It's not so much the politicians, it's the wealthy elitist who own the politicians. While I agree the Citizen United ruling was the correct ruling by the courts, there needs to be legislation to reign in the wealthy donors and dark money groups. Fat chance of that with the corrupt self entitled politicians who are currently in office.
Wouldn't surprise me if the number were in the billions, exactly as planned.
apnews.com
All except Joe's 10%.
Ukraine says corrupt officials stole $40 million meant to buy arms for the war with Russia
Ukraine's security service says employees from an arms firm conspired with defense ministry officials to embezzle almost $40 million earmarked to buy mortar shells for the war with Russia.
Security officials say that the current investigation dates back to August 2022, when officials signed a contract for artillery shells worth 1.5 billion hryvnias ($39.6 million) with arms firm Lviv Arsenal.
After receiving payment, company employees were supposed to transfer the funds to a business registered abroad, which would then deliver the ammunition to Ukraine.
However, the goods were never delivered and the money was instead sent to various accounts in Ukraine and the Balkans, investigators said. Ukraine’s prosecutor general says that the funds have since been seized and will be returned to the country’s defense budget.
apnews.com
apnews.com
Of the people on this board I’m sure you’re the only one who would read this. It paints a very pessimistic picture of what the US and its client state, Israel, are facing. I’m sure things are not as bad as it makes it seem, but I link it to show that there is rapidly growing resistance to our global vision and what we demand of the Middle East to do on our behalf. For us to dominate the region like our NeoCons want will not be near the cakewalk they want us to think it will be. One thing it says is there are rumors we are exploring ways to pull our troops out of Syria and Iraq, which the author thinks will be taken as a sign we retreated after being thrown out. I don’t know about that, but I see such a pullout, should it happen, as a very positive development.Millionaire conwoman who bilked military got to RETIRE with benefits
The San Antonio conwoman who allegedly scammed the military out of over $100million in a six-year fraud was able to retire from her civil service job with full benefits during the investigation.www.dailymail.co.uk
To keep things in perspective though. The Pentagon, can't even keep its own employees from ripping taxpayers off. I think all of the theft is wrong no matter who does it. But when you combine gross incompetence with criminals the criminals are going to win some.
Like fraudulent COVID aid,
The Great Grift: How billions in COVID-19 relief aid was stolen or wasted
An Associated Press analysis found that fraudsters potentially stole more than $280 billion in COVID-19 relief funding; another $123 billion was wasted or misspent.
To juxtapose the aid sent to Ukraine vs just the COVID fraud & the chick above, we would have to send an additional $428 Billion in aid to Ukraine to equal the two frauds above.
The Great Grift: How billions in COVID-19 relief aid was stolen or wasted
An Associated Press analysis found that fraudsters potentially stole more than $280 billion in COVID-19 relief funding; another $123 billion was wasted or misspent.
Again, I understand most of my 24/7 brothers aversion to sending money to Ukraine & being involved. As a student of history I'm a firm believer that when Putin is killed/replaced the person will be even more of a nationalist & will most certainly attack a NATO member country. Then we'll have US troops in eastern europe. I prefer to stop those mongoloid bastards now with money, then later with lots of money & american blood.
Then what? What does the Middle East look like if the US pulls out and Israel stops the war?Of the people on this board I’m sure you’re the only one who would read this. It paints a very pessimistic picture of what the US and its client state, Israel, are facing. I’m sure things are not as bad as it makes it seem, but I link it to show that there is rapidly growing resistance to our global vision and what we demand of the Middle East to do on our behalf. For us to dominate the region like our NeoCons want will not be near the cakewalk they want us to think it will be. One thing it says is there are rumors we are exploring ways to pull our troops out of Syria and Iraq, which the author thinks will be taken as a sign we retreated after being thrown out. I don’t know about that, but I see such a pullout, should it happen, as a very positive development.
Israel and US Military Operations in the Middle East Going Wobbly Under Multi-Front Pressure | naked capitalism
Things are going from bad to worse for Israel, and on top of that, the US is beating a retreat.www.nakedcapitalism.com
It will look like Iran pushing around the ME with only Saudi Arabia to put up any kind of fight.
Have you thought about how that looks? How many die? How does that effect energy cost? How does that effect the US and World economy? Is that good for the US? Saudi Arabia? Others in the Middle East that do not side with Iran? Does Iran stop with control of the Middle East or does it continue expanding it's empire? Remember with every action there comes a consequence. Have you thought those through, you willing to accept the results and the responsibility?
The Iran Iraq war cost 500,000, so if Iran chooses to invade Iraq again, I would expect lower numbers based on Iraq getting run over. If Iraq can put up a fight and the US backs them, then more than the 500,000 lost the last time. This would make a nightmare look good.
The problem is that the groundswell's solution against the current ruling class is socialism which (of course) favors the ruling class. The sheep don't even know they are sheep.
I disagree with this. I don't think Russia has any interest in attacking a NATO country. In fact, I believe, they attacked Ukraine primarily because it wasn't a NATO country yet, and involving it in a war was the only method they have to slow NATO's continuously eastward expansion. And it worked. NATO (and Biden) were clear that Ukraine can't join while its already at war. Its why the Russians are satisfied with a stalemate in the region and no peace accord.
