Wasteful Weapons and the Politicians Who Love Them

Posted on Jun 24, 2008
By Robert Scheer

Remember Curtis LeMay, the Air Force general played to chilling effect by Sterling Hayden in the 1964 movie “Dr. Strangelove”? If you’re too young for that reference, you probably don’t recall when the concept of Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD) dominated our military posture toward our Soviet enemy. I bring this up because the midair refueling tanker that the MAD warrior LeMay commissioned suddenly has become a controversy in the presidential campaign.

MAD was based on a triad of air, land and sea forces that would punish a Soviet first strike, ending all semblance of life on the one-sixth of the planet that composed the old Soviet Union. Toward that end, we needed not only thousands of land-based weapons but thousands of other weapons on ships and on airplanes. It was LeMay’s insistence that nuclear-armed bombers be in the air 24/7 that gave rise to the midair refueling tankers that were in the news this past week. Controversy arose when the Government Accountability Office questioned an Air Force decision to award the contract for a new generation of those “gas stations in the sky” to one defense contractor instead of its rival.

The news was presented in a Wall Street Journal front-page story focusing on the profit potential rather than the military significance of the tanker. So, too, the account that led the New York Times business section, which detailed the good news in Boeing’s revived chances to secure the refueling tanker contract. This deal would initially cost $35 billion, but, as the Times pointed out, “The tanker contract, which could eventually grow to $100 billion to build a fleet of 179 refueling planes, is one of the most lucrative ever awarded by the Pentagon.”

Neither newspaper indicated why we needed $100 billion in tankers, other than in a revealing photo in the Times showing one of the airplanes refueling a B-2 bomber, which brings us back to Gen. LeMay and his MAD doctrine. The B-2 was designed to be the modern bomber in the triad confronting the Soviets. Its very expensive stealth cover would be able to penetrate a sophisticated Soviet radar system—which was never built. That also assumes that the B-2’s stealthy cover would stop deteriorating in the rain, as it was wont to do, but the test for this technology never occurred because of the untimely fall of the Soviet menace.

Despite having lost its purpose, production of the B-2 continued for a while as a jobs and profit program supported by key legislators from both parties, as has been the case with the tanker designed to fuel the planes. Woe to the legislator who dares take on any weapons program, and that is why John McCain has become the subject of criticism from the Democrats.

In one of his better performances as a senator, McCain distinguished himself by challenging a swindle that would have rewarded the Boeing company with a contract worth $100 billion for leasing Boeing aircraft that were converted to refueling tankers from a model that was not selling in a depressed market. Thanks to McCain’s insistence on a criminal investigation, the chief financial officer of Boeing and the top procurement officer in the Air Force wing of the Pentagon were sent to serve time in federal prison. The contract was canceled, and a new contract was awarded to Northrop Grumman and a European partner.

The Democratic National Committee now has criticized McCain for having opposed the Boeing deal, charging that McCain had “sent American jobs abroad.” The DNC’s attack on McCain speaks volumes to the bipartisan gut-checking in favor of military waste that has led us to squander trillions of taxpayer dollars since 9/11.

McCain campaign spokesman Brian Rogers responded to the scurrilous attack from the DNC, saying:

“Let’s get this straight: John McCain led the charge to uncover the biggest boondoggle in Pentagon history, saved the taxpayers over $6 billion, helped send corrupt execs and government officials to jail, and the Democrats say he’s the bad guy? It’s absurd. Apparently to Barack Obama and the Democrats, corruption is OK, so long as it helps them politically. That’s not change we can believe in.”

Now, of course, McCain has done his bit to waste egregious amounts of taxpayer money by cheerleading for an Iraq war that has already burdened us with trillions in future debt, but that hardly exonerated the Democrats in once again attempting to one-up the Republicans in throwing money at defense contractors.

The Coming Catastrophe?

The finishing touches on several contingency plans for attacking Iran

Global Research Editor's note:
We bring to the attention of our readers David DeBatto's scenario as to what might occur if one of the several contingency plans to attack Iran, with the participation of Israel and NATO, were to be carried out. While one may disagree with certain elements of detail of the author's text, the thrust of this analysis must be taken seriously.


