The Senate passed the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) 83-11, sending it to President Biden for signing.
Congress viewed Biden’s $813 billion too skimpy so they tacked on $45 billion in goodies to ravenous US defense contractors, an 8% increase over the 2022 giveaway. $813 billion goes to the Pentagon, with the rest to other departments, including $30 billion for upgraded nukes to blow up the world.
But it would be more appropriate to rename it the National Offense Authorization Act (NOAA). Without a single existential threat to the homeland, and not a single sworn enemy lurking offshore, the bill is all about offense. It provides a virtual blank check to fuel the endless Russo Ukraine war now approaching 300 days with a hundred billion in US weapons. It ramps up billions in weapons for Taiwan to fend off an imaginary Chinese invasion.
What could be worse than possibly instigating nuclear confrontation with the 2 other largest nuclear powers?
As long as calling the bill by its truthful name, how bout renaming those folks building all those explosives and delivery systems who they really are…the offensive industry?
Walt Zlotow became involved in antiwar activities upon entering University of Chicago in 1963. He is current president of the West Suburban Peace Coalition based in the Chicago western suburbs. He blogs daily on antiwar and other issues at www.heartlandprogressive.blogspot.com.
The for profit higher education system, as well as the profit driven healthcare system, just keep rolling along. So it goes.
For actual defense, the U.S. basically just needs a coast guard for its eastern and western borders, and a small border patrol for its northern and southern borders. All else is offense, not defense, and it’s done for the purpose of maintaining and expanding U.S. empire.
Every year, they increase war funding by 10% disguised as the NDAA with no debate whatsoever. Congress is an utter failure and a complete rubber stamp for the military industrial complex.