The MIC will not tolerate any leader who
seeks peace and the downsizing of empire
— even as we destroy ourselves
William Astore / Bracing Views & LA Progressive

(July 25, 2024) — “Bang! Bang! You’re dead!” has replaced “Let freedom ring” as the motto of US domestic and foreign policy. The self-styled “arsenal of democracy” of World War II fame is now merely an arsenal, not only abroad, where the US leads the world in weapons sales, but at home, where there’s more than one gun for every American.

How much is enough? How many weapons does it take to make us feel safe? How many trillions of dollars must be wasted on wars until we smarten up?

How much is enough — for what, exactly? That’s the crux of the matter. Does the US seek to continue to enlarge its global empire, insisting on dominance everywhere, or does the US want to focus on true national defense? The former suggests an open-ended Pentagon budget. The latter suggests a smaller, leaner, laser-focused, budget.

Naturally, the military-industrial-congressional complex favors the largest possible budget for the most belligerent and grandiose purposes. That’s what President Dwight D. Eisenhower warned us about in 1961.

Only alert and knowledgeable citizens can insist that we sharpen and limit our focus to true national defense rather than funding endless imperial aggression globally.

Military Keynesianism, meanwhile, is the least efficient way to create jobs here at home. If we wish to invest in America, building more and more weapons, at highly inflated prices, is the worst job-creation strategy we could follow as a country.

Sadly, it is so much easier to destroy than to create. Even as we destroy ourselves.

Today in imperial news, Bibi Netanyahu addresses Congress on why he must continue to receive massive amounts of US weapons and munitions so he can prosecute a genocide in Gaza. Warmongering with Iran is also on the menu. Look for Congress to applaud madly in agreement.

Tonight, America’s faltering imperial warlord, Joe Biden, reads a speech prepared for him by others on why he can no longer lead the empire. The machinery of that empire has already embraced a new figurehead, Kamala Harris, as an acceptable replacement in his stead, else that same machinery will readily pivot and embrace Donald Trump should he win a second term in November.

What the imperial machinery will not tolerate is any leader who’s committed to peace, the American republic, and the downsizing of empire.

And so Bang! Bang! You’re dead! will likely remain our approach to most everything, here and abroad.

This article was produced by Bracing Views. The opinions expressed here are solely the author’s and do not reflect the opinions or beliefs of the LA Progressive.