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2020-01-23 Government
How The Military-Industrial Complex Gets Away With Murder in Contract After Contract
[Tom Dispatch] Call it a colossal victory for a Pentagon that hasn't won a war in this century, but not for the rest of us. Congress only recently passed and the president approved one of the largest Pentagon budgets ever. It will surpass spending at the peaks of both the Korean and Vietnam wars. As last year ended, as if to highlight the strangeness of all this, the Washington Post broke a story about a "confidential trove of government documents" -- interviews with key figures involved in the Afghan War by the Office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction -- revealing the degree to which senior Pentagon leaders and military commanders understood that the war was failing. Yet, year after year, they provided "rosy pronouncements they knew to be false," while "hiding unmistakable evidence that the war had become unwinnable."

However, as the latest Pentagon budget shows, no matter the revelations, there will be no reckoning when it comes to this country’s endless wars or its military establishment -- not at a moment when President Donald Trump is sending yet more U.S. military personnel into the Middle East and has picked a new fight with Iran. No less troubling: how few in either party in Congress are willing to hold the president and the Pentagon accountable for runaway defense spending or the poor performance that has gone with it.

Given the way the Pentagon has sunk taxpayer dollars into those endless wars, in a more reasonable world that institution would be overdue for a comprehensive audit of all its programs and a reevaluation of its expenditures. (It has, by the way, never actually passed an audit.) According to Brown University’s Costs of War Project, Washington has already spent at least $2 trillion on its war in Afghanistan alone and, as the Post made clear, the corruption, waste, and failure associated with those expenditures was (or at least should have been) mindboggling.

Of course, little of this was news to people who had read the damning reports released by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction in previous years. They included evidence, for instance, that somewhere between $10 million and $43 million had been spent constructing a single gas station in the middle of nowhere, that $150 million had gone into luxury private villas for Americans who were supposed to be helping strengthen Afghanistan’s economy, and that tens of millions more were wasted on failed programs to improve Afghan industries focused on extracting more of the country’s minerals, oil, and natural gas reserves.

In the face of all this, rather than curtailing Pentagon spending, Congress continued to increase its budget, while also supporting a Department of Defense slush fund for war spending to keep the efforts going. Still, the special inspector general’s reports did manage to rankle American military commanders (unable to find successful combat strategies in Afghanistan) enough to launch what, in effect, would be a public-relations war to try to undermine that watchdog’s findings.

All of this, in turn, reflected the "unwarranted influence" of the military-industrial complex that President (and former five-star General) Dwight Eisenhower warned Americans about in his memorable 1961 farewell address. That complex only continues to thrive and grow almost six decades later, as contractor profits are endlessly prioritized over what might be considered the national security interests of the citizenry.

The infamous "revolving door" that regularly ushers senior Pentagon officials into defense-industry posts and senior defense-industry figures into key positions at the Pentagon (and in the rest of the national security state) just adds to the endless public-relations offensives that accompany this country’s forever wars. After all, the retired generals and other officials the media regularly looks to for expertise are often essentially paid shills for the defense industry. The lack of public disclosure and media discussion about such obvious conflicts of interest only further corrupts public debate on both the wars and the funding of the military, while giving the arms industry the biggest seat at the table when decisions are made on how much to spend on war and preparations for the same.
Posted by Besoeker 2020-01-23 03:06|| || Front Page|| [11138 views ]  Top

#1 Well, lessee. If Tesla made fighter planes they'd crash in ways never seen before. If Virgin Space made fighter planes, they'd be designed to never release their weapons. If Blue Origin made fighter planes all the air force would have is an engine that never seems to come out of testing.
Posted by M. Murcek 2020-01-23 07:12||   2020-01-23 07:12|| Front Page Top

#2 The infamous "revolving door" that regularly ushers senior Pentagon officials into defense-industry posts and senior defense-industry figures into key positions at the Pentagon (and in the rest of the national security state) just adds to the endless public-relations offensives that accompany this country’s forever wars.

