As we have often noted one of the giant logs stuck in the eye of many conservatives, people who typically argue for smaller government, is that they often defend military spending with little reservation. Defense, we are told is enumerated in the Constitution and as such is a legitimate expenditure. And yes, defense, is enumerated in the Constitution. Massive unchecked spending, undeclared wars, and bases around the world are not however enumerated in the Constitution.
(From US News)
Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, has called for a full audit of the unit responsible for the most egregious Afghan cases. And on Jan. 20th, the Senate Armed Services Readiness Subcommittee held hearings on the subject. The Pentagon’s witness, Principal Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Brian McKeon, was decidedly on the defensive as senators from both parties peppered him with questions about his department’s poor record keeping and lack of accountability.
It’s not just about Afghanistan, though. Back in the United States, wasteful spending abounds. A Politico report on the Pentagon’s $44 billion Defense Logistics Agency notes that it spent over $7 billion on unneeded equipment. Meanwhile, Congress is doing its part by inserting its own pet projects into the budget, whether or not they are top priorities in terms of defense needs. The most notable example is the F-35 combat aircraft, which at $1.4 trillion over its lifetime is the most expensive weapons project ever undertaken by the Pentagon. Despite the fact that the plane is far from ready for prime time, Congress stuffed 11 additional F-35s into the defense bill that was signed by the president last month.
These examples of waste and abuse spark memories of past Pentagon spending binges.
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