"The wealth that's extracted from Imperialism goes into the coffers of the select few, whereas the costs of empire are paid out of the common treasure of the people."
-Thorstein Veblen, 1906
***
"War Is a Racket. It always has been. It is possibly the oldest, easily the most profitable, surely the most vicious. It is the only one international in scope.
It is conducted for the benefit of the very few, at the expense of the very many. Out of war a few people make huge fortunes."
- Smedley D. Butler, U.S. Marine Corps general, two time Medal of Honor recipient
"Fascism was the application to white people of colonial procedures which until then had been reserved exclusively for the Arabs of Algeria, the 'coolies' of India, and the 'ni**ers' of Mrica."
-Aimé Fernand David Césaire
***
Simply speaking, Fascism is Imperialism brought home..
Very interesting read. I often agree with the realists, but I do question how "national interest" can be defined. It seems to me the US foreign policy doesn't even pretend to work on national interests, but rather for the interest of the top 1%. I think your focus on the MIC is essential to untangling this issue.
"The US is controlled more by political corruption than by national interest..."
This makes sense to me. There is no "national interest" being met for Americans in bombing Iran and killing innocent civilians/children. It's just an insatiable need to make big profits for the MIC (and possibly distract from Trump's Epstein files woes). The USA empire is just one big corrupt criminal operation. Sorry to all who thought it had something to do with "freedom and democracy."
"It is part of the general pattern of misguided policy that our country is now geared to an arms economy which was bred in an artificially induced psychosis of war hysteria and nurtured upon an incessant propaganda of fear."
"While such an economy may produce a sense of seeming prosperity for the moment, it rests on an illusionary foundation of complete unreliability and renders among our political leaders almost a greater fear of peace than is their fear of war."
PS. I've been reading Daniel Immerwahr's fascinating, "How to Hide an Empire," and this dovetails fully with what he's saying. (I've also bought three of Chalmers Johnson's books, but now I'm drowning in books...)
As Orwell said, all that matters is that a state of war must always exist. It's a surefire way to monopolize power while torpedoing democracy.
Great article, Matt.
Thanks Bill.
"The wealth that's extracted from Imperialism goes into the coffers of the select few, whereas the costs of empire are paid out of the common treasure of the people."
-Thorstein Veblen, 1906
***
"War Is a Racket. It always has been. It is possibly the oldest, easily the most profitable, surely the most vicious. It is the only one international in scope.
It is conducted for the benefit of the very few, at the expense of the very many. Out of war a few people make huge fortunes."
- Smedley D. Butler, U.S. Marine Corps general, two time Medal of Honor recipient
"Fascism was the application to white people of colonial procedures which until then had been reserved exclusively for the Arabs of Algeria, the 'coolies' of India, and the 'ni**ers' of Mrica."
-Aimé Fernand David Césaire
***
Simply speaking, Fascism is Imperialism brought home..
youtube.com/watch?v=k17q7hdVsTA
I had not heard that said like that before, very succinct and direct. Thank you.
Thank you, Matthew, for this highly insightful piece. It helps to cut through a lot of fog for me. I will share it with others.
Thanks Nancy!
Glad you brought up the marines again.
Was it Matt who said Marines should be on hand to evaccuate people not to fight.
Seems that is what they are coming for.
Bingo❣️
Very insightful Matt, thank you.
Thank you Noah.
Very interesting read. I often agree with the realists, but I do question how "national interest" can be defined. It seems to me the US foreign policy doesn't even pretend to work on national interests, but rather for the interest of the top 1%. I think your focus on the MIC is essential to untangling this issue.
Thanks Reid. Certainly, more than 1000 MIC lobbyists on Capitol Hill have a say in defining our national interests more than you or me.
Your analysis is spot on.
Thanks!
"The US is controlled more by political corruption than by national interest..."
This makes sense to me. There is no "national interest" being met for Americans in bombing Iran and killing innocent civilians/children. It's just an insatiable need to make big profits for the MIC (and possibly distract from Trump's Epstein files woes). The USA empire is just one big corrupt criminal operation. Sorry to all who thought it had something to do with "freedom and democracy."
"It is part of the general pattern of misguided policy that our country is now geared to an arms economy which was bred in an artificially induced psychosis of war hysteria and nurtured upon an incessant propaganda of fear."
"While such an economy may produce a sense of seeming prosperity for the moment, it rests on an illusionary foundation of complete unreliability and renders among our political leaders almost a greater fear of peace than is their fear of war."
-Douglas MacArthur, five-star general
PS. I've been reading Daniel Immerwahr's fascinating, "How to Hide an Empire," and this dovetails fully with what he's saying. (I've also bought three of Chalmers Johnson's books, but now I'm drowning in books...)
That’s a great book!