Who controls the military-industrial complex

Índice Show

US Military-Industrial Complex
Who Controls the Military-industrial Complex?
What Does the Military-industrial Complex Offer?
Military-Industrial-Congressional Complex
When Was the Term, “Military-industrial Complex” Used?
History of the Military-Industrial Complex
1. The 1st Era
2. The 2nd Era
3. The 3rd Era
Why Is the Military-industrial Complex Dangerous?
Other Problems with MIC & Military-Industrial Complex Companies

Military-Industrial Complex is an unofficial phrase used to signify the rather 'comfortable' relationship that can develop between government entities (namely defense) and defense-minded manufacturers/organizations. This union can produce obvious benefits for both sides - warplanners receiving the tools necessary for waging war (while also furthering political interests abroad) while defense companies become the recipients of lucrative multi-million or multi-billion dollar deals.'War for profit' is not an exclusive approach for modern times as it drove the best and worst of old Europe for many decades - perhaps best exemplified by the naval arms race seen between France, Spain and Britain. The driving force behind these initiatives was generally in out-doing a potential foe and, therefore, forcing the establishment of a large standing military force to counter the moves of the potential enemy. The modern interpretation of this, as it relates to the Military-Industrial Complex, is only slightly altered in that the established military force is now utilized to further global interests - the enemy is no longer another nation per se but any organization not in line with presented ideals.At any rate, the theory of a mutually beneficial relationship existing between warplanners and industry is not unfounded for there is much money to be made in the design and development process of military goods which precede lucrative production commitments. As such, a defense contractor can be the recipient of multiple contracts during the lifespan of a single product leading many of the top firms to find ways to consistently outdo competitors in an attempt to maintain their own respective bottom lines in the boardroom and appease shareholders.

The phrase Military-Industrial Complex was first used in an American report at the turn of the 20th Century and later immortalized by outgoing United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower during his January 17, 1961 farewell address to the nation. In his speech, Eisenhower cited the 'Military-Industrial Complex' as a grave warning to the American people based on his experiences of an unlimited wartime economy coupled with a political environment as witnessed during, and after, World War 2 (1939-1945) - the warning being to not let the military-industrial establishment dictate America's actions at home or abroad for such unchecked power would begin to usurp the inherent freedoms found in the very fabric of our nation. The original usage appeared as Military-Industrial Congressional Complex but this was later - rather ironically - revised to exclude its reference to the American Congress.

Since October of 2006, MilitaryIndustrialComplex.com has existed to keep a running tally of those American defense contracts (at least those publicly revealed by the United States Department of Defense) in an attempt to keep an accurate value of defense expenditures for the interested reader. Despite the rather apparent transparency, the listed contracts do not necessarily represent the entire breadth of U.S. defense spending for not all might be publicly announced/presented. Our database can, however, be used to present a basic outline and, perhaps, be utilized in predicting the next great American conflict or educating the average American in the direction of his/her government.

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We talk a lot about the military-industrial complex, but what exactly is it, who makes it up, and why are they so important?

A new coalition groups opposing their local war companies has joined together to form the War Industry Resisters Network, focused on corporate control over US foreign policy.

The political influence of several weapons manufacturers has made these companies extravagantly wealthy, all while the United States has wasted trillions of dollars on military adventurism and destroyed large parts of the Middle East and Central Asia, killing at least hundreds of thousands and displacing tens of millions. The 5 major companies with the most influence and power are:

Raytheon Technologies
Lockheed Martin
Boeing
Northrop Grumman
General Dynamics

We’ll take a look at these companies, their partnership with the US government, and their influence over the US Congress and the Executive Branch, under both Democratic and Republican presidents.

Why, despite public opposition, do military budgets continue to rise and arms sales to authoritarian governments continue?

To answer these questions we’ll be joined by experts including:

Neta Crawford is Professor and Chair of Boston University’s Department of Political Science and a Faculty Research Fellow at the Frederick S. Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer-Range Future at BU. She is co-director and co-founder of the Costs of War project at the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs at Brown University, which has recently been expanded with the addition of the “20 Years of War” research series.

William D. Hartung, a senior research fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. His work focuses on the arms industry and U.S. military budget. He was previously the director of the Arms and Security Program at the Center for International Policy and the co-director of the Center’s Sustainable Defense Task Force. He is the author of Prophets of War: Lockheed Martin and the Making of the Military-Industrial Complex (Nation Books, 2011) and the co-editor, with Miriam Pemberton, of Lessons from Iraq: Avoiding the Next War.

Christian Sorensen, an independent journalist mainly focused on the U.S. war industry. An Air Force veteran, he is the author of Understanding the War Industry, published by Clarity Press. He is also a senior fellow at the Eisenhower Media Network, an organization of independent veteran military and national security experts. His website is warindustrymuster.com, where one can view his monthly distillations of Pentagon contracts.

In his farewell speech President Dwight D. Eisenhower, a man who had helped build up the military for World War II and commanded Allied Forces in Europe, famously warned:

“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.”

This warning has become a reality. To take the country back from the malevolent military-industrial complex, the corporations that make it up must be countered locally.

Join us to find out how you can take part! Register to attend!

First of a series of webinars organized by the War Industry Resisters Network.

Amidst Biden’s new foreign policy and military budget proposals, many Americans are skeptical about whether it is necessary to “overspend.” Most of the arguments brought up the MIC, which is an abbreviation for “military-industrial complex.”

But what is the military-industrial complex, exactly?

We will give you the definition and provide other relevant information below. Continue reading to find out all about this concept.

US Military-Industrial Complex

First, let’s define the term!

