Pentagon Wants Greater Military Spending, Claims Nonexistent Russia Threat

by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)

Washington spends around as much as the rest of the world combined on militarism and warmaking, with all so-called defense categories included.

It's at a time when the nation's only enemies are invented ones to keep things on a permanent war footing. 

Most Americans are none the wiser about how they're ill-served, undemocratic Dems as irresponsible as hardline Republicans, a deplorable situation risking eventual nuclear war, Russia and China prime targets along with Iran and North Korea.

Annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) funding is less than half the amount appropriated for US militarism and warmaking. 

Tens of billions of dollars in black budgets are undisclosed. Billions more go for funding war in multiple theaters on top of what NDAA authorizes.

It's a national sickness, militarism and warmaking prioritized, along with corporate favoritism. Neoliberal harshness is enforced to devote maximum US resources for these purposes at the expense of social justice. World peace is a nonstarter.

On Tuesday, Joint Chiefs Chairman Joseph ("fighting Joe") Dunford addressed Senate Armed Services Committee members.

He highlighted a nonexistent Russia threat, falsely claimed it's not complying with the Intermediate Range Nuclear Force (INF) Treaty, turned truth on its head saying its "broader set of nuclear and conventional strike capabilities…threat(en) US forces and our allies in the European and the Pacific theaters," adding:

"We will work with our allies and Congress to ensure we have the capabilities, both offensive and defensive, to ensure Russia does not gain a military advantage from violating the treaty."

Recommendations will follow, including "potential military measures to increase pressure on Russia…"

Asked if he still believes Russia is "the greatest threat to our national security," a remark he made during his 2015 congressional confirmation hearing, he said "(t)oday Russia does present the greatest array of military challenges and remains the only potential existential threat to the United States."

Dunford and other joint chiefs, along with Defense Secretary Mattis, a retired Marine Corps general, want maximum spending for militarism and endless warmaking, inventing threats for easily gotten congressional support, Trump co-opted to go along.

Most Americans are in the dark, uninformed and easily deceived,  unaware how deplorably they're lied to.

US-dominated NATO along with its rogue allies represent the only threat to their well-being and security - not Russia, China, Iran or North Korea, posing no threat whatever.

The destructive agenda of America and its rogue allies represent humanity's greatest threat, risking catastrophic nuclear war, an increasing possibility, an unthinkable option. If launched, we're all doomed.

VISIT MY NEW WEB SITE: stephenlendman.org (Home - Stephen Lendman). Contact at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

My newest book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."

http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html

Listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network.