Posted on 04/11/2013 2:22:54 PM PDT by lowbridge
Despite a bipartisan federal law prohibiting financial contracts with the Russian government-owned arms giant Rosoboronexport, the Obama administration announced that it would be purchasing another $680 million worth of military helicopters from the state company for the Afghan regime of Hamid Karzai. The contract comes after the Pentagon already spent $411 million with the supplier since May of 2011, bringing the estimated amount of U.S. taxpayer funds funneled to the state-owned behemoth to about $1 billion in recent years.
The latest deal, however, drew furious outrage from across the political spectrum. Critics and lawmakers complained that the controversial scheme would boost Russia’s military-industrial complex even as millions of Americans remain out of work. Other opponents highlighted national security concerns. Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle and human rights groups also expressed opposition to the plan, citing a congressional ban on deals with Rosoboronexport and the fact that the Russian military supplier has been arming rogue regimes around the world.
Under an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) signed into law by President Obama, the U.S. government is prohibited from sending funds to or entering into contracts with Rosoboronexport, lawmakers noted. The only exception to that prohibition is if the Secretary of Defense deems it to be in the “interest of national security.” Now, a bipartisan coalition of members of Congress led by Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) is demanding that Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel explain what possible excuse there could be to purchase more military helicopters from the government-owned Russian arms dealer.
(Excerpt) Read more at thenewamerican.com ...
WOW this seems like a HUGH and SERIES story, and the media would be all over it, right?
So why aren’t they imeaching the POS?
Congress will ask why.
When they are told the reason, they will simply say, OK.
Only a “more flexible” president could do something like this.
“This is my last election. After my election, I have more flexibility,”
Why do the Republican Congresscritters even show up any more? Just give the House back to that West Coast Witch, who did what she wanted, exactly what DemonicRats are still doing, and lets get on with building a 3rd Party.
Imfreakingpeach his black azz already!!!!
Why not; he’s been sending American taxpayers’ funds to every Middle Eastern despotism for years now.
And yet, of course, he never quite seems able to find the money for real American causes and necessities.
Not after he’s paid the bills for all his exorbitantly expensive and fancy vacations.
Think of all the shovel-ready jobs this creates; FOR RUSSIANS!
“The only exception to that prohibition is if the Secretary of Defense deems it to be in the “interest of national security.””
It would be interesting to learn if Hagel did in fact make that determination before the agreement was made, but that’s an awfully broad exception, if that wording is an accurate description of it. If it is, it doesn’t even have to be imortant to national security. If the SecDef says it is in the interest, the burden of proof is on those who say it isn’t and that he had no reason to believe that it could be.
Congress is in awe of 0bamube The Lawless and seeks to emulate him not emasculate him.
Repubs are too busy capitulating to Dems. They're worse than worthless.
The entire political class needs to be torn out by the roots and the parties destroyed. They believe they are the government but they are actors, bad actors, a cancer.
Cause he’s sharing the graft with the right folks.
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