Same thing can be said of the non-uniform bureaucracy in the endless war on poverty, drugs, et al. Fundamentally, the pathology leads to the basics of massive government and endless financing of it. In 1960, nearly half the federal budget went to defense. The over all amount has always grown, but now its around 12 percent of the budget.
Posted by Procopius2K 2020-01-23 07:14||   2020-01-23 07:14|| Front Page Top

#3 Rantburg is the only web forum of any kind that consistently supports this. The only one.

Everywhere else, the MIC is utterly despised as the war-starting unaccountable atrocity that it is. If peace broke out the MIC would be destroyed. Why do you think we're in endless wars and there is such shrieking whenever Trump says he wants to end one?
Posted by Herb McCoy 2020-01-23 09:52||   2020-01-23 09:52|| Front Page Top

#4 Why do you think we're in endless wars

Because the world is not a nice place?
Posted by g(r)omgoru 2020-01-23 10:29||   2020-01-23 10:29|| Front Page Top

#5 Damn bloody handed NeoCons! F off, Herb
Posted by Frank G 2020-01-23 10:58||   2020-01-23 10:58|| Front Page Top

#6 I thought I saw the ultra-evil MICK under my bed this morning... but I sleep on a futon so it wasn't even a dust bunny.
Posted by magpie 2020-01-23 11:08||   2020-01-23 11:08|| Front Page Top

#7 See what I mean? Proof positive in the article above that they can literally lie about war and nothing happens. Instead of getting their funding slashed, it gets increased. And still people on Rantburg will support it.

I repeat: this is the only web forum of any kind that I frequent that does this. You maybe get an idea of how insane supporting the military-industrial complex is?

"Until the latest of our world conflicts, the United States had no armaments industry. American makers of plowshares could, with time and as required, make swords as well. But we can no longer risk emergency improvisation of national defense. We have been compelled to create a permanent armaments industry of vast proportions. Added to this, three and a half million men and women are directly engaged in the defense establishment. We annually spend on military security alone more than the net income of all United States corporations.

Now this conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience. The total influence—economic, political, even spiritual—is felt in every city, every Statehouse, every office of the Federal government. We recognize the imperative need for this development. Yet, we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications. Our toil, resources, and livelihood are all involved. So is the very structure of our society.

In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together."

-- Eisenhower, farewell speech, 1961
Posted by Herb McCoy 2020-01-23 11:21||   2020-01-23 11:21|| Front Page Top

#8 Ref #7: And still people on Rantburg will support it.

Please be patient with us. Some days are better than others. We're all still trying to sort it out.
Posted by Besoeker 2020-01-23 11:25||   2020-01-23 11:25|| Front Page Top

#9 The author of this OPINION piece: Mandy Smithberger

Mandy Smithberger rejoined POGO as the director of the Straus Military Reform Project at the Center for Defense Information in December 2014. Previously she was a national security policy adviser to U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) worked on passing key provisions of the Military Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act into law, which expands protections by increasing the level of Inspector General review for complaints, requiring timely action on findings of reprisal, and increasing the time whistleblowers have to report reprisals. Previously an investigator with POGO, she was part of a team that received the Society of Professional Journalists' Sunshine Award for contributions in the area of open government.

Ms. Smithberger received her B.A. in government from Smith College and her Masters in Strategic Studies and International Economics from Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies. She also served as an analyst at the Defense Intelligence Agency and U.S. Central Command.
Posted by Frank G 2020-01-23 11:39||   2020-01-23 11:39|| Front Page Top

#10 other notable alumni from the John Hopkins School: Madeleine Albright, Wolf Blitzer, Nicholas Burns, April Glaspie

Past and Present Faculty:
Zbigniew Brzezinski, Paul Nitze, Henry Paulson, Paul Wolfowitz...

