We may soon have trouble committing war crimes

Submitted by gjohnsit on Fri, 06/08/2018 - 8:35pm

Pity the poor Pentagon. You can have too much of a good thing.
The War Pigs in northern Virginia have been so successful at blowing up innocent women and children around the world that they are running out of bombs.

The Pentagon plans to invest more than $20 billion in munitions in its next budget. But whether the industrial base will be there to support such massive buys in the future is up in the air — at a time when America is expending munitions at increasingly intense rates.
...
Some suppliers have dropped out entirely, leaving no option for replacing vital materials. Other key suppliers are foreign-owned, with no indigenous capability to produce vital parts and materials ― setting up the risk that a conflict with China could rely on Chinese-made parts.
All this is happening as the U.S. is expending munitions at a rapid rate. For instance, the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction concluded that 1,186 munitions were dropped in that country during the first quarter of 2018 ― the highest number recorded for the first three months of the year since tracking began in 2013; that number is also more than two and a half times the amount dropped in the first quarter of 2017.

Oh, the (lack of) Humanity! What sort nation will we have if we aren't blowing up weddings, hospitals, and funerals?

It isn't just bombs that we are running out of.
We are also running short of people willing to drop those bombs on civilians.

Almost a year later, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) called the Air Force pilot shortage a “full-blown crisis” that could eventually “call into question the Air Force’s ability to accomplish its mission.” And this week, Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson revealed the deficit climbed to 2,000 pilots, as current operations “are stretching the force to the limit, and we need to start turning the corner on readiness.”
In a Pentagon press conference, Goldfein and Wilson asked Congress to end sequestration so the USAF can have “a higher and stable budget to provide security and solvency for the nation,” according to CNBC.

"Our high operations tempo over 26 years of combat have taken its toll and budget instability is not helping," Goldfein explained. "So you understand why Secretary Wilson and I remain adamant that Congress turn off the auto pilot and get back in control of the budget. We must find a way to lift sequestration as it is currently structured."

The Air Force is missing a quarter of the pilots it needs, but all the branches of the Department of War is short of pilots.
That shortage extends to drone pilots as well.

Nearly a quarter of the Air Force pilots trained and authorized to fly drones quit their jobs each year, according to Mother Jones. Military officials site fatigue, stress, war weariness and a perceived lack of respect from superiors and fellow soldiers as the culprits behind the turnover. They also say that the dearth of trained drone pilots leaves military members and assets on the ground in foreign lands at risk

If this keeps up, the generals and politicians will have to commit their own war crimes.

Tags:

bombings

war crimes

Vote

Comments

Submitted by detroitmechworks on Fri, 06/08/2018 - 8:50pm

Tragic Really...

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tdsL4kvp_I]

Whenever I hear about Recruiting "failing to meet goals" I have another moment of hope. It helps when I imagine Baghdad Bob delivering the news.

—

I do not pretend I know what I do not know.

Submitted by gjohnsit on Fri, 06/08/2018 - 9:40pm

U.S. soldier killed in Somalia

Where in Africa are we at war?

A US special operations soldier has been killed and five military personnel - including four American service members - wounded in an "enemy attack" in southwestern Somalia, according to US officials.

Yes we're at war there

The Trump Administration has increased American military involvement in Somalia to levels not seen since eighteen American soldiers were killed by clan militias in the 1993 clashes depicted in the film “Black Hawk Down.” The number of American troops on the ground doubled last year, to over five hundred, and air strikes increased to thirty-four in 2017, double the number that took place in 2016.

Submitted by snoopydawg on Sat, 06/09/2018 - 1:31am

Isn't that interesting that way it is phrased?

@gjohnsit

A US special operations soldier has been killed and five military personnel - including four American service members - wounded in an "enemy attack" in southwestern Somalia, according to US officials.

So are they not really our "enemies? I wonder what they tell the grieving spouse for the reason they were killed in a country that no one knew we have forces there? The person killed certainly wasn't fighting to defend this country or our freedoms.

I see so many people thanking the dead soldiers for fighting for our rights. Or that they died so that we are free to say whatever is on our minds. What century was the last time our military fought to defend our country and our freedoms?

Will congress ask Trump on what authority has he sent our military to Africa or will they ignore it like they did when Obama did it?

—

Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.

Submitted by mimi on Fri, 06/08/2018 - 11:09pm

seems like a trouble good to have ... /nt

—

https://www.euronews.com/live

Submitted by snoopydawg on Sat, 06/09/2018 - 1:09am

I have an idea for replacing drone pilots

Just change the computers to make it look like they are just a game simulation and then have kids take over control of the drones. The kids will just think that they are playing a new cool video game that will have real life consequences. Wholaa, problems solved.

You effing liar!!

"Our high operations tempo over 26 years of combat have taken its toll and budget instability is not helping," Goldfein explained. "So you understand why Secretary Wilson and I remain adamant that Congress turn off the auto pilot and get back in control of the budget. We must find a way to lift sequestration as it is currently structured."

You haven't been involved in combat you blithering idiot! This country has spent the last 26 slaughtering innocent civilians in countries that were no threat to this one!

—

Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.

Submitted by detroitmechworks on Sat, 06/09/2018 - 8:53am

That was the plot of a Robin Williams movie...

