LF: Trump Nominates 'Embodiment of the Military-Industrial Complex' Patrick Shanahan to Lead Pentagon

Title: Trump Nominates 'Embodiment of the Military-Industrial Complex' Patrick Shanahan to Lead Pentagon
Source: Common Dreams
URL Source: https://www.commondreams.org/news/2 ... -complex-patrick-shanahan-lead
Published: May 11, 2019
Author: Jake Johnson
Post Date: 2019-05-11 21:29:57 by Hondo68
Keywords: Military-Industrial Complex, Patrick Shanahan, President Donald Trump
Views: 1225
Comments: 5

Shanahan worked at Boeing, one of the world's largest defense contractors, for more than 30 years before joining the Trump administration

In a move critics warned could further deepen the ties between the sprawling and immensely profitable private weapons industry and the U.S. government, the White House announced Thursday that President Donald Trump will nominate former Boeing executive Patrick Shanahan to head the Pentagon.

"Conflict of interest? Boeing is already the second-largest recipient of private contracts from the U.S. military."
—National Priorities Project

Shanahan has been serving as acting secretary of defense since the departure of former Pentagon chief Jim Mattis in January.

"When Patrick Shanahan was selected by Trump for a Pentagon post," The Nation's John Nichols tweeted Thursday in response to Shanahan's nomination, "the Seattle Times wrote: 'Shanahan, 54, has no military or political experience. He is, however, familiar with defense procurement from the business side.' Very, very familiar."

In a column last year, Nichols described Shanahan—who worked at Boeing for 31 years before becoming Trump's deputy defense secretary—as "the embodiment of the military-industrial complex."

"His main claim to fame in the deputy post was his ardent advocacy for Trump's 'space force' scheme," Nichols wrote. "So what experience does Shanahan have? He is, literally and figuratively, the embodiment of the military-industrial complex about which former President Dwight Eisenhower warned Americans at the close of his presidency in 1961."

Trump has nominated the military-industrial complex to serve as Secretary of Defense. https://t.co/VBx2XOMrsh
— John Nichols (@NicholsUprising) May 9, 2019

As NBC reported, Trump's decision to nominate Shanahan—who must be confirmed by the Senate—comes "just weeks after the Pentagon's internal watchdog cleared the longtime former Boeing executive of allegations he provided his old employer... with preferential treatment. Shanahan was accused of pushing Boeing fighter jets on the Air Force and Marines."

The National Priorities Project (NPP) highlighted Shanahan's potential conflicts of interest in a series of tweets following news of his nomination.

"Patrick Shanahan, former Boeing executive, is poised to keep running the Pentagon as Defense Secretary with President Trump's nomination," NPP wrote. "Conflict of interest? Boeing is already the second-largest recipient of private contracts from the U.S. military."

"Last year, the average taxpayer paid $102 for contracts with Boeing, " the group noted, "compared to just $40 for public housing and homeless assistance."

Get in step with a guy that's hep, Get in step with Ike (& Ron Paul)

Should we pick someone from Russia because they will guard against building up defense of America?

Rand Paul? He's Trump's golfing buddy & kinda neocon lite, but even as sec of defense he's push congress for a declaration of war before bombing Iran.

And he'd likely recommend bringing most of the troops home, so we get a big FAT tax rebate, or at least pay down the national debt.

Rands only one person and he would be better suited for healthcare. Bringing everyone home and sticking your head in the sand is not a wise choice IMHO.

I would rather have a rabid barking dog for defense that makes lots of noise and does nothing than wimpy truthful person that tells exact that they will do and worse wont do.

This in my opinion is where Trump shines when it comes to world. They are terrified of him and that's what I want. Evil countries need to fear America to a point were they know its best to not make noise.