"Israel has said a strike on Iran will be "unavoidable" if the Islamic regime continues to press ahead with alleged plans for building an atom-bomb." (London Daily Telegraph, 6/11/2008)
"Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany joined President Bush on Wednesday in calling for further sanctions against Iran if it does not suspend its uranium enrichment program." Mr. Bush stressed again that "all options are on the table," which would include military force. (New York Times, 6/11/2008)

We are fast approaching the final six months of the Bush administration. The quagmire in Iraq is in its sixth painful year with no real end in sight and the forgotten war in Afghanistan is well into its seventh year. The "dead enders" and other armed factions are still alive and well in Iraq and the Taliban in Afghanistan again controls most of that country. Gas prices have now reached an average of $4.00 a gallon nationally and several analysts predict the price will rise to $5.00-$6.00 dollars per gallon at the pump by Labor Day. This, despite assurances by some major supporters of the decision to invade Iraq that the Iraq war "will pay for itself" (Paul Wolfowitz) or that we will see "$20.00 per barrel" oil prices if we invade Iraq (Rupert Murdoch).

One thing the Pentagon routinely does (and does very well) is conduct war games. Top brass there are constantly developing strategies for conducting any number of theoretical missions based on real or perceived threats to our national security or vital interests. This was also done prior to the invasion of Iraq, but the Bush administration chose not to listen to the dire warnings about that mission given to him by Pentagon leaders, or for that matter, by his own senior intelligence officials. Nevertheless, war gaming is in full swing again right now with the bullseye just to the right of our current mess – Iran.

It’s no secret that the U.S. is currently putting the finishing touches on several contingency plans for attacking Iranian nuclear and military facilities. With our ground forces stretched to the breaking point in Iraq and Afghanistan, none of the most likely scenarios involve a ground invasion. Not that this administration wouldn’t prefer to march into the seat of Shiite Islam behind a solid, moving line of M1 Abrams tanks and proclaim the country for democracy. The fact is that even the President knows we can’t pull that off any more so he and the neo-cons will have to settle for Shock and Awe Lite.

If we invade Iran this year it will be done using hundreds of sorties by carrier based aircraft already stationed in the Persian Gulf and from land based aircraft located in Iraq and Qatar. They will strike the known nuclear facilities located in and around Tehran and the rest of the country as well as bases containing major units of the Iranian military, anti-aircraft installations and units of the Revolutionary Guard (a separate and potent Iranian para-military organization).

Will this military action stop Iran’s efforts to develop nuclear weapons? Probably not. It will probably not even destroy all of their nuclear research facilities, the most sensitive of which are known to be underground, protected by tons of earth and reinforced concrete and steel designed to survive almost all attacks using conventional munitions. The Iranian military and Revolutionary Guard will most likely survive as well, although they will suffer significant casualties and major bases and command centers will undoubtedly be destroyed. However, since Iran has both a functioning Air Force, Navy (including submarines) and modern anti-aircraft capabilities, U.S. fighter-bombers will suffer casualties as well. This will not be a "Cake Walk" as with the U.S. led invasion of Iraq in 2003 when the Iraqi Army simply melted away and the Iraqi Air Force never even launched a single aircraft.

Not even close.

If the United States attacks Iran either this summer or this fall, the American people had better be prepared for a shock that may perhaps be even greater to the national psyche (and economy) than 9/11. First of all, there will be significant U.S. casualties in the initial invasion. American jets will be shot down and the American pilots who are not killed will be taken prisoner - including female pilots. Iranian Yakhonts 26, Sunburn 22 and Exocet missiles will seek out and strike U.S. naval battle groups bottled up in the narrow waters of the Persian Gulf with very deadly results. American sailors will be killed and U.S. ships will be badly damaged and perhaps sunk. We may even witness the first attack on an American Aircraft carrier since World War II.

That’s just the opening act.