All your best and brightest™
Posted by Frank G 2020-01-23 11:45||   2020-01-23 11:45|| Front Page Top

#11 What's up with her ears?
Posted by Crusader 2020-01-23 12:40||   2020-01-23 12:40|| Front Page Top

#12 How much of this is an internal squabble that the "welfare state complex" is not getting funds that are being spent by the "military-industrial complex"...? Both sides have a dismal record on being audited.

This a different concern from questioning the merits of this or that example of foreign adventurism. For example: What are we achieving by staying in Afghanistan?
Posted by magpie 2020-01-23 12:41||   2020-01-23 12:41|| Front Page Top

#13 #11 - Shhhhhh. She can hear you
Posted by Frank G 2020-01-23 12:43||   2020-01-23 12:43|| Front Page Top

#14 Gee, Herb, why did you stop there? Sort of skips over

Akin to, and largely responsible for the sweeping changes in our industrial-military posture, has been the technological revolution during recent decades.

In this revolution, research has become central; it also becomes more formalized, complex, and costly. A steadily increasing share is conducted for, by, or at the direction of, the Federal government.

Today, the solitary inventor, tinkering in his shop, has been over shadowed by task forces of scientists in laboratories and testing fields. In the same fashion, the free university, historically the fountainhead of free ideas and scientific discovery, has experienced a revolution in the conduct of research. Partly because of the huge costs involved, a government contract becomes virtually a substitute for intellectual curiosity. For every old blackboard there are now hundreds of new electronic computers.

The prospect of domination of the nation's scholars by Federal employment, project allocations, and the power of money is ever present and is gravely to be regarded.

Yet, in holding scientific research and discovery in respect, as we should, we must also be alert to the equal and opposite danger that public policy could itself become the captive of a scientific-technological elite.

STE is just as much a danger to us as any MIC.

Posted by Procopius2K 2020-01-23 12:45||   2020-01-23 12:45|| Front Page Top

#15 Ears?
Them ain’t ears; they be handles!
Posted by USN, Ret. 2020-01-23 13:50||   2020-01-23 13:50|| Front Page Top

#16 I'll be honest: SJWs have more of a base of support among Americans than support for the military-industrial complex.

Now do you people understand how completely insane you are? Think about how wildly unpopular SJWs are. And you're even a tinier and more unpopular minority.
Posted by Herb McCoy 2020-01-23 15:32||   2020-01-23 15:32|| Front Page Top

#17  And you're even a tinier and more unpopular minority.

But we have the entire MIC (+ ZOG) behind us!
Posted by g(r)omgoru 2020-01-23 15:36||   2020-01-23 15:36|| Front Page Top

#18  Please be patient with us. Some days are better than others. We're all still trying to sort it out.

Said with a completely straight face, because every word is true. This little suburban housewife is impressed, Besoeker.
Posted by trailing wife 2020-01-23 15:51||   2020-01-23 15:51|| Front Page Top

#19 But we have the entire MIC (+ ZOG) behind us!

And Jesus too, since God is on our side. Notice that MIC + ZOG + Jesus form the vertices of a triangle. Determining whether this triangle is equilateral, isosceles, or scalene is left as an exercise for the Reader.

Semi-rhetorical question: is it possible for completely insane people to understand how completely insane they are? Asking for a friend.
Posted by SteveS 2020-01-23 15:54||   2020-01-23 15:54|| Front Page Top

#20 SJW would be the Educational Industrial Complex, and is wildly more dangerous.

The precursors of this strand of iconoclast have shown time and again putting down millions, burning a culture, and razing infrastructure in the name of dynastic rulers is the fun part of the great game.

I have no doubt they are Hillary! Popular, as the article writer in Denver arguing there are only two genders just found out, the Christian bakeries and wedding venues found out, etc etc etc
Posted by swksvolFF 2020-01-23 15:59||   2020-01-23 15:59|| Front Page Top

#21 What I want to know, Herb, is if we are all so blind and stupid, how long will you keep trying to educate us?
Posted by Bobby 2020-01-23 17:33||   2020-01-23 17:33|| Front Page Top

#22 Now do you people understand how completely insane you are?

