MASSIVE US MILITARY PARADE POSTPONED DUE TO HIGH COST

…Pentagon personnel were seriously incorrect when estimating the cost of a military parade in Washington DC.

Trump’s military parade cost was stated as $10 to $30 million, it is now estimated at $90 to $100 million. 

You may or may not be aware that the Pentagon officials have been planning a giant military parade to honor America’s military veterans, and to commemorate the centennial of World War I.  But most of those in the know in Washington DC know that the plans for this military extravaganza is all about the president’s ego.

President Trump ordered the parade when he was inspired by a similar display he observed last year in France for Bastille Day.  He later discussed the parade in a meeting with senior officials at the Pentagon. 

The reality is that just like the authoritarian leaders of other nations that have these parades to display their shows of force, Trump of course just can’t be out-done by leaders such as Kim Jong Un, or the dictator-like leaders of Iran and Russia.

Oh, and just to make it clear, the original cost of the parade was stated as $10 to $30 million, it is now estimated at $90 to $100 million.  And that doesn’t account for the cost of the new roads that will be needed in Washington after the tanks and heavy military equipment rip up the streets in downtown Washington.

Even the American Legion is against the parade and they would prefer using the money for the many US veterans in need.

Col. Rob Manning, a Pentagon spokesman, said in a statement some time ago that the parade which is expected to include aircraft, military vehicles, period uniforms and symbols of US power, could cost far more than was originally estimated.  He was correct.

The parade was originally planned for November of this year, but since the price has gone up so much, even the president said it was being postponed to next year and it may be de-tuned to a much smaller event.

It appears that one of the cost issues that was not taken into consideration was the cost of the security that will be required for such an event.  Washington DC council member Mary Cheh, (D-Ward 3) agrees that that President Trump is trying to mimic totalitarian regimes with his plans to hold a military parade.  She also said that the District of Columbia has already spent $21 million in preparation for such a large event.

A national military parade in the nation’s capital by the strongest ever military nation would be a great target venue for a terrorist attack.  All you have to do is consider what happened at the Boston Marathon years ago when a terrorist attack was planned and executed by two young Boston men.

Pundits and lawmakers are weighing in on President Trump’s plans for this military parade, and it has generated serious criticism from many Democrats.  Privately, there has been much consternation among military officials at a time when the Pentagon is trying to demonstrate its might against competitors including Russia and China.  The cost and the symbolism of the parade is so reminiscent of those shows of force by other authoritarian governments, and is totally counter to the American military usual, low-key approach.

Such large parades have been rare in US history, though the George H.W. Bush administration did stage a military parade in Washington in 1991, after the conclusion of the Persian Gulf War.  But that parade did not cost those millions of dollars.  Is it appropriate to do a large military parade while our warriors are still fighting and dying today in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria?

Planning for the parade comes at a time when Trump has boasted of saving money by suspending joint military exercises with South Korea.  This was part of his outreach to North Korea. But the affected South Korean exercises would have cost about $14 million, far less than the parade’s current expected cost.

I agree, that all Trump wants is a big demonstration where he can view the troops and equipment and act like other authoritarian dictators.

Copyright G.Ater 2018