Obama is a War-Time president!
By Kenneth J. Theisen
When George W. Bush was president he often referred to himself as a “war-time president.” And with two official wars and military attacks against many other countries he deserved the title. But 
most of the American population got tired of more than seven years of war and Barack Obama was elected. Despite what he actually said, many that voted for him expected him to end the war policies of the Bush regime. But with the submission of his record military budget; his decision to increase the size of the military by nearly 100,000 troops; his decision to send 17,000 more troops to Afghanistan; and his decision to leave tens of thousand of troops in Iraq; it appears that Obama also wants to be known as a “war-time president.” Okay! I know he really does not want to be called that, but he certainly deserves the title as much as Bush did. At least Bush was half-way honest about it.
most of the American population got tired of more than seven years of war and Barack Obama was elected. Despite what he actually said, many that voted for him expected him to end the war policies of the Bush regime. But with the submission of his record military budget; his decision to increase the size of the military by nearly 100,000 troops; his decision to send 17,000 more troops to Afghanistan; and his decision to leave tens of thousand of troops in Iraq; it appears that Obama also wants to be known as a “war-time president.” Okay! I know he really does not want to be called that, but he certainly deserves the title as much as Bush did. At least Bush was half-way honest about it.Obama’s baseline Pentagon budget will be is $533.7 billion for fiscal year 2010. This is about 4% more than the last year of the Bush regime. But it does not include the costs of fighting the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan (The White House is also asking for another $75.5 billion in supplemental funding to finish out fiscal year 2009, which ends September 30, 2009. It is further asking for $130 billion in supplemental funding for fiscal year 2010, and this will likely not be enough to actually fight those wars in 2010.)
Obama’s Pentagon budget does not include the cost of maintaining and improving the nation’s nuclear stockpile (that is in the Department of Energy Budget), and it does not include the tens of billions spent on intelligence agencies such as the CIA and NSA, which are also involved in the war-making of this country. The $533.7 billion also does not include the Veteran Affairs budget where Obama is asking for $52.5 billion in funding or the $42.7 billion he wants to spend on Homeland Security, or the $51.7 billion he requested for foreign affairs which includes billions to be given to Afghanistan, Pakistan, Israel, and other nations to fund the “war on terror.” When all the military and war-making costs are added up, the cost of making war approaches a trillion dollars per year for the U.S. Obama is the commander-in-chief who presides over this vast war machine which destroys people and wealth. All these costs are expenses necessary to continue the U.S. empire around the world.
When Obama revealed that he would leave as many as 50,000 troops in Iraq, he did not mention that tens of thousands of U.S. contractors would also remain there. Obama also allegedly promised Representative John McHugh, the top Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, that he (Obama) would reconsider his “withdrawal” plan if violence rises in Iraq. In other words, many more than 50,000 could remain in Iraq. And even if all the American troops did leave eventually, Obama plans on leaving behind a U.S. trained army that he hopes will defend U.S. interests. (It may not, but that is what he hopes.) In addition, the U.S. embassy in Iraq is also the largest in the world. It can house 1000 employees and will be in charge of U.S. interests in the country. And in surrounding countries, and in the seas and waters near Iraq, the U.S. will continue to deploy troops, pilots, and sailors in numerous bases and on nuclear armed naval armadas. All these will be ready to intervene in Iraq if needed.
It is time for people to face the truth about Obama. He is not a peace president or even one that is headed in the direction of peace. He is intent on maintaining the imperialist rule of the U.S. He will spend taxpayers’ money by the trillions in order to do this over the next 4-8 years.
This vast expenditure is a waste of money, but more importantly it will waste the lives of millions of people around the world. Not only will these people die in U.S. made wars, but they will die as the result of the daily operations of imperialism. They will die of hunger, disease, poverty and other conditions for which imperialism is responsible. Just consider one fact – every day almost 16,000 children die from hunger-related causes. (See http://www.bread.org/learn/hunger-basics/hunger-facts-international.html). Then imagine what the trillion dollars that the U.S. spends each year could do if it was not used for war or maintaining the U.S. empire. Imagine what could be done with the vast wealth of the nation if it was used to benefit the majority of the people of the world and not to benefit a few. Then try to imagine why we continue to put up with presidents and governments that continue to make war.