This hearing is worth listening to if one wants to understand the 'political' Republican. Their questions reveal people that do not believe in the strength of the USA. They are always worried the USA is behind the eight ball. Never once do they recognize the immense size of the USA military and it's huge presence in the world.
U.S.-Russia Nuclear Arms Negotiations, Part 2 (click here)
There is no reason for any oversight to drop it's guard, however, that is different than members of a subcommittee actually believing their own fear as valid regardless the facts presented.
The Republicans actually believe their own rhetoric. And they believe it in the face of facts.
The U.S. Department of Defense is requesting $495.6 billion in authority for the base budget in FY 2015 in line with the Budget Control Act, or BCA, caps as revised by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013.
That is a half a trillion with a T dollars.
According to a report in Jane’s Defence Weekly, (click here) the Russian Federal Treasury announced late last month that “Expenditure on National Defense” will rise from 2,101.4 billion rubles ($58.2 billion) in 2013 to 2,488.1 billion rubles in 2014. This is projected to be about 3.4 percent of Russia’s GDP but over 20 percent of government spending. Another 16.5 percent of the government budget will go to national security and law enforcement.
Granted the Ruble is disappearing into oblivion, but, the Russian military budget in 2013 wasn't even a tenth of a trillion. It was at the very best it is one-twentieth of a trillion.
The USA has allies like the UK and France who are both permanent members of the UN Security Council and nuclear powers. The Soviet Union doesn't exist and most all Russian allies are NEEDY.
The nuclear treaties are just as important, if not more so to Russia. Granted the treaties have to be validated and respected, but, the overall view of the USA vs Russia is hugely leveraged in the favor of The West.
I understand the politics of military contracts and bring federal dollars into states that supply jobs, but, when it comes to making decisions regarding foreign policy in regard to military engagement the committees need to get real.
The USA and Russia have enormous nuclear capacity and they can easily disarm without even denting either's capacity.
The USA is not a weak nation on the cusp of falling apart. Russia, on the other hand, is somewhat less sturdy. Quite frankly, I am more than surprised the political dialogue in Russia even tolerates the current regime.
It is just as important other political party leaders have a vision of Russia that is hopeful, open and a stronger economy, but, if the USA is going to seek war at every turn, those leaders don't have a chance to bring a new vision to the Russian people. Fear works. If the USA is a consenting partner in war mongering, the Communists will reign over those people forever. The politics in Russia is in complete disrepair compared to the times we live in. Russian political leaders have to present a far more peaceful world to the people if they are to be successful. I completely hate the idea, Vladimir Putin has modeled his domestic politics after that of Bush/Cheney. That should tell every American all they need to know about what works and what doesn't to any people. We need to move past that.
U.S.-Russia Nuclear Arms Negotiations, Part 2 (click here)
There is no reason for any oversight to drop it's guard, however, that is different than members of a subcommittee actually believing their own fear as valid regardless the facts presented.
The Republicans actually believe their own rhetoric. And they believe it in the face of facts.
The U.S. Department of Defense is requesting $495.6 billion in authority for the base budget in FY 2015 in line with the Budget Control Act, or BCA, caps as revised by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013.
That is a half a trillion with a T dollars.
According to a report in Jane’s Defence Weekly, (click here) the Russian Federal Treasury announced late last month that “Expenditure on National Defense” will rise from 2,101.4 billion rubles ($58.2 billion) in 2013 to 2,488.1 billion rubles in 2014. This is projected to be about 3.4 percent of Russia’s GDP but over 20 percent of government spending. Another 16.5 percent of the government budget will go to national security and law enforcement.
Granted the Ruble is disappearing into oblivion, but, the Russian military budget in 2013 wasn't even a tenth of a trillion. It was at the very best it is one-twentieth of a trillion.
The USA has allies like the UK and France who are both permanent members of the UN Security Council and nuclear powers. The Soviet Union doesn't exist and most all Russian allies are NEEDY.
The nuclear treaties are just as important, if not more so to Russia. Granted the treaties have to be validated and respected, but, the overall view of the USA vs Russia is hugely leveraged in the favor of The West.
I understand the politics of military contracts and bring federal dollars into states that supply jobs, but, when it comes to making decisions regarding foreign policy in regard to military engagement the committees need to get real.
The USA and Russia have enormous nuclear capacity and they can easily disarm without even denting either's capacity.
The USA is not a weak nation on the cusp of falling apart. Russia, on the other hand, is somewhat less sturdy. Quite frankly, I am more than surprised the political dialogue in Russia even tolerates the current regime.
It is just as important other political party leaders have a vision of Russia that is hopeful, open and a stronger economy, but, if the USA is going to seek war at every turn, those leaders don't have a chance to bring a new vision to the Russian people. Fear works. If the USA is a consenting partner in war mongering, the Communists will reign over those people forever. The politics in Russia is in complete disrepair compared to the times we live in. Russian political leaders have to present a far more peaceful world to the people if they are to be successful. I completely hate the idea, Vladimir Putin has modeled his domestic politics after that of Bush/Cheney. That should tell every American all they need to know about what works and what doesn't to any people. We need to move past that.
