It is common knowledge that I think our War Department is like a spoiled child…..we throw money at it to keep it quiet and pacified. Americans care more about some far away mud hole than the people down the street…..we have become a bloodthirsty pack of ingrates.
The War Department must invent international problems to ensure the money keeps rolling in.
So the ‘sucking’ sound you hear is the tax dollars being siphoned off to appease the gods of war.
America is a stratocracy, a form of government dominated by the military. It is axiomatic among the two ruling parties that there must be a constant preparation for war. The war machine’s massive budgets are sacrosanct. Its billions of dollars in waste and fraud are ignored. Its military fiascos in Southeast Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East have disappeared into the vast cavern of historical amnesia. This amnesia, which means there is never accountability, licenses the war machine to economically disembowel the country and drive the Empire into one self-defeating conflict after another. The militarists win every election. They cannot lose. It is impossible to vote against them. The war state is a Götterdämmerung, as Dwight Macdonald writes, “without the gods.”
Since the end of the Second World War, the federal government has spent more than half its tax dollars on past, current and future military operations. It is the largest single sustaining activity of the government. Military systems are sold before they are produced with guarantees that huge cost overruns will be covered. Foreign aid is contingent on buying U.S. weapons. Egypt, which receives some $1.3 billion in foreign military financing, is required to devote it to buying and maintaining U.S. weapons systems. Israel has received $158 billion in bilateral assistance from the U.S. since 1949, almost all of it since 1971 in the form of military aid, with most of it going towards arms purchases from U.S. weapons manufacturers. The American public funds the research, development and building of weapons systems and then buys these same weapons systems on behalf of foreign governments. It is a circular system of corporate welfare.
https://scheerpost.com/2023/04/30/chris-hedges-the-enemy-from-within/
Americans piss and moan about this part of society or that is falling apart and yet are uncaring about needed funds being sent aboard on some adventure that never turns out to be good for the nation as a whole.
Why?
I Read, I Write, You Know
“lego ergo scribo”
In Saner Thought 
there are a number of reasons to question the claim that america is a statocracy. First, it is important to note that the US military is not a monolithic entity. There are many different branches of the military, each with its own unique culture and priorities. It is simply not accurate to say that the military is a single, unified force that is bent on dominating the government.
Second, it is important to remember that the US military is accountable to the civilian government. The President of the United States is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and Congress has the power to declare war and appropriate funds for the military. This system of checks and balances ensures that the military does not have undue power over the government.
Third, it is important to note that the US military has a long history of serving the public good. The military has been involved in a number of humanitarian missions, such as the relief efforts in Haiti and the Philippines. The military has also played a key role in defending the United States from foreign threats, such as the attacks of September 11, 2001.
In conclusion, there is no evidence to support the claim that America is a stratocracy. The US military is a large and powerful institution, but it is accountable to the civilian government and has a long history of serving the public good.
In addition to the points raised above, it is also worth noting that the US military is a major source of employment for Americans. The military employs over 1.3 million people, and it is one of the largest employers in the country. This means that the military has a significant impact on the US economy.
The military also plays a major role in research and development. The military is responsible for developing new technologies, such as stealth aircraft and drones. These technologies have the potential to benefit society in a number of ways, such as by improving transportation and communication.
Overall, the US military is a complex institution with a wide range of responsibilities. While it is true that the military is a major expense, it is also a valuable asset to the United States. The military provides security, employment, and research and development, all of which benefit the country.
First the military is a single entity under the War Department….second and the president in Congress answers to the M-IC….third they have done humanitarian rescues bit those number are dwindling. Conclusion is a matter of opinion.
The War Dept is a major employer…the military end is becoming less and less….all that is debatable chuq
What is the number of currently ongoing humanitarian missions? What has it been for say, the past ten years. Do you have the data to show that they have decreased?
Not at hand do you have the data that they have increased? That was my opinion based on what I read and hear…..maybe more info should be there to show we are truly a caring country….we know we have no problem with conflict. chuq
We’ll said.
That should “well said”, and some very cogent points raised.
This argument about the humanitarian missions of the u.s. Military is an “apples and oranges” argument … the facts are:
Yes, the number of humanitarian missions of the U.S. military has decreased within the past few years. According to the U.S. Department of Defense, the number of humanitarian missions conducted by the U.S. military decreased from 152 in 2016 to 127 in 2021. This decrease is likely due to a number of factors, including the winding down of U.S. military involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as the increasing focus on domestic issues such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite this decrease, the U.S. military remains a major provider of humanitarian assistance around the world. In 2021, the U.S. military provided over $1.5 billion in humanitarian assistance to countries in need. This assistance included food, water, shelter, medical care, and other essential services.
The U.S. military’s humanitarian missions are an important part of the U.S. government’s commitment to global humanitarian assistance. These missions help to save lives and alleviate suffering in some of the world’s most difficult places.
Yep. I wasn’t arguing anything, I’m always curious where people source their general assertions. Not included in the named and numbered humanitarian missions, are the nearly uncountable efforts made by Civil Affairs and other (usually SOF) units being conducted daily around the world.
It’s a in-win scenario for the arms manufacturers. All they have to do is to ensure that there is a war somewhere in the world, and they will never go broke.
Best wishes, Pete.
It is not true that all wars in the world are instigated by arms manufacturers for the sake of profits. There are many factors that contribute to war, including political, economic, and social factors. Arms manufacturers may profit from war, but they are not the only ones who do. Governments, corporations, and individuals all benefit from war in some way.
That being said, there is no doubt that arms manufacturers have a vested interest in war. They make their money by selling weapons, and the more wars there are, the more weapons they sell. This gives them a powerful incentive to lobby for war and to support policies that make war more likely.
In recent years, there has been a growing movement to hold arms manufacturers accountable for their role in war. Activists have argued that arms manufacturers should be held liable for the deaths and destruction caused by their weapons. They have also called for arms manufacturers to be subject to stricter regulations and to be more transparent about their business practices.
It is important to remember that arms manufacturers are not the only ones responsible for war. There are many other factors that contribute to war, and it is important to address all of these factors if we want to prevent war in the future.
To: Constitutional Insurgent —- “I would venture to say that most people source their general assertions from whichever echo-chamber they live in or whatever their particular biases support the best.
To Chuq and Constitutional Insurgent — I already answered the question about the decrease in humanitarian missions… but here it is again ….”Yes, the number of humanitarian missions of the U.S. military has decreased within the past few years. According to the U.S. Department of Defense, the number of humanitarian missions conducted by the U.S. military decreased from 152 in 2016 to 127 in 2021. This decrease is likely due to a number of factors, including the winding down of U.S. military involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as the increasing focus on domestic issues such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sure…..and that’s why the intellectual maturity* of debate these day is so dismal.
*Maturity of one’s argument and sourcing, not speaking to one’s personal intellect here.
It is not a debate for we all do not have the same information…..chuq
Everyone has to have the same information, form it to be a debate??
Sorry accurate info is not needed for a debate? chuq