Merged All things Trump + Russia

[quadraginta]

For most of history countries didn't exist,

<snip>

How do you figure?

 

[Civet]

I hope he really needs one.

Taking out Pence along with Trump would be next to the best outcome of all this.

Catching Ryan in the same net would be the first.

I'm surprised that he didn't already have a criminal defense attorney lined up. Even if he is entirely innocent I'd still think that he'd want some expert advice on covering his rear from someone personally loyal to him.

 

[skyeagle409]

As someone who spent decades selling to the military I would argue that the military is grossly over funded. I use to sell crap to the military that I knew they didn't need.

But this is about politics.

I disagree to a certain point, and rightly so. In addition to what I have posted in an earlier post, I saw how aircrews and other military personnel tried to turn in their worn flight suits and uniforms only to be told they would have to wait until the next fiscal year because there was no money to purchase replacements. Flight training operations were cut back due to lack of funds and some squadrons were simply broke and had to wait until the next fiscal year and in fact, I had lunch with a squadron commander of my former unit who told me personally that his squadron was broke. Airworthy aircraft have been grounded in order to use them for spare parts to keep other aircraft flying. We can also take a look here.

It'd be devastating': Air Force chief sounds the alarm on how budget cuts will affect you

Squadrons across the Air Force will be grounded. Moves will be put on hold, throwing families into turmoil.

New recruits won’t be able to start basic training. Bonuses for critical personnel could be deferred.

And that’s just the beginning.

More than halfway through fiscal 2017, Congress still hasn’t gotten its act together enough to pass a budget that funds the Air Force and other government agencies.

If that doesn’t change soon, it’s going to start screwing things up for tens of thousands of airmen across the country.

https://www.airforcetimes.com/artic...nds-the-alarm-how-budget-cuts-will-affect-you

While I support Trump to increase the military budget, I do not agree with Trump as to where the money will be coming from, but remember, combat support operations and intercepting Russian bombers are not cheap and I might add that one of the aviation-related chapters that I have led has ties to the 477th Fighter Group, which flies the F-22 Raptor and has been intercepting Russian aircraft near Alaska. I have solid ties to the military so I know what's up. If you would like to know who I am, I would gladly provide Internet links if requested. Furthermore, you don't wait to have an accident to buy insurance.

.

 

[jimbob]

Only if Trump tries something with Russian Sanctions, which he's hardly going to be sparing time for. The practical impact on sanctions is, to my eye, nil. The significance is in it being done at all : what did they mean by that? Are they establishing some clear blue water between themselves and Trump that they can reference should, heaven forfend, this whole Russia thing go gangrenous? It certainly looks like a hedge to me.

Yes but that is a rational calculation. I would be willing to believe that is the thinking of the party, but there is every evidence that Trump hates even the appearance of losing.

It directly attacks Trump in the ego.

As a result such a calculation could still backfire on the GOP Reprentatives and Senators as Trump will start wanting revenge.

 

[jimbob]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/worl...erm=.0999227135d5&wpisrc=nl_todayworld&wpmm=1

Muller is investigating Kushner's business dealings with Russia

 

[quadraginta]

I disagree to a certain point, and rightly so. In addition to what I have posted in an earlier post, I saw how aircrews and other military personnel tried to turn in their worn flight suits and uniforms only to be told they would have to wait until the next fiscal year because there was no money to purchase replacements. Flight training operations were cut back due to lack of funds and some squadrons were simply broke and had to wait until the next fiscal year and in fact, I had lunch with a squadron commander of my former unit who told me personally that his squadron was broke. Airworthy aircraft have been grounded in order to use them for spare parts to keep other aircraft flying. We can also take a look here.

<snip>

Not a single word of that addresses anything relating to the question of whether or not we are spending too much money on our military.

At best it only raises questions about how wisely the money we do spend is being used.

 

[Belz...]

Surely, hiring a lawyer doesn't imply guilt.

Everything implies guilt when you already think someone is guilty.

 

[acbytesla]

I disagree to a certain point, and rightly so. In addition to what I have posted in an earlier post, I saw how aircrews and other military personnel tried to turn in their worn flight suits and uniforms only to be told they would have to wait until the next fiscal year because there was no money to purchase replacements. Flight training operations were cut back due to lack of funds and some squadrons were simply broke and had to wait until the next fiscal year and in fact, I had lunch with a squadron commander of my former unit who told me personally that his squadron was broke. Airworthy aircraft have been grounded in order to use them for spare parts to keep other aircraft flying. We can also take a look here.


While I support Trump to increase the military budget, I do not agree with Trump as to where the money will be coming from, but remember, combat support operations and intercepting Russian bombers are not cheap and I might add that one of the aviation-related chapters that I have led has ties to the 477th Fighter Group, which flies the F-22 Raptor and has been intercepting Russian aircraft near Alaska. I have solid ties to the military so I know what's up. If you would like to know who I am, I would gladly provide Internet links if requested. Furthermore, you don't wait to have an accident to buy insurance.

.

Nothing surprises me about the military. I've seen the feast and famine of certain departments. I've also seen it manipulated in countless deceptive ways. I've seen the ridiculous overspending on the JSF. The US spends more than the next 10 nations combined. Most of whom are allies.

While I have no doubt what you say is true. I've been there at the end of a fiscal year when departments still had money wasting what they had left because they didn't want to be shorted in the following year. If you know anything about government procurement then you know this is common.

