Pentagon Overhauls Weapons Buying: More Tax Dollars, Faster Wars?
The Pentagon, fresh off its multi-trillion dollar budget requests, is 'gearing up to invest in defense companies and offer grants, loans and other incentives' to speed up weapons development, according to Bloomberg Politics. This isn't oversight; it's a direct subsidy program from taxpayers to companies like Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin, who already see their stock prices soar with every
new conflict. The last time the Pentagon 'streamlined' procurement, the F-35 program became the most expensive weapons system in history, plagued by decades of delays and cost overruns, yet still fully funded. How many times will we fund inefficiency under the guise of national security? Instead of addressing the revolving door of generals becoming lobbyists for these very same companies, or the
documented waste, fraud, and abuse in defense contracts, the solution is always... more money, faster. It appears the only thing being 'overhauled' is our expectations for fiscal responsibility. One might wonder if the real 'incentive' is simply to keep the war machine well-oiled, ensuring a steady flow of profits for those who bankroll political campaigns—a dynamic OpenSecrets.org routinely
highlights.