The federal government actually reports reveunes for the dept. of defense. I was wondering where they were coming from.
Guards Fault Homeland Security Protection An envelope with suspicious powder was opened last fall at the headquarters. Daniels and other current and former guards said they were shocked when superiors carried it past the office of Secretary Michael Chertoff, took it outside and then shook it outside Chertoff's window without evacuating people nearby. ...Over the last two years, the Energy Department inspector general concluded that Wackenhut guards had thwarted simulated terrorist attacks at a nuclear lab only after they were tipped off to the test; and that guards had improperly handled the transport of nuclear and conventional weapons. ...Another described how guards flunked a test by the Secret Service, which sent vehicles into the compound with dummy government identification tags hanging from inside mirrors. Guards cleared such vehicles through on two occasions, this guard said, and one officer even copied down the false information without realizing it was supposed to match information on the employee's government badge. ---------- Its like America has dumbed itself down ever since Generalissimo Bush claimed office.
I had to rub my eyes to make sure this wasn't this was real: US insists on right to develop arms for outer space John Mohanco, deputy director of the office of multilateral, nuclear and security affairs, said the United States faced a threat of attacks from the earth or from other countries' spacecraft. He did not name any potential attackers. -------- Defense contractors' last minute rip of the US taxpayer just in case the current Politburo doesn't survive the next election cycle.
Every once in awhile the pension story is written, update: U.S. pension peril grows with bankruptcies In 2002, a bankrupt Bethlehem Steel stunned 100,000 workers with the news it would no longer back their pensions. It was the biggest default in a brutal year during which companies dropped responsibility for 157 pension plans onto the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, the little-known federal agency that insures private retirement packages. The trend has since accelerated. Another 467 companies, including giant employers like United Airlines, have joined those who can't -- or won't -- honor pledges to retirees. In just four years, the number of monthly checks PBGC sends to retired workers has swelled from 344,770 to 683,000, doubling annual payouts from $1.54 billion to $3.69 billion and turning the PBGC's budget from a tidy $10 billion surplus in 2000 to a $23 billion deficit last year. The growth in PBGC obligations is under sharp attack from union leaders, who see it as an assault on Corporate America's long-standing pact with employees, and has raised alarms in Washington over who is going to pay for this. "The bottom line here is we're talking about a taxpayer bailout," said David John, a Heritage Foundation researcher. "It's inevitable." Executives who have steered companies through bankruptcy don't see it that way, arguing they are serving the best interests of their company. The PBGC originally aimed to protect workers' pensions from corporate meltdowns. Thirty-two years later, it has become a tool for executives trying to ease long-term burdens on companies working to get out of bankruptcy. -------- Oh boy, oil and defense industry have new competition in the "Ripoff the taxpayers" game.
In fairness, most defense analysts now think of space as the next battlefield. The air force will become more of a space force as weapons are built to attack ground targets from space or intercept enemy ICBM's, etc... This isn't a new concept - military planning has been thinking this way at least since the 90's. Why do you think China is so keen on putting a man on the moon. National pride & Ego? Perhaps. However, the tech knowledge and know-how can be directly applied to military uses. Financially, of course its a rip. But there is some legitimate thinking behind it - the money isn't going to prepare against little green men, OK?
Of course this gets moved from economics forum to chit chat......... but here's something from the Party of Christ: Senate Republicans Kill Second Bill on Corrupt Defense Contractors We wouldn't want to punish Haliburton for work they charge the gub'mint for even if they don't do it. Blaine Ober, President, High Protection Company (Atlanta-based Armored Vehicles) probably said it best about Iraq : "Unfortunately, at least for the near term, we think it's going to be a good situation. Err, a dangerous situation. Good for business, bad for the people."