As unstable as Trump is alleged to be, Democrats rejected calls from
many quarters to oppose the administration’s inclusion in the NDAA to
develop “usable” nuclear weapons as part of the drive to incorporate
their tactical use. So-called usable nuclear weapons -- lower-yield
devices that can theoretically be used like conventional bombs -- are
now being advanced as a necessary part of the mainline “defense”
strategy. Among the many problems with this position, the biggest is
that this strategy has nothing to do with defense and everything to do
with enhancing the capacity for a “nuclear first
strike.” Interestingly, not only was opposition from Democrats MIA, but
the lopsided vote indicates that they have fully embraced this insane
policy that was first proposed under Barack Obama.
Senate Democrats even allowed Trump to get away with misappropriating
billions of dollars granted by Congress to the Pentagon and divert the
cash to construct the border wall by reimbursing the Pentagon for the
use of those funds without any penalties. An offense, by the way, that
could arguably be impeachable.
Why the bipartisanship on the military budget? The easy answer is
that both parties share the strategic commitment to maintain U.S. global
hegemony against all rivals, but especially against China and Russia,
represented in the U.S. National Security Strategy (NSS) document.
-- Ajamu Baraka, "U.S. Militarism and the One-Sided Class War" (BLACK AGENDA REPORT).