US spends 120 billion dollars on wars

 - Anil Narendra

US has been witnessing a series of protests against the corporate loot for last many days. The Occupy Wall Street movement has been getting worldwide support. In about 80 countries of Europe, America and Asia, thousands of people have taken to streets. Thousands of Occupy Wall Street supporters had demonstrated at the historic Time Square in New York, which led to massive traffic jam. There were scuffles between the protestors and the police. At least 88 persons have since been arrested. Of these, 24 demonstrators had forcibly entered the Citi Bank branch, whereas 45 were arrested for alleged violent protests. These people have been protesting for last 30 days against the corporate loot and financial relief package granted by the government. Thousands of people demonstrated in the Auckland city in New Zealand, whereas two thousand campaigners held demonstration in Sydney in Australia. Besides, a large number of people in Tokyo, Taipei, Manila also supported the call for the movement on Face Book and recorded their protests against economic injustice. Participating in such a demonstration in Australia, Josh Lee said, "we are not for change of government, but most of us want change in the system. We want to change the system where money dominates the politics. Large business houses, mining companies are controlling the politics. All this must end.

The US Secretary of Defence, Leon Panetta had difficulty in defending himself at the powerful Senate Committee on Defence, when other members of the Committee cornered him and asked about the propriety of spending 120 billion annually on war, when the country is passing through a serious economic crisis? In defence, the Secretary of Defence said that the process of withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan is likely to be completed by 2014. During the hearing on defence and Army related subjects after ten years of  9/11 terror attacks on America, the defence budget was on top of the agenda. The first 15 minutes of the meeting were the victim of slogan mongering demonstrations against the war. The Secretary of Defence said that terrorists from Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia were posing a grave threat to the country. He said that primary concern of the US is to avoid Afghanistan being once again turning into safe haven for al-Qaeda and other terrorists. He further said that in case US withdraws its forces hastily from Afghanistan and that country once again turns into a safe haven for al-Qaeda and other terrorists, then world community would make US accountable. It was made clear that any cut in the budget would lead to loss to the country. Meanwhile, addressing the Economic Club of New York, Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton asked policy makers to learn from the emerging economies of countries like India and Brazil, who have centered their foreign policy around their economies. Ms Clinton said that whenever the leadership of these countries decides on big foreign policy challenge, their first question is that how this is going to help their economy to grow. Ms Clinton was clear in her concept that in US, the foreign policy, to a large extent overshadowing the US economy and these wars are proving burdensome to America.

Anil Narendra, Daily Pratap, Vir Arjun, America, Occupy Wall Street, Times Square,Australila, Afghanistan,