Baseless expenditures By Chalmers Johnson

[TomClash]

Source: Asia Times

The United States empire of bases - at US$102 billion a year already the world's costliest military enterprise - just got a good deal more expensive. As a start, on May 27, the State Department announced it will build a new "embassy" in Islamabad, Pakistan, which at $736 million will be the second priciest ever constructed. It will cost only $4 million less, if cost overruns don't occur, than the Vatican-City-sized one the George W Bush administration put up in Baghdad.

The State Department was also reportedly planning to buy the five-star Pearl Continental Hotel (complete with pool) in Peshawar, near the border with Afghanistan, to use as a consulate and living quarters for its staff there.

Unfortunately for such plans, on June 9, Pakistani militants rammed a truck filled with explosives into the hotel, killing 18 occupants, wounding at least 55, and collapsing one entire wing of the structure. There has been no news since about whether the State Department is still going ahead with the purchase.

Whatever the costs turn out to be, they will not be included in the US's already bloated military budget, even though none of these structures is designed to be a true embassy - a place, that is, where local people come for visas and American officials represent the commercial and diplomatic interests of their country. Instead these so-called embassies will actually be walled compounds, akin to medieval fortresses, where American spies, soldiers, intelligence officials, and diplomats try to keep an eye on hostile populations in a region at war. One can predict with certainty that they will house a large contingent of marines and include roof-top helicopter pads for quick get-aways.



Read more: http://www.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/KG09Df02.html

[rurallib]

1. Talk of the Nation (NPR call in show) wanted people to call in

and tell them (NPR) what Americans are willing to give up to pay for health care.
Had I been near a phone I would have said - 2 wars and cut the fucking military down to @$50 billion a year. There should be oodles of money left over from that.

[izquierdista]

3. Give up war?

Why you unAmerican SOB!

[TomClash]

5. Imagine that!

:hi:

[Grinchie]

2. Meet the New Boss - Same as the Old Boss

Let's hear it for looking ahead, and not to the past, beacause that might illustrate the mistakes your about to repeat..

[raccoon]

4. Chalmers Johnson rocks! Recd. nt