the military-industrial complex calls the shots.


http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/06/us/pol...TE&ei=5043

Quote:One of the two $700 million ships completed so far has had a major leak and crack in its hull, while the other is at sea, testing equipment that is failing to distinguish underwater mines from glints of light on the waves. More ominously, a report late last year by the Pentagon’s top weapons tester said the ship “is not expected to be survivable in a hostile combat environment.”

(April 5, 2012 at 7:40 pm)Minimalist Wrote: the military-industrial complex calls the shots.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/06/us/pol...TE&ei=5043

Quote:One of the two $700 million ships completed so far has had a major leak and crack in its hull, while the other is at sea, testing equipment that is failing to distinguish underwater mines from glints of light on the waves. More ominously, a report late last year by the Pentagon’s top weapons tester said the ship “is not expected to be survivable in a hostile combat environment.”

They need their toys, Min. And they need you to foot the bill for 'm. And as long as you sign off on it, they get their shitty toys. And you get stiffed, again.

That's how you rack up a deficit of 14 trillion dollars: simply throw money out by the boatload...

If you think that's bad, look at the JSF program.

Twenty years of development has delivered a handful of fighters that don't work.

And this with a budget of almost 700 billion annually.

One does wonder where all that money goes

(April 6, 2012 at 1:43 am)Zen Badger Wrote: If you think that's bad, look at the JSF program.

Twenty years of development has delivered a handful of fighters that don't work.

And this with a budget of almost 700 billion annually.

Plus, the JSF will be totally redundant by the time the first planes become operational (2017 if we're lucky): hell, the US already spend 3 times more operational money on drones than on manned fighters!

The JSF is the biggest military hardware con of the last half century. It's a dinosaur, everybody knows it, and everybody looks the other way...

Quote:One does wonder where all that money goes

It goes to Caribean islands, Maybachs, superyachts, and high-maintenance whores.

Considering that the Skunk works was able to develop the Blackbird series (A-11, A-12, SR-71) in less than ten years, it makes the JSF a pathetic joke.

Clarence Kelly would be spinning in his grave.

---

Why?



Just because....

(April 6, 2012 at 2:49 pm)Minimalist Wrote:

While I agree with the OP, I have to say "meh" to this demotivational. Chances are good that drones are just as much for saving pilot lives as they are for drawing in a wider range of potential recruits.

(April 9, 2012 at 3:07 am)R-e-n-n-a-t Wrote:

(April 6, 2012 at 2:49 pm)Minimalist Wrote:

While I agree with the OP, I have to say "meh" to this demotivational. Chances are good that drones are just as much for saving pilot lives as they are for drawing in a wider range of potential recruits.

Excuse me? Drones are first and foremost for killing people! And they are also uncannily effective in causing 'collateral damage' from half a world away.
Just what we need.

(April 9, 2012 at 6:17 am)Durker Wrote: Excuse me? Drones are first and foremost for killing people! And they are also uncannily effective in causing 'collateral damage' from half a world away.
Just what we need.

Nuclear weapons came before nuclear reactors. What does the order matter? Drones are simply unmanned aircraft, nothing more.

At the moment, they're mostly weaponized because the military invested money into it.

We've successfully removed the military from most of our society...oh, sure, every one walks around with "Support Our Troops" on their lips which they will do by repeating vapid slogans as long as they don't have to become one of them.

May as well go all the way and use robots.