• scarabic@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    Setting aside my Trump hate for a moment: this is a good thing. “Department of Defense” was always a euphemism. “Defense spending” my ass. Let’s call it what it is and then see if Americans feel as good about spending so much on a “Department of War” versus “Defense.”

    • prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      1 day ago

      This isn’t a good thing because it’s not an effort to be more honest, it’s a signal of future intent.

    • GreenShimada@lemmy.world
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      1 day ago

      There’s a reason why after WWII the Department of War was renamed Department of Defense.

      We weren’t at war. We’re not currently at war, either. Chester’s gotta ask Congress to rubber-stamp a war first.

      • scarabic@lemmy.world
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        22 hours ago

        That’s some very antiquated and naive logic. NONE of these conflicts involved a formal declaration of war:

        Korean War

        Vietnam War

        Persian Gulf

        Afghanistan

        Iraq War

        So you’re going to tell me we weren’t at war for any of those? Bullshit. There’s been plenty of work for a Department of War in the US since WW2.

    • yermaw@sh.itjust.works
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      2 days ago

      Thinking like that its a good thing right up until the voters are actually stoked about a department of war.

      Guarantee it wont be long until youre seeing red hats going off about how cool it is they finally have a department of war as if its a whole new thing.

      “Remember how much ass we kicked with only a defense department? Look out world! MIGHTY TRUMP finally made a department of war too!”

      • scarabic@lemmy.world
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        2 days ago

        I’m sure you’re right about a certain segment of people. I don’t think the euphemistic name is holding those people back from loving the military though.

        I do think it’s hard for Congress to sell the general public on “cuts to our defense” though, and cuts to the “Department of war” will be an easier sell.

    • Doc_Crankenstein@slrpnk.net
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      2 days ago

      Do not underestimate this country’s propensity to proudly engage in jingoism. Just look at our history to see how that went.