Okay, You Want Federal Spending Cuts? Stop The Wars and Cut Defense Spending by 2/3.

[Yavin4]

Cut defense spending from $700 billion a year to $200 billion a year. There's $500 billion right there and $5 trillion over the next 10 years.

Clinton's defense budgets were around $200 billion annually, and nothing happened to us in the 90s, except Britney Spears and Boy Bands.

And our massive defense budget did nothing to prevent 9/11, which could have been prevented with better airport security screening and locks on the cockpit doors.

[bif]

1. I've been saying this for 10 years!

When we spend more money on defense then all the rest of the world combined, there's something wrong.

[Vincardog]

2. Then raise the cap on SS and raise the top marginal tax rate to 60% pas single payer and we are jake

[ejpoeta]

3. they aren't serious about the deficit. if they were, you are right, defense spending would

be on the table. there is no reason for us to be spending so much on defense. we need to get the hell out of iraq and afghanistan. but we can get out of japan and germany and all the other damned places too. the MIC is like a cancer that once it takes hold will not relinquish its hold on area and money!!

[raccoon]

4. How? What can you or I or any of us average citizens do to make this happen? nt

[IcyPeas]

5. my response from Whitehouse.gov: re Wars and Budget as follows:

I contacted the whitehouse about stopping the wars to help alleviate the budget. I got a response/form letter yesterday:

April 19, 2011

Dear Friend:
Thank you for writing. Our service members in Iraq and Afghanistan continue to serve with honor and bear an enormous burden for us all, and we owe them our deepest gratitude.

We ended our combat mission in Iraq on August 31, 2010, and we are building a strong partnership with the Iraqi people in support of Iraq's development, and of peace and security in the region. Iraq has already made significant progress toward becoming a fully integrated member of the international community, including the formation of a national partnership government that reflects the results of its most recent election and demonstrates the Iraqi people's ongoing commitment to democracy.

Meanwhile, we are also maintaining our focus on al-Qa'ida and its associated forces, who continue to plot attacks against innocent people both in the United States and abroad. The September 11 attacks were planned in Afghanistan and executed by al-Qa'ida, which has found sanctuary in the border region between Afghanistan and Pakistan. That is why I have increased the number of American troops fighting in Afghanistan. We are also working closely with key international partners to put relentless pressure on al-Qa'ida and its associated forces in Afghanistan and Pakistan, as well as in countries like Yemen and beyond. We will not stop until we disrupt, dismantle, and defeat these terrorist networks.

As we continue to focus on the threat posed by extremists in this region and around the world, our objectives are to deny al-Qa'ida a safe haven, to reverse the Taliban's momentum, and to strengthen the capacity of Afghanistan's security forces and government so they can take responsibility for their future. To achieve this, our strategy requires a military effort that will create the conditions for a transition, civilian assistance that builds the capacity of the Afghan government while holding it accountable, and an effective partnership with Pakistan to root out al-Qa'ida safe havens along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. I have asked that our commitment be joined by contributions from our allies, and they have responded by agreeing to provide additional troops and resources.

Our commitment to Afghanistan will not be open-ended. Our troops will begin to come home in the summer of 2011 at a pace that will be conditions-based. As our forces draw down, the Afghan government will take on greater responsibility for its country's security, a process that will be completed in 2014.

To protect our country, we are also investing in our homeland security, improving and better coordinating our intelligence, working with our allies and partners to secure loose nuclear materials from terrorists, using diplomacy to strengthen our alliances, and drawing on the strength of our values.

Thank you again for writing. To learn more about my Administration's strategies in Iraq and Afghanistan, please visit: www.WhiteHouse.gov/Issues/Foreign-Policy.

Sincerely,

Barack Obama

[Yavin4]

6. The 9/11 Attacks Were Also Planned in Germany and Tampa, FL

Should we invade and occupy those places as well?