Pentagon Helicopter Deal Means Inmates
Running Government Asylum
Our government stumbles from inept to downright stupid with regularity. But
when it crosses into the realm of lunacy, it is time to rethink the whole
process of whom, and what, we elect and the sheer hapless bureaucracy they
willing shield without restraint.
The case in point is the purchase by the Pentagon of 63 Russian Mi-17
helicopters "to equip the Afghanistan government's security forces (why can't
political correctness even acknowledge this is their military?) after we leave."
(1)
The purchase was effected in 2011 and totaled more than $1 billion. In an
economy with more than $15 billion annually at the time, $1 billion wouldn't be
noticed by the average person. But consider for a moment the impact the
loss of $1 billion had because the manner it which it
was spent was a loss to American business.
At the then-average wage, the $1 billion would have represented 20,000
full-time jobs. That would have been $1 billion spent positively instead of the
$10 billion wasted on General Motors in the stimulus and saved every American
$30 that year in the national debt.
That is merely numbers that have been more than obliterated by the Fed's $1
trillion-a-year printing press run. The real damage is to morale in the
country.
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) stated that Defense Department "repeatedly and
disingenuously" misread a 2010 study to prove the validity of buying the
Russian-made craft. He also asked, "Why are we buying Russian helicopters when
there are American manufacturers that can meet the very same requirement?"
The obvious response question to Cornyn and his colleagues in the Senate is
"Why did you approve payment of this bill?" This immediately brings other
questions to mind such as "Why isn't somebody from the Pentagon stripped
of rank, making small rocks out of big rocks in prison or hung for treason in
this deal" or "why didn't you have those responsible repay the misappropriated
funds by losing funding the ensuing year and returning it to its rightful
owners--the American public?"
In the two years that have passed, the deal has been shrouded in a veil of
secrecy by DOD. The elected officials have not exerted any of the control the
average citizen would expect to make sure somebody from the Pentagon, including
the Secretary of Defense, paid dearly for what amounts to theft of money and
fraud. No, they've let the Pentagon deny repeatedly it misled Congress and stand
clear of responsibility.
The best argument presented for completing the deal thus far is the Afghan
pilots were more "familiar with the Mi-17."
If that is the case, there is no defense. Sorry Pentagon, you blew this
deal and should suffer the consequences of your ignorance plus your
cover-up.
The 'more familiar' reason is not a good enough when it is American blood
being spilled in Afghanistan--not Russian. Not good enough when it is American
kids coming back to America missing one or more limbs, their eyes or parts of
the brain--not Russian. Not good enough when you have to ask Americans to help
with the "Wounded Warrior" project because you are so over-budget you cannot
provide the services to make good on the promises to family members when they
sent their healthy kid to you to "be all he could be."
The bureaucrats at the Pentagon have learned the lessons of Washington
well. They can put out all the high-falutin' slogans and mottos they want but
when it comes time to pay the piper, they turn back to the gullible American
heartstrings so they don't suffer. That is something that was done with
Obamacare, TARP and the stimulus. "Oh poor government. We have to take care of
these unfortunate citizens in our midst. We have to give them the same rights as
others."
What they have forgotten is somebody worked to obtain the wealth necessary
to pay for that benefit. But Washington claims it is
everyone's "right to be equal." It is a right to start equal. Results depend
upon what you do to deserve better. That distinction is missed.
For that principle, these "Wounded Warriors" do deserve some of the
American bounty they sacrificed to protect. They deserve it much more than the
leadership that sent them into harm's way.
Washington is the proverbial apple crate. We've had some bad apples and
failed to root them out. The whole of Washington is corrupted now. All the
apples are bad. You can't get into that pit without the filth washing off on
you, otherwise self-indignant puppets like John Cronyn would take the necessary
steps to make a change. They would not allow bureaucrats to testify before them
and parse words at will, saying one thing in plain sight and meaning
another.
But the phony outrage is all we get; all we truly deserve. Citizens haven't
demanded answers. Citizens haven't taken the time or made the effort to find the
answers to the many questions Americans have about our leadership. We watch the
next show on the tube or play the next video game and just want to be left alone
unless we have a trouble of our own. Then we turn to the government for
help.
It can truly be said our republic has gotten the government it deserves.
"I have sworn on the altar of God eternal
hostility to every form of tyranny over the mind of man."--Thomas
Jefferson
(1)--Associated Press, December 7, 2013, article by
Richard Lardner
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