Where are the Off-sets Mr. Cantor?

Military Spending Waste: Up To $60 Billion In Iraq, Afghanistan War Funds Lost To Poor Planning, Oversight, Fraud

That's right. 60 billion dollars from the US Government to the Afghan insurgency. Money wasted...on what? This report clearly states that an unregulated military adventure has now wasted an incredible amount of money. Let me say that again.... AN UNREGULATED military has been allowed to waste 60 billion dollars on a nation building exersize, against an enemy that is no threat to our security, and doesn't want us to be there.

Much of the waste and fraud could have been avoided with better planning and more aggressive oversight, the commission said.

Where's the outrage? Eric Cantor, Representative in Congress of some of my fellow Virginians has made the news recently when he famously stated his desire to block funding for disaster cleanup of hurricane Irene including his own district in Virginia unless spending off-sets are found. His proposal includes cutting funds for first responders and infrastructure preparation for the NEXT disaster. Where's your press statement about this financial disaster Mr. Cantor? We've just heard today that the military has created a massive boondoggle that will turn out to be 30 TIMES more expensive that the hurricane clean-up you are so concerned about. Where's your press release? Where's the outrage? If you are a fiscal conservative sir, why aren't you on TV with this too?

Mr. Cantor, is your lack of concern because of your belief in a strong military? National Security? I thought you might have said something if we were talking about, say, subsidies to farmers?

The commission cited numerous examples of waste, including a $360 million U.S.-financed agricultural development program in Afghanistan. The effort began as a $60 million project in 2009 to distribute vouchers for wheat seed and fertilizer in drought-stricken areas of northern Afghanistan. The program expanded into the south and east. Soon the U.S. was spending a $1 million a day on the program, creating an environment ripe for waste and abuse, the commission said.

"Paying villagers for what they used to do voluntarily destroyed local initiatives and diverted project goods into Pakistan for resale," the commission said.

Mr. Cantor, I know you are a fan of deregulation. We'd best leave this vast military corporation to run it's own affairs. Congress shouldn't have to look over their shoulder now should they? Because of poor oversight and a heavy reliance on privatization of many of the important functions of the military, we've ended up being a major funder for the very folks the soldiers are fighting.

The Afghan insurgency's second largest funding source after the illegal drug trade is the diversion of money from U.S.-backed construction projects and transportation contracts, according to the commission.

The Associated Press reported earlier this month that U.S. military authorities in Kabul have estimated that $360 million in U.S. tax dollars has ended up in the hands of people the American-led coalition has spent nearly a decade battling: the Taliban, criminals and power brokers with ties to both. The military said that only a small percentage of the $360 million has been garnered by the Taliban and insurgent groups. Most of the money was lost to profiteering, bribery and extortion by criminals and power brokers.

Did I hear the word "privatization?" Mr. Cantor, isn't that your dream for American government? Shouldn't the government get out of the way and let the private sector drive our policy, our economy, and even our military industrial complex? Would you please take a look at this report and let me know what you think of the fine job our private contractors are doing in Afghanistan. Please report on how they are more efficient and fiscally responsible with taxpayer money than the actual military arm of the conflict. Then tell me please why it's ok to squawk and complain about "spending off-sets" for disaster relief for Americans here at home and NOT ok to squawk about 30 TIMES the amount being wasted on our so-called enemy in Afghanistan?

Mr. Cantor, how about every time you want to off-set the expenses for something you don't like, just scoop up some military-industrial-private contractor money to off-set the expense. It's a no-brainer Congressman. Evidently it's pretty easy to do. Taliban tribesmen are eating our lunch, ripping us off, soaking up bribe money in the millions. Why don't you just dip into that large pool of unregulated money and off-set the cost of stuff that might do us some good right here in America? Well Mr. Cantor?

More work to do.