Merchants Of Death

Congress to ‘fight’ 0.1% of massive Trump Saudi arms deal

"Trump has said he wants to encourage international weapons sales as a way to create jobs in the United States. Saudi Arabia agreed to buy $110 billion of U.S. arms, with options running as high as $350 billion over 10 years. The lawmakers aim to block about $500 million of the sale, the portion including precision-guided munitions and other offensive weapons. 'Given Saudi Arabia's past support of terror, poor human rights record, and questionable tactics in its war in Yemen, Congress must carefully consider and thoroughly debate if selling them billions of dollars of arms is in our best national security interest at this time,' Paul said in a statement." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCongress to ‘fight’ 0.1% of massive Trump Saudi arms deal

US Arms Both Sides, Will Supply $100 Billion in Arms to Saudi Arabia, Israel

"Details are still emerging, but the plan is for this to set out a series of growing deals over the next decade that will involve more than $300 billion going to arms dealers, not just to arm the Saudis, but in extra aid to Israel to ensure their 'qualitative military edge' over the Saudis." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingUS Arms Both Sides, Will Supply $100 Billion in Arms to Saudi Arabia, Israel

John Whitehead, America’s Reign of Terror: A Nation Reaps What It Sows

"We’re not dealing with a government that exists to serve its people, protect their liberties and ensure their happiness. Rather, these are the diabolical machinations of a make-works program carried out on an epic scale whose only purpose is to keep the powers-that-be permanently (and profitably) employed." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingJohn Whitehead, America’s Reign of Terror: A Nation Reaps What It Sows

The cost to replace the 59 Tomahawk missiles Trump fired on Syria

"It could cost about $60 million to replace the cruise missiles that the U.S. military rained on Syrian targets Thursday night. The missiles used on Thursday likely cost the U.S. military around $1 million, but the latest versions of the missile that would replace those could be more costly, depending on size of the order and other factors, said Loren Thompson, a consultant and chief operating officer of nonprofit Lexington Institute." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe cost to replace the 59 Tomahawk missiles Trump fired on Syria

30 Years After Saddam Hussein, Now U.S. Bombs Kurds To Smithereens

The Pentagon has admitted to an airstrike that is believed to have killed more than 200 civilians in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, at the edge of the autonomous Kurdistan region. In the 1980s, Kurdistan was targeted by Saddam … Continue reading →

Continue Reading30 Years After Saddam Hussein, Now U.S. Bombs Kurds To Smithereens

Trump comes out in support of Ex-Im Bank, reversing campaign rhetoric

"On Thursday, two Democratic senators said that Trump indicated he would support the bank following a lunch with lawmakers on Capitol Hill. In addition, they said Trump promised to fill two vacant seats on the bank's board, which in the meantime is barred from financing deals of more than $10 million. 'I specifically talked with the president about the need to get the Export-Import Bank up and running,' Sen. Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota said. 'It's great news he agreed.' Though the bank said that 90 percent of its authorizations are for small businesses, Boeing is one of its biggest beneficiaries." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTrump comes out in support of Ex-Im Bank, reversing campaign rhetoric

David Galland: Wars and Rumors of Wars

"This article is about why I think interest rates are heading higher, viewed through the context of the politics of the US government's next war. While I'd prefer to convince the world to change its course toward a more peaceful future, given the futility of trying to do so, I'll use my time with you today presenting data, analysis, and a few opinions about the economic consequences of the march toward war that US policy is now set upon. The chart below combines defense, veterans benefits, homeland security, the State Department, and defense-related interest payments, to create a more comprehensive picture of our military spending." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDavid Galland: Wars and Rumors of Wars

Max Keiser’s Marshmallow Gun of Truth: Think Tank

"Abby Martin talks to Max Keiser, host of RT's 'Keiser Report' about everything from why a supposedly broke country always has money for war, and the often illogical outcomes of important events, citing Halliburton stocks rising following revelations of the company's criminality." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMax Keiser’s Marshmallow Gun of Truth: Think Tank

Senators Authorizing Syria Strike Got More Cash From Military-Industrial Complex

"Senators voting Wednesday to authorize a Syria strike received, on average, 83 percent more campaign financing from defense contractors than lawmakers voting against war. Overall, political action committees and employees from defense and intelligence firms such as Lockheed Martin, Boeing, United Technologies, Honeywell International, and others ponied up $1,006,887 to the 17 members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee who voted yes or no on the authorization Wednesday, according to an analysis by Maplight, the Berkeley-based nonprofit that performed the inquiry at WIRED’s request." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSenators Authorizing Syria Strike Got More Cash From Military-Industrial Complex