In reading Jed's diary something struck me in one of Paul Ryans quotes:
We should always stand up for peace, for democracy, for individual rights.Ok... on it's own sounds fine.
Then Ryan goes on to say:
And we should not be imposing these devastating defense cuts, because what that does when we equivocate on our values, when we show that we're cutting down on defense, it makes us more weak. It projects weakness. And when we look weak, our adversaries are much more willing to test us.And this is where Ryan channels Big Brother. Allow me quote from George Orwell's Masterpiece 1984:
OH, and before we go on I want to make it clear that I am not an isolationist, I am not a Green, and I have no issue with the United States having a presence around the Globe (though I am certainly not a supporter of "Empire Building"). Further, I fully support the notion that the U.S. and our allies should have what I term a "Stout Defense". But, that said, I also support an honest commentary on what that means and NOT use of Orwellian terminology to create a false meme.
But here... Here is a chart of our Defense Spending relative to the rest of the world
1. United States 711.0Now, notice... IF the U.S. Cut it's military spending by over $ 400 BILLION per year. That's right... you saw it $ 400 BILLION PER YEAR, we would STILL outspend the next five countries on the list added up together.
2. China 143.0
3 Russia 71.9
4 United Kingdom 62.7
5 France 62.5
6 Japan 59.3
Let's break that down even further. IF we cut our Defense budget by $ 500 Billion for one year we would still almost outspend our main rivals Russia and China together (they would have us by $ 3 billion).
NOW, does anyone in their right mind think that Al Qaeda for one second looks at our defense spending and says: "HOHOHO America cut it's spending - well they must be weak" and further does anyone even further out really think that our main allies, Britain, France, Israel, Australia, etc... think that we are somehow "weak" even though we are outspending the next five nations (Nations 3 2-#6) collectively???
No.. What this is, is a blatant Orwellian Chant of "War is Peace", "We destroyed that village to save the village".
Paul Ryan's words are hypocritical. His party stands firmly against Democracy (look at his party's efforts to not count the popular vote), his party party stands firmly against individual rights (Marriage Equality, voting rights, civil rights). Ryan talks about Peace but in this, he is only talking about the Peace that comes from utter destruction left in the wake of War.
I wouldn't cut defense spending by as much as you suggest and I would listen to the generals and other experts as to what is necessary to maintain our global presence and deterrence. Of course, that said, no matter how much the US and Russia spend, we're each going to have the ability to destroy the world many times over as the ultimate deterrent.
ReplyDeleteAnd, yes, Paul Ryan, like pretty much every other Republican, is for that 'War is Peace' crap. Remember, after all, the whole basis of Bush foreign policy is that we would make allies through war. All we had to do was march in, we'd be greeted as liberators and showered with flowers.
Oh don't get me wrong.. I don't actually suggest cutting "D"
Deleteby $ 400 billion per year, but, I do think that we cut Cut by $ 200 billion per year and still be fine.
Makes me wonder whether the massive defense spending is compensation on the part of the chicken hawks for self-perceived deficiencies in their manhood.
DeleteMost likely...
Delete(livosh1)
ReplyDeleteMaybe he's too young to remember the show, but Ryan's War is Peace attitude is exactly the kind of thing Norma Lear made fun of via the Archie Bunker character in All in the Family.
Of course, this attitude is strikingly similar to the views of certain right-wing extremists, who contend--in essence--that peace and tranquility can only be brought about through the practice of hatred and bigotry. ; )