America’s Never-Ending Wars

How The Military-Industrial Complex Influence Government Decisions And Public Opinion

Public Opinion

President Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw from Afghanistan after 20 years of intervention drew criticism from all corners. International Community, Politicians, Media outlets, Retired and Active-duty Military personnel- all cry foul. But the average American overwhelmingly supports President Biden’s decision to end the occupation and bring troops back. A recent poll shows 62% of people were in favor of ending the Afghan war. Looks like Americans grew weary of endless conflicts and perpetual wars. And the majority of the public began to disapprove of the US meddling in other country’s affairs and spending their tax money on nation-building in some foreign land. Most of these countries and their leaders hate America and the western way of life, anyway. They don’t like US troop’s presence within their land. So winning such a war is virtually impossible and doomed from the beginning.

Out of the 250 years of US history, the country was in war or some kind of conflict in 225 years. Many early battles were against Native Americans and for territorial annexations. The 20th century saw US involvement in two world wars and other major combats like Vietnam War, Korean War, and Desert Storm. 21st Century began with the Afghan War and Iraq War. Also, US troops were fighting in places like Lybia, Somalia, and Syria. In the past, the US interventions lasted for a shorter period, actions were swift, attacks were precise and campaigns were decisive. After 9/11 campaigns were mainly “war against terrorism” which is often against an enemy that has no geographical borders. An Islamic Caliphate that spans several countries and their ideology declares war against the US and other western powers. They want to be relevant so they provoke, challenge, and drag the western powers into prolonged combats.

Some special interest groups and industrial complexes in the US also need ongoing war and invasions. Big defense-oriented industries like, aerospace, ordnance, electronics, telecommunication, computer industries, shipbuilding, etc benefit from defense spending, which runs into billions of dollars. Defense contractors are another group who became immensely wealthy providing support to troops who are deployed overseas. This relationship between a nation’s military and the defense industry, commonly known as, the military-industrial complex (MIC) has a vested interest in keeping the country in war zones. MIC often hires retired generals and other high-ranking military personal to lobby the administration, the congress, the press, and influence the public to support more defense spending, to get involved in regional conflicts, and escalate it into an all-out war. Several retired military top brass appear in Network news as “experts” and always talk against troop withdrawals and ending wars. They try to influence the public with fear-mongering tactics. Some Christian leaders and activists are also involved in, spreading hatred and fear by exaggerating battlefield visuals and old stories of torture.

In his farewell speech on 17th January 1961, President Dwight Eisenhower warned the nation against the growing influence of the Military-Industrial Complex. His words: “In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex”- still resonates.