Hegseth Finds Warmongering 'Wonderful' From Japan, Not So Much From His Budget
Pete Hegseth, a man perpetually auditioning for a Fox News prime-time slot, declared Japan's defense spending 'wonderful' after cozying up with PM Sanae Takaichi. This isn't just a friendly nod; it’s a direct endorsement of increased military industrial complex profits, conveniently overlooking that these same politicians often decry 'wasteful spending' when it's not funneling into defense
contractors. Remember how quickly the 'fiscal conservatives' found an extra $886 billion for the 2024 defense budget (The Hill, Dec 15, 2023), yet somehow can't locate funds for healthcare or housing? It's always 'wonderful' when allies increase their martial readiness and potentially buy more American weapons. Curiously, this enthusiasm rarely extends to domestic spending that might actually
benefit Americans. The cycle repeats: praise foreign arms buildup, then decry federal deficits... unless those deficits come from bombs, in which case it's 'strengthening global security.' One might wonder how many social programs could be funded if 'wonderful' defense spending wasn't the default answer to every geopolitical concern.