Tag Archive for Africa

Vast Discrepancies Between Defense and State Department Funding

Diplomacy is a critical arm of our national security, yet there are more people in our military marching bands than in the State Department’s Foreign Service. In light of Tuesday’s tragic events in Benghazi, isn’t it about time we address the vast discrepancies between the annual budgets for the Defense Department ($614B) and the State Department ($51.6B)?

Our national security policies affect every aspect of our society—culturally, politically, and economically. Americans will always rally to defend this great nation, but a true patriot never fears a serious debate about the methods we use to accomplish this vital mission.

Dilan Samo holds a picture of slain U.S. ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens during a candlelight vigil outside the Libyan Embassy in New York City. Stevens was killed Sept. 11 during an attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, by a mob angered about a film that mocked the prophet Mohammed.Photo By John Minchillo, AP

From Salon.com

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Packing up America’s monolithic, global military presence.

As the U.S. military continues to tone down missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, what will happen to the billions of dollars worth of weapons, vehicles, and machinery created to sustain a never-ending global security presence? 

The New York Times and TomDispatch are reporting on huge supplies of combat equipment that may be ‘strategically relocated’ to so-called ‘satellite bases’ in Africa and the Asia-Pacific region. By equipping these locations and deeming them important military stockpiles, defense contractors will reap huge profits maintaining and upgrading this material despite the absence of any major U.S. conflict in the region.  
Despite the pending troop withdrawals in Iraq and those in Afghanistan between now and 2014, the United States remains a superpower on a scale not seen since the days of the Caesars. With this in mind, the National Post’s Richard Johnson takes a look at the scale of America’s forces.  (Source: National Post)

From The New York Times

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