Israel (who had thus far stayed out of the fray by letting the U.S. military do the heavy lifting) is attacked by Hezbollah in a coordinated and large scale effort. Widespread and grisly casualties effectively paralyze the nation, a notion once thought impossible. Iran’s newest ally in the region, Syria, then unleashes a barrage of over 200 Scud B, C and D missiles at Israel, each armed with VX gas. Since all of Israel is within range of these Russian built weapons, Haifa, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and virtually all major civilian centers and several military bases are struck, often with a result of massive casualties.

The Israeli Air Force orders all three squadrons of their F-16I Sufa fighter/bombers into the air with orders to bomb Tehran and as many military and nuclear bases as they can before they are either shot down or run out of fuel. It is a one way trip for some of these pilots. Their ancient homeland lies in ruins. Many have family that is already dead or dying. They do not wait for permission from Washington, DC or U.S. regional military commanders. The Israeli aircraft are carrying the majority of their country’s nuclear arsenal under their wings.

Just after the first waves of U.S. bombers cross into Iranian airspace, the Iranian Navy, using shore based missiles and small, fast attack craft sinks several oil tankers in the Straits of Hormuz, sealing off the Persian Gulf and all its oil from the rest of the world. They then mine the area, making it difficult and even deadly for American minesweepers to clear the straits. Whatever is left of the Iranian Navy and Air Force harasses our Navy as it attempts minesweeping operations. More U.S casualties.

The day after the invasion Wall Street (and to a lesser extent, Tokyo, London and Frankfurt) acts as it always does in an international crisis – irrational speculative and spot buying reaches fever pitch and sends the cost of oil skyrocketing. In the immediate aftermath of the U.S. invasion of Iran, the price of oil goes to $200.00 - $300.00 dollars a barrel on the open market. If the war is not resolved in a few weeks, that price could rise even higher. This will send the price of gasoline at the pump in this country to $8.00-$10.00 per gallon immediately and subsequently to even higher unthinkable levels.

If that happens, this country shuts down. Most Americans are not be able to afford gas to go to work. Truckers pull their big rigs to the side of the road and simply walk away. Food, medicine and other critical products are not be brought to stores. Gas and electricity (what is left of the short supply) are too expensive for most people to afford. Children, the sick and elderly die from lack of air-conditioned homes and hospitals in the summer. Children, the sick and elderly die in the winter for lack of heat. There are food riots across the country. A barter system takes the place of currency and credit as the economy dissolves and banks close or limit withdrawals. Civil unrest builds.

The police are unable to contain the violence and are themselves victims of the same crisis as the rest of the population. Civilian rule dissolves and Martial Law is declared under provisions approved under the Patriot Act. Regular U.S. Army and Marine troops patrol the streets. The federal government apparatus is moved to an unknown but secure location. The United States descends into chaos and becomes a third world country. Its time as the lone superpower is over.

It doesn’t get any worse than this.

Then the first Israeli bomber drops its nuclear payload on Tehran.

David DeBatto is a former U.S. Army Counterintelligence Special Agent, Iraqi war veteran and co-author the "CI" series from Warner Books and the upcoming "Counter to Intelligence" from Praeger Security International.


Global Research Articles by David DeBatto

The American Dream

The American Dream, George Carlin on You Tube. (foul language is involved in this video, beware)

The Triple Crisis Strikes Harder

a severe U.S. recession, surging inflation, and close encounters with a Wall Street meltdown.

News on each of these crises has burst onto the scene with gale force, wiping away the last vestiges of sugar-coating by Pollyanna analysts ... creating the conditions for a bond market disaster ... and driving the U.S. stock market into a tailspin:

Deepening the U.S. recession, vehicle sales are expected to plunge to 15-year lows. Dealer lots are overflowing with gas-guzzling trucks and SUVs. But they can't get their hands on enough fuel-efficient cars, limiting sales in the most popular models. Another warning sign: S&P has just put GM, Ford and Chrysler on "credit watch negative." End result: Don't be surprised if one of the Big Three — Ford, GM or Chrysler — is soon forced to file for bankruptcy.