@snoopydawg That nobody bothered to go see.

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cP-TU0P2Lw4]

I'm starting to think he knew what was coming.

—

I do not pretend I know what I do not know.

Submitted by snoopydawg on Sat, 06/09/2018 - 12:58pm

Toys is one of my favorite movies

@detroitmechworks

Actually Robin's character fought against that, it was his uncle who took over the factory after the dad died.

Love the opening scene and the song played. I just listen to the "closing of the year" yesterday. Love it. Highly rec this movie.

—

Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.

Submitted by dfarrah on Sat, 06/09/2018 - 10:30am

LOL.

@snoopydawg But of course the US has to have and pay for a huge military.

We have to protect this country called Israel from all of the Muslims.

—

dfarrah

Submitted by Blueslide on Sat, 06/09/2018 - 8:58am

Capitalism problem

...how do you maintain a public sector armory with a privatized MIC ? I predict a softening of the war-hawks mantra of no new taxes.

Submitted by Ellen North on Sat, 06/09/2018 - 9:04am

Just to add to the list on this excellent essay:

(although this is probably covered lower down, lol,)

https://www.rt.com/usa/428946-no-money-for-f35/

‘No money for F-35,’ government auditors tell Congress
Published time: 6 Jun, 2018 18:33
Edited time: 7 Jun, 2018 07:24

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has recommended that Congress withhold funding for the F-35 program, saying the jet fighter is plagued with almost 1,000 deficiencies that must be resolved before production can begin.

The shortcomings include an ejector seat that can cause neck injuries, an unusable helmet-mounted display system, failing oxygen-supply systems and a mid-air refuelling probe that can break off during use. In total, the F-35 had 996 unresolved deficiencies as of January. Of these, 111 were considered ‘Category 1’ deficiencies - faults and flaws that could seriously jeopardize user safety or security.

With the F-35 due to enter full-rate production next year, at a cost of $10.4 billion per year for the next two decades, the GAO has recommended that no funds be made available for the next phase of production until these issues are fixed and until the Pentagon makes a sound business case for the funds.

The F-35 has been in development at Lockheed Martin since 2001, and it has been dogged by delays and surging costs ever since then. At an estimated lifetime cost of $1.4 trillion, it is the most expensive weapons development program in history. ...

...Mattis’ department is performing an audit this year, for the first time in its 70 year history. Over 2,000 independent accountants will pore over the Pentagon’s books to find out how a governmental department with a yearly budget of $700 billion can lose hundreds of billions of dollars to administrative waste. A full report is expected to be released in November.

In a memo sent to Pentagon employees last month, Mattis said: “every decision we make must focus on both lethality and affordability, thereby gaining full value from each taxpayer dollar spent on defense.”

Except of course, it's actually trillions listed as being missing from that department, with trillions more of public money to be drained out of the American public for more nukes.

I suppose that the public is just going to have to go, to make financial room for this expansion of the global killing machine. Only then, where's the money for it going to come from?

—

Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.

A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.

Submitted by WaterLily on Sat, 06/09/2018 - 11:55am

Music to my ears.

@Ellen North I rue the day those death machines start flying in Burlington. Leahy should be ashamed of himself (but of course isn't).

(although this is probably covered lower down, lol,) https://www.rt.com/usa/428946-no-money-for-f35/ ‘No money for F-35,’ government auditors tell Congress Published time: 6 Jun, 2018 18:33 Edited time: 7 Jun, 2018 07:24 The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has recommended that Congress withhold funding for the F-35 program, saying the jet fighter is plagued with almost 1,000 deficiencies that must be resolved before production can begin. The shortcomings include an ejector seat that can cause neck injuries, an unusable helmet-mounted display system, failing oxygen-supply systems and a mid-air refuelling probe that can break off during use. In total, the F-35 had 996 unresolved deficiencies as of January. Of these, 111 were considered ‘Category 1’ deficiencies - faults and flaws that could seriously jeopardize user safety or security. With the F-35 due to enter full-rate production next year, at a cost of $10.4 billion per year for the next two decades, the GAO has recommended that no funds be made available for the next phase of production until these issues are fixed and until the Pentagon makes a sound business case for the funds. The F-35 has been in development at Lockheed Martin since 2001, and it has been dogged by delays and surging costs ever since then. At an estimated lifetime cost of $1.4 trillion, it is the most expensive weapons development program in history. ... ...Mattis’ department is performing an audit this year, for the first time in its 70 year history. Over 2,000 independent accountants will pore over the Pentagon’s books to find out how a governmental department with a yearly budget of $700 billion can lose hundreds of billions of dollars to administrative waste. A full report is expected to be released in November. In a memo sent to Pentagon employees last month, Mattis said: “every decision we make must focus on both lethality and affordability, thereby gaining full value from each taxpayer dollar spent on defense.” Except of course, it's actually trillions listed as being missing from that department, with trillions more of public money to be drained out of the American public for more nukes. I suppose that the public is just going to have to go, to make financial room for this expansion of the global killing machine. Only then, where's the money for it going to come from?

Submitted by WaterLily on Sat, 06/09/2018 - 11:56am

As for being out of money

No problem! They'll just eliminate Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and whatever else they can in order to redirect the funds toward our FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEDUMBS!