Politics

[Dirtdart]

 

[Datchew]

Getting rid of USAID does not mean the US will not help other countries. Just as doing away with DEI does not mean minorities should not be given a chance to succeed. Or that we do not want immigration into the US.

All straw man arguments.

The reason USAID is on the chopping block. Is when the DOGE asked. Exactly what do you do here? And wanted to see the books. It unearthed an unauthorized agency with no oversight from Congress.

Now the machine is going after Elon Musk for not being a paid government bureaucrat and that Musk may have asked for access to the highest level of secure programs. Basically that Musk broke the law regarding classified material.

USAID is a covert agency cloaked in foreign aid. That is actually involved in regime change, impacting foreign elections, disinformation campaigns inside other countries. Basically everything that we bemoan that Russia and China do.

Here is 100 million dollars. But here is a radio station or here is an app for your citizens. Or let us make sure your elections are fair. Let us arm your enemy.

The DC rats will not let USAID go away easily. Musk may become this Trump terms first sacrificial lamb.

Of course. I’m not opposed to operations like this. But they are supposed to have oversight. Otherwise a few people in charge usually end up causing our next war with 10-20 years.

Exactly. Bravo

 

[Red Leg]

Getting rid of USAID does not mean the US will not help other countries. Just as doing away with DEI does not mean minorities should not be given a chance to succeed. Or that we do not want immigration into the US.

All straw man arguments.

The reason USAID is on the chopping block. Is when the DOGE asked. Exactly what do you do here? And wanted to see the books. It unearthed an unauthorized agency with no oversight from Congress.

Now the machine is going after Elon Musk for not being a paid government bureaucrat and that Musk may have asked for access to the highest level of secure programs. Basically that Musk broke the law regarding classified material.

USAID is a covert agency cloaked in foreign aid. That is actually involved in regime change, impacting foreign elections, disinformation campaigns inside other countries. Basically everything that we bemoan that Russia and China do.

Here is 100 million dollars. But here is a radio station or here is an app for your citizens. Or let us make sure your elections are fair. Let us arm your enemy.

The DC rats will not let USAID go away easily. Musk may become this Trump terms first sacrificial lamb.

Of course. I’m not opposed to operations like this. But they are supposed to have oversight. Otherwise a few people in charge usually end up causing our next war with 10-20 years.

The agency clearly needs to be reformed. My only concern with this methodology - suspending everything - can cause real suffering in areas where this investment is accomplishing critical, life-saving work. For every rainbow flagged bit of nonsense are multiple programs keeping people alive.

I think Rubio is blessed with far more common sense than many of the idealists driving this reform train. Hopefully, as the new acting director he can keep the critical work going while the necessary pruning of wasted investment - structural and personal - is completed.

 

[Red Leg]

Glory can be brief and lethal in Ukraine.

North Korean Troops Pulled From Kursk Frontlines, South Korean Intelligence Confirms

North Korean forces reported absent from combat in Russia's Kursk region since mid-January, following heavy casualties, South Korean intelligence shows.

united24media.com

 

[YancyW]

Gabbard has the votes, other than labor head, Trump might get every one of his nominees. I did not see that happening a few weeks ago.

 

[spike.t]

 

[Mark A Ouellette]

Getting rid of USAID does not mean the US will not help other countries. Just as doing away with DEI does not mean minorities should not be given a chance to succeed. Or that we do not want immigration into the US.

I discussed USAID with my darling Zambian born wife.... Boy did I get an education!

She informed me there are:
Americans working at the US Embassy as administrators.
Zambians at the embassy running local programs.
More Zambians in the field carrying out the programs.

When she was young she was hired with other young ladies to go to villages and educate women on birth control.

My wife and colleges would provide condoms and birth control pills. Returning months later the children were playing with condom balloons and the mother's were pregnant. "What about the birth control pills"? "My husband threw them away"! Those women could not feed the children they already had.

If $2000 was allotted for a village project, $1000 had to be paid as a bribe to chiefs and government officials for access to the village.

My wife said she quit taking any USAID jobs...

 

[bowjijohn]

Glory can be brief and lethal in Ukraine.

North Korean Troops Pulled From Kursk Frontlines, South Korean Intelligence Confirms

North Korean forces reported absent from combat in Russia's Kursk region since mid-January, following heavy casualties, South Korean intelligence shows.

united24media.com

Reality hits hard when you meddle in another man’s war

 

[mdwest]

USAID is a covert agency cloaked in foreign aid. That is actually involved in regime change, impacting foreign elections, disinformation campaigns inside other countries. Basically everything that we bemoan that Russia and China do.

Here is 100 million dollars. But here is a radio station or here is an app for your citizens. Or let us make sure your elections are fair. Let us arm your enemy.

The DC rats will not let USAID go away easily. Musk may become this Trump terms first sacrificial lamb.