Bankruptcy has already struck over 20 airlines worldwide, with many more on the way. In the U.S alone, the top 10 U.S. airlines are expected to post pre-tax losses of nearly $18 billion this year and next. At the same time ...


U.S. inflation is surging. In May, producer prices jumped 7.2% compared to a year earlier; import prices catapulted 17.8%, the biggest rise ever recorded; and even the so-called "core" producer prices (excluding food and energy) rose at the fastest pace since 1991! Adding to this explosive mix ...

Weekly Outlook by the Moderator of FX Insights

EUR/USD Weekly Outlook 6/22 thru 6/27 2008

For the weekly calander go to: FX Insights and scroll to the bottom of report.

TRADERS:

It is imperative you realize this week carries a risk level of 10.

What does this mean and why? At the beginning of each week, based on what fundamentals are on the books for the week, I give the trade week a risk rating. This week's risk rating is a 10 out 10.

The reason this week is rated 10 is because we not only have an FOMC rate decision and rate policy statement, we have two speeches by Trichet, we have major consumer data for the EUR and USD. We have major housing data for the USD. We have key inflation data for the EUR and USD, and we have a market that is not behaving rationally but is making emotional, knee-jerk decisions that defy logic and lack any kind of common-sense.

Those ingredients make for the highest risk rating I can possibly give. Expect heightened volatility, wild price swings, and possible surprising price moves at unexpected times.

Plus, be on alert for whatever kind of news come out of the meeting with Arabic oil ministers. If they come out with a strong statement to crank up more production and put more barrells of crude into the world supply, I would suspect this would hurt oil and help the dollar...

Trade Plan:

There is so much risk ahead for this week that I'm going to start today's update by encouraging you to sit down tonight, clear your mind, and write down your risk mangement plan and trade plan for this week.

How do you do this?

First, study the calendar... study what's on the books for this week. Look at when the big events are happening. Think about all the possibilities that could happen if the Fed comes out hawkish, or if they come out dovish. What if Trichet turns dovish on raising rates in July?

What if Core Durables, Consumer Confidence, and the Michigan Sentiment all suprise to the upside? What if German CPI prints to the downside?

Then, you connect the dots back to how all those individual pieces of data could directly effect Fed and ECB rate policy. This week is all about fundamentals, economics, and most of all: interest rates.

Please don't be lazy and skip this process of coming up with a game plan for the week ahead. If you've never done anything like this, now is a great time to get disciplined.

Of course I will provide analysis and forecasting in the daily updates, but don't trust what I say -- those are my opinions based on the information I collect and gather. I don't always get it right -- I may get some of it wrong this week. That's why you need to do your own research and come up with your own game plan to manage your money.

And as you're formulating your game plan, think about what you're going to do if the worst case-scenario happens -- getting caught long at a top or getting caught short at a bottom.

What size are your entries going to be? How far are you going to space out your entries? Will you use a mental stoploss should the market move against you? Think about these issues... you need to step up your game this week.

One last thing, if anybody in the chat asks me what time the FOMC is, I'm banning you for a year -- no questions asked.

Rates and Yields:

Obviously the biggest event is the FOMC. For the past three weeks the market has been making knee-jerk reactions based on interest rate speculation.

Right now Fed Funds Futures is predicting a 50bps rate hike as early as October. The 2-year yield has started to move above the Fed Funds Rate. This means the bond market is signaling that the Fed is definitely done cutting rates and is likely to move into a rate hike cycle sooner than later.

Yeah I don't think so...

But, it doesn't matter what I think, it matters what the market thinks. If you're serious about following monetary policy and rate policy like I am, do yourself a favor and watch the yield on the 2-year. If the yield keeps going up this will give you a great indicator that the market is thinking the Fed is hiking rates... and you know what that will do for the USD.

Also, watch the yield on the German Bund. If the yield spreads between Bunds and Bonds go up in favor of the Bund this will be better for the EUR vs. the USD. You don't have to watch them tick up and down in real-time, just glance at the yield every so often to keep up with where they're moving.

I think gold will come more into play this week than it has the past two weeks. All eyes must still be kept on oil, of course.

