RT America

​Military spending bill 'guarantees' more US conflicts, forbids war debate – Ron Paul 

The Republican-led House of Representatives used “trickery” when it passed the military spending bill, slipping in $89 billion for an emergency war fund while leaving out an amendment allowing for a debate on war, former Texas Congressman Ron Paul says.

Such “emergency”  spending is not included in growth caps placed on the military  under the 2011 budget control act, Paul wrote on the Ron Paul Institute for Peace  and Prosperity website. He added the move is a “loophole  filled by Congress with fed-printed money.”

More lasers: Think tank urges Pentagon to invest in energy weapons

US needs to spend more on developing energy weapons, or risk falling behind China and other rivals, a think tank has urged, telling the Pentagon to unify research efforts and even steal foreign technology to avoid falling behind.

US promises billions to fund Afghan military through 2017

Officials have confirmed the US will continue to spend about $4 billion a year to fund Afghanistan’s military for the next two fiscal years. It is a sign of support for the government in Kabul, which Washington views as more cooperative than in the past.

 The pledge means continued US funding for Afghan security forces  at the peak level of 352,000 troops through the end of fiscal  year 2017, a financial commitment costing about $4 billion a  year, news agencies quoted US officials following the day of  talks with Afghan leadership at Camp David.