Military’s new mission—bailing out GM (again)

The Department of Defense has a new mission — to purchase and integrate 1,500 new Chevy Volts into its fleet.  Who gave this order to begin “Operation Inefficient”?   That’s what ALG would like to find out. Why exactly?  The military line is that this past summer, the Department of Defense’s began purchasing Chevy Volts and other electric cars as part of an initiative to “green up” the military.  And the prettier version — they are just doing their part to reduce the country’s dependence on foreign energy.  I’m not buying it!  Again I ask, why?!   Why, when our defense budget is in the targets of a fiscally irresponsible, do-nothing-Congress, are we wasting money on the most unimpressive inefficient vehicle on the market?!  Do you really think the military is taking its own initiative to spend money on the most unintimidating vehicle on the market?  Somewhere up the line an order was given. According to Air Force spokeswoman Tonya Racasner, over the next few years it will add 1,500 “non-tactical” (thank goodness!) road-capable, plug-in electric vehicles.  To date, the military has purchased 168. As the leading branch in overseeing this initiative, the Air Force is preparing for the arrival 41 new electric vehicles reporting to Los Angeles Air Force Base.  In addition, the Army alone plans to place green-cars at more than 40 of its installations.  The other military branches are also following suit, with purchases and adding more charging stations on and off military bases. This Administration has championed the Chevy Volt as a symbol of the government bailout of General Motors.  It couldn’t have picked a better candidate to represent itself!...more