This is about overall spending and simply a decision on whether the American people should suffer defending the rest of the world. There will always be the underfunded and overfunded departments. I can't speak intelligently on which is which.

 

[d4m10n]

Everything implies guilt when you already think someone is guilty.

Guilty of what, exactly?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

 

[dudalb]

Nothing surprises me about the military. I've seen the feast and famine of certain departments. I've also seen it manipulated in countless deceptive ways. I've seen the ridiculous overspending on the JSF. The US spends more than the next 10 nations combined. Most of whom are allies.

While I have no doubt what you say is true. I've been there at the end of a fiscal year when departments still had money wasting what they had left because they didn't want to be shorted in the following year. If you know anything about government procurement then you know this is common.

This is about overall spending and simply a decision on whether the American people should suffer defending the rest of the world. There will always be the underfunded and overfunded departments. I can't speak intelligently on which is which.

I detect a kind of Left Wing Isolationsim here, and I think Left Wing Isolationism is just as stupid and bad as Right Wing Isolationism.

 

[skyeagle409]

Nothing surprises me about the military. I've seen the feast and famine of certain departments. I've also seen it manipulated in countless deceptive ways. I've seen the ridiculous overspending on the JSF. The US spends more than the next 10 nations combined. Most of whom are allies.

Whenever a new weapon system using advanced technology developed, additional cost can be expected. Even after weapon systems become operational, Time Compliance Technology Orders (TCTO's) are used to fix problems that may arise during the course of its operational use, which is nothing new, but can be very expensive depending upon the nature of the problem.

Even in the civilian sector, new aircraft regularly undergo modifications for problems that crop up during operations such as battery problems with the B-787 is one example. The DoD also has a fraud, waste and abuse program in place and I for one, have written letters of complaints upon receiving substandard parts from suppliers. I might also add that the DoD has recovered millions of dollars over the years due to fraud, waste and abuse, including $18 million from the Boeing Co. You can also find problems in the civilians sector as well. Here's one example of many such cases.

What Went Wrong with Boeing's 787 Dreamliner


The production of the jet that was eventually dubbed the Dreamliner was plagued with manufacturing delays, cost overruns and sinking worker morale.

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/nati...mliner-Jet-Program-Was-Rushed--188336221.html

And, here's another.

The $272 billion swindle

Why thieves love America’s health-care system

http://www.economist.com/news/unite...ericas-health-care-system-272-billion-swindle

Now, let's take a look here.

Cuts to defense spending are hurting our national security

The provisions of the Budget Control Act and sequestration have already precipitated a readiness crisis within our armed forces, with only a handful of Army brigades ready for crisis response, Air Force pilots unable to fly sufficient hours to keep up their skills and Navy ships unable to provide critical U.S. security presence in key regions.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opin...bb47272e40e_story.html?utm_term=.78efb14b5f69


Army’s 101st Airborne Division: Years of budget cuts have hurt readiness, strained crews

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/mar/9/armys-101st-airborne-division-years-of-budget-cuts/


Budget cuts to slash U.S. Army to smallest since before World War Two

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-defense-budget-idUSBREA1N1IO20140224


1 in 3 Americans Say US Spends Too Little on Defense

http://www.gallup.com/poll/204782/americans-say-spends-little-defense.aspx

Military speaking, the US does not want to be equal to any nation on earth especially to Russia and military spending needs to be increased. I have seen how budget cuts negatively affected Travis AFB over the years.

 

[Emily's Cat]

I would accurately say underfunded and I know that fact from first hand experience.

I'm gonna quibble with you on that one. Active duty personnel are massively underfunded. Military technology and arms, however... not so much I think. Although... Marines, yes all around.

 

[Emily's Cat]

If Russia denies involvement in anything, that's proof enough the Russians were involved.

Russia aside, this is poor logic. It allows for no possibility except guilty. Either they admit to guilt or they are lying, and their denial is proof of their guilt.

 

[dudalb]

I am getting bored with this whole "I am not defending Trump but"...routine. Wonder if there is anything I can do about it.

Edited by Agatha: 

Edited to remove reference to ignore list. Please do not discuss your ignore list in-thread; it is a breach of rule 0, rule 11 and rule 12. Thank you.

 

[d4m10n]

I'm gonna quibble with you on that one. Active duty personnel are massively underfunded. Military technology and arms, however... not so much I think. Although... Marines, yes all around.

"Underfunded" is relative to what you exactly were hoping to achieve in the first place. A budget of $500,000 may be ample to buy a house in suburban Austin, but not downtown London.

 

[Belz...]

Guilty of what, exactly?

Why are you asking me? I'm not the one making the claim.

 

[d4m10n]

Why are you asking me? I'm not the one making the claim.

You seemed to be saying someone thinks Pence is guilty of something.

 

[dudalb]

To get back to Trump/Russia;

And Trump does another self destructive tweet on the topic, now accusing his own justice department of plotting against him.

 

[d4m10n]

Is he talking about DAG Rosenstein?

 

[Babbylonian]

Incompetent attempt to divert blame? Check.
Demonstration of lack of knowledge of basic facts? Check.
Obvious lie? Check.

It's so beautiful, I almost don't want an impeachment or resignation. I could watch this **** for years.

Then I remember that this lying, incompetent buffoon of a hellspawn is in charge of the entire US military. Get off your asses, Congress!