Tomorrow:

The biggest event tomorrow is the German IFO data which carries similiar significance to the ZEW data, but deals with various sectors like retail, wholesale, manufacturing, etc. I believe we could get some downside on this data. The forward looking outlook for growth, manufacturing, production, and the consumer is still weak to the upside in my opinion.

A downside print on the IFO data certainly carries a higher potential to bring the EUR/USD down.

We have zero USD news tomorrow. We do not have any Fed speeches this week other than the Fed activities on Wednesday.

EUR/USD:

Keep in mind we may see some big market players position themselves ahead of the FOMC. This is where those volatile price swings that I mentioned earlier will come into play. If a bank or hedge fund wants to get positioned prior to the FOMC they very well could use an ill-liquid time to perform these actions, so be prepared for that please.

Last week I called a 1.5640 topside by Friday and we were fortunate to see that play out as forecasted. Now that was great but the euro's gone back to sitting in a precarious spot -- the 1.5600 level.

We knew the euro was under value trading below 1.5600 but now could it be getting to close to an unattractive value? It's possible. So for me, this means I'm not likely to jump right in with a new long position.

My trading in the market will stay considerably scaled back at least until Wednesday. My entry size will be small and I won't be trying to hit a home run on a trade, but to make safe profits with minimal risk exposure.

Based on Friday's real-time price action I do believe we have the potential for more topside testing, but this will be dependant upon that upside momentum can sustain Sunday/Monday. And it will also depend on any geo-political events that might go down at the start of the week.

For example, suppose the Arabic oil ministers promise to raise production and then some oil cowboys hijack a platform, or cut a pipeline, etc. That would obviously send the crude market into a tailspin... so, this is the kind of stuff you have to be ready to deal with this week.

My trade plan for this week will be to add EUR/USD short positions on every 150-200 pip rise, unless the market tells me to do otherwise, this is my plan. I will still hold my best euro longs, but I'm definitely positioning my accounts with swing shorts on any rise up.

If the upside momentum ceases to exist and commodities do some correcting we could easily see a move back below the 1.5500 level. Should the markets cooperate and work together to devalue the dollar, I see no reason we can't push towards the 1.5750 level to test resistance and try to trigger stops.

And speaking of stops, this week the banks and brokers are going to be running stops and triggering stoplosses. This is their pattern during weeks like this. I know what they do and I'm not expecting anything differently from them this week.

OK, I think you understand what you're up against this week and how important it is for you to stay at the top of your game, not to overleverage your account, and not to take any dumb, knee-jerk trades.

If you're in doubt, stay out. Sit on the sidelines if the market and the price action is not clear to you. It's that simple. Be smart, be patient... wait for your price and wait for the trade to come to you.

We will try to do a live audio Q and A tomorrow morning at 1000 EST in the chat.

Litroenergy - New Light Source Material Category: Sustainable Technology

Steve Stark (MPK Co)
MPK CO.
Champlin (Clayton, WI), MN US
minnesotainventor@yahoo.com

Litroenergy is a patent pending designed light source material that emits light for 12 plus years- without electricity or sun exposure! Our development/design of long-life, self-luminous micro particles called Litrospheres (non-toxic) emit light continuously for 12 plus years (half-life point) without any exposure to a light or other energy (not effected by cold or heat). This extremely low cost material offers 24/7 light, which can be injection molded or added to paint. It is 5,000lb crush resistant, stable and constant light source (gives off no U.V. rays). It is designed to give off almost any color of light desired. Our goal is to mass produce this material and supply OEM’s. Litroenergy has potential to save billions of dollars in energy costs world-wide. Litroenergy surpasses all known available lighting options for cost/durability/reliability (12+ years) and safety. The uses are unlimited as the imagination; however we predict the safety aspects to be the front runner in application (light safety tape, lighted life rafts/flotation equipment, light safety markings/equipment, etc.). Supplemental light source will be second as the material is bright and one can read by it, if you have some Litroenergy lighting you will not need to always turn on a light source that requires electricity. The use of Litroenergy in toys, sports/camping equipment, bikes and novelty uses will be close in applications. The fill rate of Litroenergy micro particles in plastic injection molding material or paint is about 20%. The cost to light up 8 ½ x 11 piece of plastic 1/8” thick is about .35 cents. We appreciate this opportunity to introduce our patent pending designed Litroenergy light source material to the world.

