficult in the armed services, and promoting homosexuals and women into full integration serve another purpose: discouraging conservative white Christian men to pursue a military career. Such men, especially white Southerners, have been the backbone of the military since the War for Independence. A less competent military appears to be another goal of Obama and his cohorts.

[Carry_Okie]

One F-35.

[Thunder90]

Defense cuts, as well as cuts to Border Patrol and other essential national security operations, are the ONLY cuts the Dems are willing to allow to pass.

Meanwhile, they fund NSA spying, EBT/Foodstamps, section 8, Benefits for illegals, and other entitlements.

[AZHSer]

They are. They don’t charge taxes but there is a service fee. Baggers work for tips only.

[SkyPilot]

Both parties now feel they can punish the military and veterans with impunity, and there will be zero political fall out. Politicians need to be thrown out of office because of their betrayal, and that is the only language they will understand.

[B4Ranch]

If war erupts in the Pacific or Middle East next week let someone else send troops to fight it. We can send missiles and bombers. That’s it. DC doesn’t want to take care of our returning wounded, screw em. We don’t need to get wounded then.

[aviator]

I work overseas and am very dependent on the nearby commissary. I don’t care for the local food!

[JediJones]

I thought the sequester was across-the-board cuts with no one able to pick and choose what gets cut?

That means if it’s a 2% cut, commissaries should be cut by 2%, not cut by 100% so that 49 other programs could remain 100% intact.

[Political Junkie Too]

Isn't this also a national security and safety issue? If our soldiers have to venture off-base and into local towns to shop for basic sundries and goods, won't that make them targets of opportunity for those who hate America?

-PJ

[B4Ranch]

That I well understand as I don’t care for the offerings on foreign menus either. I believe our troops have earned American foods, everyone else and this may include you, should have to pay for American cuisine if they are out of the country.

[Do Not Make Fun Of His Ears]

Obamaphones and free contraceptives for all, though.

[zlala]

From another article:

First Lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, the vice president’s wife, have for several years led a nationwide initiative in support of military families, called Joining Forces. It is hard to imagine them staying silent as action is taken to end prized discounted grocery shopping on base.

Sure, they'll stand up for the military, until they don't.