The US Military-Industrial Complex (MIC), a term popularized by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1961, refers to the relationship between the US government, its military, and the defense industry.
This complex system influences foreign and defense policies, often leading to prolonged or unnecessary military interventions that can be tied to profit motives. One of the major reasons why the MIC continuously fuels conflicts globally, is the economic incentives that come with war.
Firstly, major defense companies like Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Raytheon profit directly from military spending. Wars or conflicts increase demand for weapons, ammunition, and military technology thus boosting their revenues.
This way, defense companies spend millions lobbying lawmakers and funding political campaigns to secure contracts and influence policy, often promoting aggressive military strategies.
In the end, the MIC emphasizes job creation in domestic industries tied to defense spending, making it politically difficult to cut military budgets, even when wars are unnecessary.
Another major profit from global wars is the arms sales to foreign nations where the US is the largest arms exporter globally, supplying weapons to allies and nations involved in regional conflicts. These sales often escalate tensions and fuel ongoing wars.
An example includes arms sold to Saudi Arabia used in the Yemen conflict that contributed to one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.
Perpetuating global instability seems to benefit the US as it supports groups or governments in conflict zones to counter perceived adversaries (e.g., Russia, China, or Iran). These actions often prolong conflicts, as seen in Afghanistan, Syria, and Iraq.
More so, regime change wars are fueled to overthrow governments under the guise of democracy promotion or counterterrorism often destabilizing regions and creating opportunities for prolonged military engagement.
The US maintains over 750 military bases in more than 80 countries. This global footprint ensures readiness for intervention but also fosters resentment and increases the likelihood of conflict in these regions due to the continuous expansion of military presence.
The presence of these bases also creates demand for ongoing defense contracts for equipment, maintenance, and logistics.
Since September 11, 2001, the US has engaged in a global "War on Terror," a conflict without a clear endpoint. This framing allows for ongoing military engagements and steady funding for the MIC, defining the War on Terror as a perpetual conflict.
Defense contractors often sponsor think tanks, research, and media outlets that shape public opinion and policy debates. These entities may promote narratives that justify military interventions because of the influence of the media on public opinion.
Taking an example of the Iraq war of 2003, critics argue that the invasion was influenced by economic interests, including oil and defense contracts. Companies like Halliburton and private security firms made billions during the war.
Similarly, in Afghanistan, the two-decade-long war saw trillions in defense spending with lucrative contracts awarded to defense and logistics firms.
While national security concerns drive some military actions, the MIC often blurs the lines between genuine defense needs and profit-driven motives.
This dynamic contributes to a cycle where conflicts are perpetuated, not necessarily for strategic necessity but to sustain the financial and political interests tied to the defense industry.
Meanwhile, the human cost of US conflicts since 1950 is very alarming; The United States has been involved in approximately 90 conflicts across 70 countries.
Available key statistics indicate that the global death toll is estimated to be between 20 and 30 million, including some of the following countries; Korean and Vietnam wars lost 2 to 3 million each.
The Iraq war registered close to a million victims, in Afghanistan, between 176,000 and 240,000 people are expected to have perished while since September 11, global conflicts have resulted into over 900,000 deaths.
American military deaths are approximated to 90,000 combat deaths and 30,000 non-combat deaths in all the above mentioned countries.
Critics argue for greater oversight, transparency, and reforms to decouple military policies from profit motives and all this waits to be seen.
These wars have also caused widespread displacement, economic devastation, and long-term instability in many regions.
IGIHE
Source : https://en.igihe.com/opinion/article/how-the-us-war-machine-thrives-on-global-insecurity