Of course. I’m not opposed to operations like this. But they are supposed to have oversight. Otherwise a few people in charge usually end up causing our next war with 10-20 years.

Here's what the President of El Salvador thinks about USAID..

I find that many foreign governments detest USAID.. but they get USAID forced upon them by the US State Dept..

Foreign govts definitely want aid and development dollars from the US.. but when those dollars come through USAID there are always big strings attached and LOTS of associated problems.. they would much prefer to see DOS or DOD execute the programs.. or just be given the money directly so they can execute the programs themselves (which for obvious reasons rarely occurs)..

 

[Altitude sickness]

Midwest. An activist in Uganda said the exact thing yesterday. They are strong armed into this “Aid”

 

[Altitude sickness]

Now watch the entrenched USAID employees and other beneficiaries in congress to go nuts.


It will all be spun as. “Musk isn’t a government employee he has no right to request the books from USAID. It will be, deny and make counter accusations. Instead of addressing the issue of illegals activities by USAID.

 

[Corey0372]

Marine Corps passes second straight audit as other services lag behind

The Marine Corps has passed its second annual audit, the only service yet to accomplish the goal. The DOD has until fiscal 2028 to pass.

www.defensenews.com

"From the halls of congressional appropriations,
To the pages of excel sheets...

We fight our countries battles,
and ensure our accountability is neat.."

 

[mdwest]

Gabbard has the votes, other than labor head, Trump might get every one of his nominees. I did not see that happening a few weeks ago.

Agree.. I thought Gabbard and RFK Jr were absolute toss ups.. both getting the necessary votes is pleasantly surprising.. (whether I support them or not, it is very good to see the R party actually unifying a bit and at least a few D's acting in non partisan ways)..

Honestly, if Chavez-DeRemer doesn't get enough R votes to get confirmed, I don't see that as a huge loss.. she's a little too pro union and too pro overhauling right to work (in the opposite direction I think it needs to be overhauled) for me..

Im all for finding a balance between employer and employee "rights".. but in much of the US there has been an imbalance that I think is harmful to industry and harmful to the economy..

Theres a reason for example that my firm will not pursue work in certain states... the liability and risk is simply too high to be worth it..

Theres also a reason we moved our articles of incorporation from Virginia to Wyoming several years ago (once again, liability.. and taxes played a huge part in the decision.. and we found the state and federal courts in Virginia to frankly be predatory and completely biased and unfair.. )..

 

[Wheels]

Rubio has been a breath of fresh air. Especially after having Blinken the past four years. I doubt anyone outside of USAID has any idea how much money was spent on humanitarian efforts. Some estimates are the number is less than 5%. Some say it is less than 1%. I have no clue if this is correct or not.

Elon said the trigger that caused DOGE to move against USAID so fast was they were continuing to spend discretionary money, disregarding Trump's EO.

There needs to be a real audit of what USAID has done with the results shared with the American people. The small budget items of transgender this or diversity that being pushed on foreign countries that has been the media buzz so far is not what USAID was all about. Neither were humanitarian efforts. Will some of the real truth come out. We can only hope.

Hopefully Rubio will keep the humanitarian and black budget items he needs with the merge into DOS. What I don't have great confidence in is Congress actually taking back real oversight of the black budget portion of what was formerly USAID or the black budget items of any of the agencies they are supposed to oversee.

 

[Newboomer]

Now watch the entrenched USAID employees and other beneficiaries in congress to go nuts.


It will all be spun as. “Musk isn’t a government employee he has no right to request the books from USAID. It will be, deny and make counter accusations. Instead of addressing the issue of illegals activities by USAID.

Of course all those sewer rats are going to squeal. Musk is uncovering their dirty schemes and hopefully heads will roll.

 

[skydiver386]

Victor Davis Hanson is right on the Bullseye.

 

[Wheels]

Gabbard has the votes, other than labor head, Trump might get every one of his nominees. I did not see that happening a few weeks ago.

I read that the US Senate switchboard went down most of yesterday with all the phone calls coming in to push for confirmations. Constituent voices can make a difference.

 

[1dirthawker]

ya know,

its funny how much information and "news" i get from this site. i know i can check in on the politics forum and get a pretty up to date, informed information regarding a wide variety of subjects and also some pretty astute analysis regarding said subjects. (some of which i agree with and some not so much)

regardless, a pretty interesting side benefit of following this site. kudos gentlemen, kudos.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

110% @1dirthawker... ditto.

 

[Tanks]

Honestly, if Chavez-DeRemer doesn't get enough R votes to get confirmed, I don't see that as a huge loss.. she's a little too pro union and too pro overhauling right to work (in the opposite direction I think it needs to be overhauled) for me..

I posted here right away after she was nominated that she was a wrong choice as she was in the pocket of the unions.