Rifles Over Reason
Military obsession continues to trump public needs - developments in projected budgeting and production within the military-industrial complex.
As homelessness, drug addiction, and mental health conditions continue to grow increasingly prevalent in the United States and Western Europe, governments continue to prioritize military spending and development over the needs and well-being of their citizens.
The prime minister of Poland announced an investment of 2.5 billion dollars aimed at securing the country’s border with Belarus. The fact that neither Belarusian nor Russian officials have expressed any intention of invading Poland save further NATO expansion was apparently not an important consideration in the decision. The already physically fortified border is already fitted with sensors, cameras, and other forms of security technology will now be reassured with “environmental and landscaping measures.” What this includes specifically is yet to be confirmed outside of the Euro Sky Field Initiative, a German-lead project modeled after Israel’s notorious Iron Dome. 1
The German economy is clearly aiming to relieve some of the stress caused by the military conflict with Russia by taking the lead in the introduction of 54 new European defense projects, funded by the European Defense Fund. 1.3 billion dollars is to be spent in the production of various forms of weapons systems. Cutting edge laser and radiological technology, along with biological weapons (aren’t those illegal?) are among the many focuses of the various initiatives. 23
The collaboration between Rheinmetall, a German defense company, and Ukraine in the establishment of an air defense facility is a cause for concern as well, as it shows the growing influence of all-too-familiar historical patterns in European history. Add this to the exorbitant and unsuccessful spending on F-35 programs and other military equipment highlights the Nazis' obsession with military superiority and domination.4
This is further exemplified by the DOD's plan to extend the service life of the F-35s by almost 60 years, prioritizing the perpetuation of war over the well-being of their citizens. Despite the technological inferiority of these planes, which continue to occupy space on tarmacs as government officials wait on technological developments which are admittedly necessary for the NATO forces to reach parity with it’s adversaries in the east — a rather unlikely goal despite Western aspirations to increase ammunition production by over 50% in the coming decade.5
The blatant disregard for human life exhibited by such undiplomatic initiatives will almost certainly go unchecked by international regulatory bodies, at least if such predictions are to be based on historical precedent.
-the Shultz Report by M. Shultz