W.J. Astore
At the American Conservative, I discuss the War on Terror, the nomination of General (retired) Lloyd Austin as Secretary of Defense, the lack of an American anti-war movement, and why we never see a “peace dividend” in the USA. My discussion begins at the 16-minute point.
Also, articles by Matt Taibbi and David Sirota suggest that the biggest winner of the latest Covid-relief stimulus talks in Congress is, believe it or not, the military-industrial complex. Right now there are no plans to send money to the American people, even as nearly 15 million have lost their employer-sponsored health care and millions more face eviction or foreclosure in the new year.
Here are the headlines:
“Stimulus Bill Bails Out Defense Contractors, Denies Direct Payments to Families,” by David Sirota and Julia Rock at https://www.dailyposter.com/p/stimulus-bill-bails-out-defense-contractors
“Amazing” Hypocrisy: Democrats Make Wreck of Covid-19 Relief Negotiations
Democrats stonewalled all year on a new pandemic relief package. Now they’re proposing a new plan that undercuts even Republican proposals, and screws everyone but – get this – defense contractors, by Matt Taibbi at https://taibbi.substack.com/p/amazing-hypocrisy-democrats-make
Taibbi quotes one aide as saying: “There are no direct payments for regular working people, people living off tips. But they made sure there’s a provision in there to help defense contractors who aren’t working right now. They get what they’re looking for.”
In short, the military-industrial complex wins again. The American people? They lose again.
Bracing Views 
Neither of our beloved major newspapers this morning is covering the watered down stimulus/relief bill on their online front pages.
But, if Manchin and my weak-kneed Senator Warner are involved, we should not expect much.
Taibbi mentions the “off-sets”. What are they?
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As I read about the deals being made that get Arab countries to buy loads of US weaponry in exchange for making nice to Israel the MIC is never far from my thoughts. The Palestinians get absolutely nothing yet Kushner claims these are peace making deals.
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Well, maybe in the Colt Peacemaker sense …
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“This just in”: Apparently some mega-churches have received the comforting news from outgoing administration that they won’t need to repay any of the “relief” benefits they received thus far. Not just a struggling neighborhood AME church, or whatever, but MEGA-churches! What was that foolishness about separating church and state we read about in History books?? I believe the compromise package Pelosi and McConnell are working on does, at least, extend some unemployment benefits.
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