Trump vows military build-up, hammers nationalist themes

[DonViejo]

Source: Reuters



By Emily Stephenson and Steve Holland | NATIONAL HARBOR, MD./WASHINGTON
President Donald Trump said he would make a massive budget request for one of the "greatest military buildups in American history" on Friday in a feisty, campaign-style speech extolling robust nationalism to eager conservative activists.

Trump used remarks to the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), an organization that gave him one of his first platforms in his improbable journey to the U.S. presidency, to defend his unabashed "America first" policies.

Ahead of a nationally televised speech to Congress on Tuesday, Trump outlined plans for strengthening the U.S. military, already the world's most powerful fighting force, and other initiatives such as tax reform and regulatory rollback. He offered few specifics on any initiatives, including the budget request that is likely to face a harsh reality on Capitol Hill: At a time when he wants to slash taxes for Americans, funding a major military buildup without spending cuts elsewhere would add substantially to the U.S. budget deficit.

Trump said he would aim to upgrade the military in both offensive and defensive capabilities, with a massive spending request to Congress that would make the country's defense "bigger and better and stronger than ever before."

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-idUSKBN1630HH

[Initech]

1. And he plans to do this, how, exactly?

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

3. One step is to get rid of the sequester.

I think the sequester's purpose was to ensure an increase in military spending was matched by an increase in social spending. But, I'm sure my memory is fuzzy on this issue.

[Blue Idaho]

2. Only one reason to build up the military...

And that's to use it.

[elmac]

4. The fascists will use the military

on the working poor, elderly when things heat up

[safeinOhio]

5. It will take a massive

draft to staff it.


You think protest are too much now?

[murielm99]

8. Maybe a draft would cause a national strike.

I think we need a nation-wide strike very badly.

[Mugweed]

9. Reinstate the draft!

Nothing would make Trump's war-mongering push more satiable than a new draft! College Republicans from all around the US would be clamoring for the lowest numbers. Republican politicians would force their own children to voluntarily enlist.

[Bayard]

6. Stroking his ego

Among other things, to compensate for his tiny hands. Maybe this is part of his job creation plans.

The old question applies once again---how many times over do you need to kill everyone on the planet?

[Ray Bruns]

7. Lebensraum

Don't forget the Lebensraum.