Law Enforcement: SWAT Run Amok

6/20/08

Two recent incidents involving SWAT teams are adding fuel to the fire in the emerging controversy over the routine use of such paramilitarized police units to prosecute the drug war. In Chicago, the Chicago Police Department has been hit with a $10 million lawsuit over a September raid on a social club. Meanwhile, in Florida, the Pembroke Pines Police Department Special Response Team, a SWAT-style unit, shot and killed a 46-year-old homeowner in a dawn raid June 13 that netted a whopping three-quarters of an ounce of marijuana.

SWAT team, Pasadena, Texas(There is even more trouble on the SWAT front. Read StoptheDrugWar.org blogger Scott Morgan's post about the murder prosecution of raid victim Derrick Foster and the killing of raid victim Ronald Terebesi, Jr., here. StoptheDrugWar.org is committed to ending these abuses. Sign our online petition here.)

In the Chicago raid, raw video of which is available here (part one) and here (part two), Chicago SWAT team officers dressed as if heading for combat in Baghdad hit the La Familia Motorcycle Club as it was being used for a birthday party. Officers exploded stun grenades, pointed assault weapons at people cowering in hallways, and, according to the attorney who filed the lawsuit, did so without producing a search warrant.

Attorney George Becker said police also stole $1,500 from amusement machines and $1,000 from a safe they broke open during the raid. Becker also said five women at the club were strip-searched by female officers in front of male officers and club patrons. Becker said those parts of the raid were not recorded because officers pointed surveillance cameras at the ceiling.

"It looked to me like the Chicago Police Department is engaging in military-type activity," said Becker after showing the raid video.

But police are unrepentant. "We believe the officers acted within department guidelines in executing the legal search warrant," Police Department spokeswoman Monique Bond said.

Although police said an informant had told them a shipment of drugs was destined for the building, they seized only a small quantity of drugs and one hand-gun. Two arrests were made -- one on a bond forfeiture warrant and one for reckless conduct.

Police in Pembroke Pines, Florida, are also unrepentant about their SWAT raid that left Victor Hodgkiss dead. Police have released few details about what exactly went down during the dawn raid, except to say they he was shot and killed after confronting them as they entered his home on a no-knock drug search warrant. The raid netted one arrest -- of the girlfriend of Hodgkiss's son, who was charged with possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana.

"We use SRT for all narcotics warrants," Pembroke Pines Deputy Police Chief David Golt told Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel columnist Mike Mayo, who wrote a scathing column denouncing the reflexive resort to SWAT-style tactics. "You never know what you're going to encounter."

As Mayo noted in his column: "In this case, a 46-year-old man with a concealed weapons permit and no record of violent crime encountered his demise in his home of 14 years."

Police did not say whether Hodgkiss was armed when he was shot, but they did say they recovered a weapon from the home.

The Hodgkiss killing bears eerie similarities with another Florida SWAT killing, the 2005 shooting death of Philip Diotaiuto, a 23-year-old bartender shot 10 times by officers after he grabbed a gun as they burst into his home in a dawn raid that netted little over an ounce of marijuana. No charges were ever filed against those officers, but a civil suit filed by Diotaiuto's family is pending.

In both cases, police were aware their target had a weapons permit and used that to justify their resort to SWAT team tactics. In both cases, people ended up being killed over trivial amounts of marijuana.

SWAT team policing excesses are nothing new, but seem to be on the upswing as the units, originally designed for hostage and other dangerous situations, are increasingly used routinely for drug search warrants and other law enforcement purposes. The Cato Institute's Radley Balko has compiled the primary source book for SWAT killings and other abuses, 2006's Overkill: The Rise of Paramilitary Police Raids in America.