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Lt. Col Ralph Peters (Ret.) on the impact of defense cuts and why there has to be a change in the defense-contracting industry.
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Six if congress does not act the defense budget could be cut by billions come January.
But -- next guest says it isn't really a spending problem it's all about crony capitalism.
Lieutenant colonel Ralph Peters a valued guest on this program is the -- all the came after Gettysburg he joins us now from Washington DC.
Defense Department -- big time may be coming you do not objects.
I do object because -- second street shouldn't cut Stewart would be just for -- -- that crippling literally crippling it's not too strong a word.
But for two reasons one because they would be so deep so fast.
But secondly and this is what the American people need to cotton to.
Because congress would move very quickly after the cuts took effect.
To protect our defense industry cartel.
At the expense of the troops right now Stuart we have the most experienced uniformed workforce in the world and or military.
Irreplaceable.
Experience.
And congress both parties will throw that away.
To protect.
Home district jobs no matter how inefficient those jobs may -- so you say.
Dislike president Eisenhower said way back when that watch out for the military industrial complex the defense.
Contract is essentially.
Who run the Defense Department.
And who -- going to gain.
At the expense of the troops the boots on the ground people who will be loses from these costs is that you argument basically -- -- Think think Stuart is that in the original draft of that speech.
Eisenhower called -- the defense industrial congressional complex but he was persuaded for political reasons to take congressional out.
But that's what it is congress holds the purse strings not the Pentagon.
And in the banking industry -- you've heard countless times since too big to fail.
Well with defense consolidation into what is literally a cartel.
We've now got defense industry giants.
Are.
So big they can fail and fail fail again because there are no -- alternatives but we need to do in the defense industry.
Is break up the giants can get back to real capitalist competition we do not at present have competition.
In weapons acquisition as a result -- get systems like the 350.
Million dollar F 22 fighter.
There's never been used in combat -- this was supposed to do everything to cure cancer.
It can't -- -- -- reliably supply auctions of the pilots they black out the software's been a mess.
And you know -- Lockheed Martin built that and there are zero penalties for Lockheed Martin for screwing that up.
He just move on to the next contract so the American taxpayer getting ripped off the troops get screwed.
But shareholders get the dividends what surprises me is that nothing and don't look in the defense the -- the contract is that not popular.
In America was virtually anybody they on not a popular group in fact -- a target.
So why haven't we have some kind of change some -- -- break up some kind of real.
Brett all authority placed on -- one -- Well because at a time when our military has a dearth of serious strategists.
A defense industry has great business strategist and over the decades they have dispersed.
Component construction.
Production lines are satellite offices to every state in the you can.
And nearly Harry and certainly every -- serious significant congressional district so.
That that members of congress in both parties loath to pose -- our troops.
But when it comes time to vote they vote for the jobs -- their home district and of course campaign contributions.
You know it.
Business rules don't really apply here because again it's a cartel.
We have no place else to turn when Eisenhower's committee that speech Stewart.
There were a dozen.
Aircraft manufacturers and competition.
Now we essentially have to Lockheed Martin Boeing to supply fixed wing aircraft.
When Lockheed Martin's screwed up the F 22 and Boeing and what the whole industry -- the way to screw up the F 35 the next one.
And again their problem is there are no penalties.
When the defense industry provides us with junk and one more crucial point.
There's a corrupt revolving door in which senior officers.
Heat get out take off the uniform and go to a high paying often do nothing jobs and board memberships for defense industry.
To make sure they don't make waves it's a disgrace to our nation.
That the troops.
-- screw the taxpayer gets screwed and the insiders.
And they got the country club memberships and have been pricks my heart is a former soldier to see this go on and on and on and congress lies and cheats and that troops pay the bill -- home.
I'm very glad you're on the show today.
We appreciate your expressing her opinion like this your valued guests -- -- you can come back again when I got some more time colonel Ralph Peta always -- thank Yusuf thank you.
