The Senate on Thursday night passed its version of the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act in a vote of 86-11. The bill authorizes a record $886 billion in military spending.
The debt ceiling deal reached between House Republicans and the White House set the NDAA at $886 billion, which is the amount President Biden requested. Hawks in Congress are planning to increase that figure even more by passing “emergency” supplemental funding, which is not limited by the debt ceiling deal.
The Senate rejected amendments to the NDAA that would have increased oversight of the tens of billions in weapons and other aid that the US has been pouring into Ukraine.
An amendment introduced by Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) to require audits and investigations of Ukraine aid failed in a vote of 20-78, with only Republicans supporting the measure. The Senate also rejected an amendment to establish a lead inspector general for Ukraine aid in a vote of 51-48 (the effort required a three-fifths majority).
The House passed its version of the spending bill earlier this month, so the next step is for the two chambers to negotiate the finalized version that will head to President Biden’s desk. The House version is also worth $886 billion, but the chambers may clash over the spending bill as House Republicans included amendments relating to social policies in the military.
Because of the Republican amendments, the House NDAA narrowly passed in a vote of 219-210, which largely fell along partisan lines. NDAAs typically pass easily as the majority of Republicans and Democrats favor huge amounts of military spending.
The bill authorizes a record $886 billion in military spending.
because uncle sam has over 800 military bases across the globe.
The Senate rejected amendments to the NDAA that would have increased oversight of the tens of billions in weapons and other aid that the US has been pouring into Ukraine.
remind us uncle sam, how does weapons and other aid for Ukraine fall into the category “US National Defense”?
It’s not like you and I setting a budget and balancing it. This is all done in smoke and mirrors with lying figures by professional liars figuring figures that lie. There’s no limit and no one’s asking questions like yours. It’s not fashionable to be antiwar or hold politicians accountable. For that to happen, we, the people, need to care–we don’t. (Sarcasm)
There is money appropriated for dark ops that are off the books. So the figure, $886 billion does not do justice to what is really spent. My uneducated guess is something like $1.0 trillion to $1.5 trillion. Perhaps more.
That is the question of the day,hour,week month year and there is no answer.
How is it possible that we have only demented old officials in office who are driving the nation over the cliff? How can so many US/NATO governments be so bonkers, this is surreal. They are demolition teams, they build nothing! They can’t even take care of basic infrastructure maintenance.
Is it just a nightmare we could wake up from and it is gone? The hegemon has a demented leader no one knows who is in charge in the Oval Office, how crazy can it get? They have a war in Ukraine and look for more war with China, the demented old president is determined to get his war with Russia, counting on a NATO and EU which is falling apart, because the allies, the IDIOTS in the WH destroyed them with sanctions and sabotage of the pipelines, an act of war against an ally.
How can a democracy have a bunch of IDIOTS in charge of the government?
This decision was never in doubt and was never seriously questioned, it is crystal clear which forces and power are running this country into the ground.
President Eisenhower issued a warning. To all.
Too soon old too late smart [Old Pa Dutch saying}
Civilization, in fact, grows more and more maudlin and hysterical; especially under democracy it tends to degenerate into a mere combat of crazes; the whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed and hence clamorous to be led to safety by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, most of them imaginary.
~ HL Mencken ~
If we only had an HL Mencken, we don’t have anything close to him. Makes you want to cry.
It always amazes me and it should not how literate and well educated MOST of the people who comment are with a few notable exceptions.
Stupid voters vote them into office. Then they appoint more stupid people. It becomes a sick society of stupid people, with nothing to do other than cause chaos. Then another election comes along Repeat.
the lowest common denominator wins.
Because the Citizens lack the ballz to run them out! Why, because the citizens have been all cut up and divided, no unity,,Black, White, Man, Woman, Straight, Gay, Trans, Brown……genius what the DC GHOULS have pulled off. Wait till the UFO cover-up is revealed,,,BOOM!
Klatu nicto burada
That is a question for which I have no answer. It certainly is not for a lack of trying
Well, as Caitlin Johnstone noted: Capitol Hill is an assisted living facility for Psychopaths….
Caitlin always finds the right words.
Russian Oligarchs can’t hold a candle next to the DC war pigs.
I love it when they say “Ukraine is ‘the most corrupt country on Earth.‘” LOL!!!! What measurables are they using? If it’s the amount of money, we win. If it’s the number of war pigs, we win. If it’s the number of politicians and MSM operatives/actors, we win hands down. That label applies to us. We are the top, the unrivaled, the best, the most, and… I’m getting tired. Time for a nap. (Sarcasm)
We are certainly exceptional in all the ways you just mentioned.
Sheep.
Like in led to the slaughter
Nothing to see here, just our bipartisan war parties passing their annual, ever growing, war budget. Our politicians are disgusting.
Pukeable if that is a word.
A trillion here, a trillion there, pretty soon we’re talking Gov’ment money.
Unfortunately, not all those money will be stolen; they use some of it for financing the death and destruction overseas.
Well, we certainly have our priorities straight as a country … a trillion (and more when all “defense” $ are added up) for war while bridges fall, dams fail, hospitals and airports look like third world slums, and homeless in their tens of thousands suffer and die in the streets, etc..
A very small sample: section of a beautiful local coastal road suffered wave erosion last winter … not too big a reach. The sign at the site says that the repair will be implemented in the next 15 years (if we’re lucky). But Ukraine (and Raytheon) will get their billions o time, won’t they?
When Biden called his platform, “Build Back Better,” I had a feeling we would end up here. (Sarcasm)
Our Gov. no longer works!! Now what………..hmmm?
“when in the course of human events …”
America the decadent,defunct,deficient deadly dangerous to humankind.
Pure waste and theft.
Clearly, the evil MIC / Corporatocracy is in control of this country.
MIC is told by Pentagon to suck up taxpayers money because they think by making more Weapons they can keep US hegemony… Wrong…!
They have not been proven wrong YET but hopefully our day will come and we will have everything.”Ruby and the Romantics”.
it has been in control since Eisenhower who warned us all.
The Senate just loves wasting US taxpayer’s money…!
Speaking of audits, when will the Federal Reserve be audited?
An amendment introduced by Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) to require audits and investigations of Ukraine aid failed in a vote of 20-78, with only Republicans supporting the measure.
The Senate also rejected an amendment to establish a lead inspector general for Ukraine aid in a vote of 51-48 (the effort required a three-fifths majority).
One vote fails miserably, and one passes but there is a need for a 3/5 majority. Always counting noses.
Let me just say to whomever it might concern, speaking as a trans person, do not use the so-called rights of my people to feed the war machine another dime. Please ban my children from serving in your army and bring back the ban on women too while you’re at it. We don’t need to be a part of your toxic war culture and we don’t need to be walking, dying billboards for how inclusive imperialism can be.
Like anybody of any persuasion or preference has anything to say about it.
Trans or not, U are no more special than any of us and U deserve no special rights.
You are mentally ill …. seek help.
WWIII costs money. If you think about it, your wages and interest on savings all belong to the state, and the state determines how much you can keep. And, the state can spend it on whatever they want, we have nothing to say how it will be spent. So, keep voting for your lesser evil and be aware you are still voting for evil.