October 15, 1997
THE TITANIC DEFENSE!
Has space exploration determined that the United States has mortal enemies in another galaxy?
Such a finding would provide the only justification for the $248 billion defense bill just passed by Congress and signed by President Clinton.
Certainly there are no enemies on earth that justify the seemingly endless, and endlessly expensive, diversion of tax money to the military.
Are we in danger of the Bosnians and Libyans launching a joint attack on San Diego? Or perhaps the crumpled and pathetic remnants of the Soviet Empire are going to regroup and join their Cuban allies in a landing at Ft. Lauderdale?
Despite very limited military cutbacks the United States still has a military force that is gigantic in comparison to the real threats that face our country.
But perhaps what is really at stake is not so much the security of the country but the security of certain politicians and their political positions. Let’s take a look at how, and where, money for U.S. “defense” is being spent:
$720 million is slated to build a fourth Aegis destroyer. It so happens that it will be built in Pascagoula, Mississippi, which just so happens to be the home of Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott.
Eight new C-130J transport planes are funded. They’ll be built in Marietta, Georgia, which happens to be home base for House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
But our favorite item critical to the national defense is $250,000 added by Senator Daniel Inouye of Hawaii, who happens to be a senior member of the Appropriations Committee. This money is to be used to encourage a cruise ship firm to build two luxury cruise ships. The ships would then be given an exclusive franchise to operate among the Hawaiian Islands. The cruise ship firm is owned by billionaire Sam Zell, who likes to be known as the “grave dancer.”
We imagine that the luxury cruise ships will serve as a vital and heroic defense against invading hordes from Somoa and Tahiti.
(Source: Washington Post.)
Quote of the Day!
“The possession of battle-ready troops, a well-filled state treasury and a lively disposition, they were the real reasons which moved me to war.”
— Frederick the Great, “A History of My Times,” 1741
© Copyright 1996-98, The Outrage is produced by Athens New Media. All rights reserved.
