TAX MONEY: FOR WEAPONS NOT CLEAN UP!

I'm seeing a different America than the one I grew up in. Let's think about the issues in the news: Wall St bail-outs (which helped my portfolio, I admit), the demise of the middle class and wealth re-distribution to the lower classes through government programs that favor the poor; the government offering a public health care option (good in theory, but on paper, the country can't presently afford it)... a stimulus package/s that will enhance infrastructure but hasn't yet stopped job loss - on and on. Following the news can be a full-time, for-free job, if you need something to do - and a lot of people my age do.
Oh, I am truly old when I begin to ask what the world is coming to! Remembering my beloved grandparents, they were about 55 when Communism and potential nuclear war were unspeakable threats, only to be followed by hippies, drugs, and Viet Nam - real war this time. I know that "out of control" feeling when one wonders if America has really and completely lost her way.
But the thing that has grabbed my attention now is the Department of Defense giving 260 million DoD dollars this year to universities for equipment and research on advanced weaponry with which to wage high tech then higher tech future war. At present, our weapons are so deadly that our own soldiers are ill and the desert fields of war are ruined.
After Viet Nam, I thought we had learned some lessons, and that war might be less frequent, less drastic, of shorter duration and that America might heal its land, its reputation, and use its technology to actually aid the people of the world. The reality: the Gulf War did as much environmental damage or more than what was done to Viet Nam, and our Gulf War soldiers are sick and dying from depleted uranium effects, like the Viet Nam vets are sick from defoliants.
To add insult to injury, all this tax money spent on more advanced weapons!
In 2001, terrorism reached its pinnacle, and I realize nothing has been the same.
War has become necessary for the survival of life as we know it.
Do you agree? It's hard to argue when we can never know the outcome/destination of the road not travelled. However, most thoughtful, analyzing minds agree we are continually threatened by terrorists and must defend ourselves. But, by what methods? With what kind of weaponry? With weapons that kill our own?
Seems war is here to stay-with some degree of devastating human and environmental effects here and abroad.
Do you remember not so long ago when we had powerful, popular courses in universities on war and the environment? Try to find a course now. The ones I found deal with wars throughout history and, in my opinion, cannot be taught with complete freedom - given the DoD's 260 million OF CITIZENS' MONEY gifted to universities!
Try to get a university to help citizens demand remediation of military bases when the university gets its research grants from DoD. (Not happening here.) But, do you want to take ROTC in college and learn military science? No problem. The DoD/military footprint is pronounced in universities as a huge money source.
Yes, I know war is necessary in some circumstances and warriors deserve our respect and gratitude. But war is a machine-a MACHINE we pay for whether we want to or not. And once we start paying, we do not control what happens. We cannot make the military research or build equipment that spares the earth or compel it to actually use equipment and technology to clean up its chemical, radioactive mess! We can't realistically stop the machine when it ignites or ramps up to stimulate the economy or acquire oil. We can't even make the Pentagon cough up reports under the Freedom of Information Act, according to a recent JASON (independent scientists group) report. The mystery reports were about DoD money given to universities, by the way.
What does this have to do with toxic Mountain Creek Lake and Dallas Naval facilities? The Dept of Defense is not interested in responsibility for damage to our city, and is engaging the scientists that could help with remediation in further defense research. What do you think the future holds for us? A safe, clean community and resurrected acres of land for commerce and recreation?
Or ongoing war that will engulf our present and future resources?

Clarification : If you are a terrorist reading this from a cave in Afghanistan or an apartment in Pakistan, please note - the US, as you can see from this post, is NOT backing down!
Americans need to do two things at once - defeat the true terrorist enemy when we know who this is, and clean up toxic land, securing our homeland. WE CAN DO IT!