If I'm insane then I am not guilty of being intentionally rayciss.

Killer Bob from Twin Peaks: "You may think I've gone completely insane, but I promise you I'll kill again! I'll touch you with my Death Bag..."
Posted by M. Murcek 2020-01-23 17:36||   2020-01-23 17:36|| Front Page Top

#23 Who me nuts? Well ok, but I bet you can't pick !
Posted by Besoeker 2020-01-23 17:39||   2020-01-23 17:39|| Front Page Top

#24 Banjo
Posted by M. Murcek 2020-01-23 17:50||   2020-01-23 17:50|| Front Page Top

#25 Herb, I agree with you quite often. But you are telling me I'm insane. Fuck. Off.
Posted by M. Murcek 2020-01-23 18:28||   2020-01-23 18:28|| Front Page Top

#26 I believe he's referring to me and my ilk. But I actually agree with him some times. That makes Herb insane too
Posted by Frank G 2020-01-23 19:22||   2020-01-23 19:22|| Front Page Top

#27 Now do you people understand how completely insane you are?

Rather presumptuous of you to attribute this quality to all of us in a broad-based stroke, isn't it? Many, if not all of us have repeatedly supported the US to get the hell out of Afghanistan and other shithole areas of the world, but instead you lecture us based on the thinnest of reeds by comparing us to nutbag SJW's in college, academia and the press (to the extent you can tell them apart).

I've been waiting for a while to hurl an insult back your way for some slight on an old thread, but I will pass on that temptation and simply say this - you are an asshole for trying to put words in our mouths and disparage our obligation of defending ourselves. It's not pretty, of course, and you apparently don't like the fact that the conflict between the lead military power on the planet occasionally takes place on foreign soil.

Duly noted, and go to hell, Herb McCoy
Posted by Raj 2020-01-23 20:01||   2020-01-23 20:01|| Front Page Top

#28  But you are telling me I'm insane.

This is unpossible. Name-Calling was the lowest level of the Pyramid of Presumptuous Postulation and was never to be indulged in.
Posted by SteveS 2020-01-23 20:23||   2020-01-23 20:23|| Front Page Top

#29 Insanity is the cosine of the lower-left angle of the hypotenuse of the conjoined triangles!
Posted by Lex 2020-01-23 20:38||   2020-01-23 20:38|| Front Page Top

#30 ^ Dude, I took Trig, and that's absolute bullshit!
Posted by Raj 2020-01-23 20:50||   2020-01-23 20:50|| Front Page Top

#31 Bingo, #1 M. Murcek!
Posted by Barbara 2020-01-23 20:54||   2020-01-23 20:54|| Front Page Top

#32  Dude, I took Trig, and that's absolute bullshit!

Of course it is, Raj. The correct answer is the sine of the upper right angle, even if it isn’t a perfect 90* angle.
Posted by trailing wife 2020-01-23 21:03||   2020-01-23 21:03|| Front Page Top

#33 #9 Just for the record, Mandy Smithberger is one f---ed-up looking chick.

Facial (eyebrow) piercing, showing off her Lord of the Rings elvine ears... scary.
Posted by Lex 2020-01-23 22:53||   2020-01-23 22:53|| Front Page Top

22:21 Seeking Cure For Ignorance
21:10 newc
20:17 SteveS
18:44 magpie
18:33 Frank G
18:33 badanov
18:26 Hellfish
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17:40 swksvolFF
17:34 Ebbuger Whuque4103
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17:02 Melancholic
16:27 Gravilet Snanter4154
16:20 Chaise Speaking for Boskone7897
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15:46 Skidmark
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15:37 swksvolFF
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14:48 NoMoreBS
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