Definition – Military-Industrial Complex

“Military-industrial complex” is an expression that is used to describe the relationship between the military and the industry of defense that supplies it.

The military-industrial complex benefits both the “military” side and the “industrial” side. The former receives equipment necessary for war, while the latter receives multi-million, sometimes even multi-billion dollar deals.

Who Controls the Military-industrial Complex?

Do not confuse MIC as an organization. Military-industrial complex is a concept. As such, there is no single person controlling it like an organization. MIC, as a concept, refers to a network of individuals and institutions that are involved in the technologies, weapons, vehicles, softwares, platforms, and processes in the military.

What Does the Military-industrial Complex Offer?

Aside from guns and tankers, the government and military were handing off jobs to the private sector, from administration to maintenance — you name it. General Dynamics, for example, now take on contracts for artificial intelligence, cyberwarfare, and even bookkeeping. The military hires private contractors to supervise the work of other hired private contractors, too!

You will also be surprised to learn that many private companies also offer fighting services. As a result, contractors serve as “freelance fighters.” Major ones have their own “armies” that can be rented out to the military. They are sometimes also referred to as mercenaries.

We have written a few other articles on private contractors. Check them out here:

What is a military contractor?
How to become a private military contractor?

Military-Industrial-Congressional Complex

This term is sometimes expanded to “military-industrial-congressional complex,” where the US congress is added to form a 3-sided relationship, also called an “iron triangle.” In this case, the 3 legs of the “congressional” aspect of MIC are:

political contributions
political approval for spending on the military
political lobbying to support bureaucracies

In essence, this term refers to flows of resources and money between defense contractors, which includes corporations and institutions, private military contractors, the Pentagon (headquarters of the military), Congress, and the executive branch.

When Was the Term, “Military-industrial Complex” Used?

This term was used in (Former) President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s Farewell Address on January 17, 1961. Watch him use it in his speech here:

Eisenhower had warned the US public of the increasingly powerful American military-industrial complex and the threat it posed to democracy.

At the time, speculations claimed that the term was more ‘war-based’ — war-industrial complex. Eisenhower was particularly concerned about the costs of the ‘arms race’ the US had against the Soviet Union. He believed that resources would be taken from other areas, such as hospitals and schools’ constructions.

Thus, he consistently cut the Pentagon’s budget. He wanted to keep to a budget that the nation was able to afford. But he had upset the military, especially the Air Force, with his cuts.

Even though Eisenhower’s use of the term is most commonly cited, he was not the person who coined the term military-industrial complex. The term appeared earlier in a 1947 Foreign Affairs article.

History of the Military-Industrial Complex

The history of the military-industrial complex is divided into 3 eras, as follows:

1. The 1st Era

In the beginning, the government depended only on civilian industries. Through the first World War, the government owned all the weapons and shipyard manufacturing facilities. Then during the Second World war, (Former) President Franklin D. Roosevelt coordinated civilian industries to shift to wartime production via the “War Production Board.” American companies continued to expand their defense divisions.

Examples include General Motors, General Dynamics, and Boeing.

2. The 2nd Era

The military-industrial complex is believed to help advance civilian companies and technology. But at the brink of communism collapse and reducing defense budget, defense contractors were urged to consolidate. After the Korean War and during the Cold War, the military did not deflate its military and troop population like it normally did following wars.

3. The 3rd Era

BIg defense companies purchased smaller competitors. Between 1992 and 1997, there was some 55 billion US dollars worth of mergers; defense contractors either turned to civilian innovation or consolidated.

The 9/11 attack triggered immense new growth because it launched the country into a condition of “permanent” caution and conflict.

Why Is the Military-industrial Complex Dangerous?

Today, the MIC is a core component of US policy-making; much of the domestic economy is tied to the success of the MIC. As a result, concerns about the continuing growing-close relationship and unchecked military expansion remain.

Compared to the rest of the world, the U.S spent the most money on military and defense. Last year (2020), $778 billion was shelled out, which is still higher than the next 9 countries’ spending combined ($703 billion).

In the recent wake of conflicts in Afghanistan, there are many questions raised regarding MIC:

Is it normal that about 7 trillion dollars of the Pentagon have been spent on defense contractors since 9/11? And is it a coincidence that dozens of members of Congress and their families have million-dollar stocks in these defense companies? That they frequently leave government posts to lobby on behalf of these defense contractors?

It is not difficult to see the problem: decisions about engaging in military conflicts are made by those who benefit from perpetuating these conflicts! And, your tax bills are funding this.

So, what can be done about this? What is already being done?

In 2019, Senator Elizabeth Warren proposed a scheme prohibiting defense officials from having stocks in defense-contracting companies. They would also have to wait 4 years (at least) to join those companies after departing from the government. At the same time, contractors must disclose their lobbying activities in detail, so they cannot do work that would directly affect their former employers.
Earlier this year, a bill was introduced banning Congress members and senior staff from buying or selling stocks while they are still in service.

Case in point: there has to be an independent commission to disrupt the insidious relationship between the private sector and the military.

Conclusion

Now, you should be well aware of the answer to, “What is the military-industrial complex?” If you have any questions or thoughts about this topic, feel free to reach out to us in the comments below. Otherwise, please help us share this article’s content with other readers, like your friends and family. Thank you in advance!

I am Everett Bledsoe, taking on the responsibility of content producer for The Soldiers Project. My purpose in this project is to give honest reviews on the gear utilized and tested over time. Of course, you cannot go wrong when checking out our package of information and guide, too, as they come from reliable sources and years of experience.