A strange conceit of American exceptionalism is the naked ambition of full-spectrum dominance. The idea is this: America must dominate every realm of potential conflict, land-sea-air as well as space and cyber and any other realm you can imagine, for that is the only way Americans can truly be “safe.” Such a conceit comes with a hefty price tag as Pentagon spending soars toward $1.5 trillion a year. But money is the least of it. The heftiest price tag is the constant state of warfare (and preparations for yet more war) that has characterized U.S. foreign policy since 1945.
This comes alongside the diminishing of personal freedoms and the weakening of America’s middle- and working-class populations, as funds increasingly benefit war contractors fueling an unending imperial drive.
There is an almost godlike aspiration here: America must be all-powerful, controlling every possible battleground, and all-knowing, collecting information everywhere, unapologetically pursuing global dominance while wielding lethal force disproportionately against people of color, treated as lesser.
With little exaggeration, the U.S. government projects power worldwide yet fails to support ordinary Americans. Destruction is prioritized over growth, and the wealthy grow richer while the poor fall deeper into hardship.
U.S. taxpayers—once known as citizens—are burdened with costs for unnecessary weapon systems (Sentinel ICBMs, B-21 nuclear bombers, Golden Dome), unwanted conflicts (Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran), and an imperial force structure that virtually ensures perpetual violence. Both Democrats and Republicans uphold this framework. Those who challenge it within either party are marginalized and often silenced.
This is far from a new dilemma. In the early 1960s, Senator George McGovern, a decorated WWII bomber pilot, opposed the quest for nuclear “overkill” and advocated for significant defense budget reductions paired with reinvesting in civilian infrastructures. He referenced Republican President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s January 1961 warning about the military-industrial complex to support his stance. However, his proposals were discarded as the Johnson Administration escalated the disastrous Southeast Asia war.
Almost ten years later, after Southeast Asia was devastated, McGovern urged Americans to “come home,” calling to end futile foreign wars and halt rising military budgets. He suffered a decisive defeat against Richard Nixon in the 1972 Presidential race.
Since then, the Democratic Party has systematically pushed aside antiwar candidates who challenge imperial ambitions—Dennis Kucinich being a notable example. Even moderate reform advocates like Bernie Sanders are dismissed as unrealistic or risky. Consequently, Democrats such as Obama, Biden, Hillary Clinton, and Harris openly endorse so-called “good” wars (as Obama did with Afghanistan) and celebrate military might (as Harris has).
On the Republican side, resistance to expanding military expenditure is exceedingly rare. Few voices like Ron Paul, Rand Paul, or Thomas Massie question perpetual conflicts and their corrosive effect on civil liberties.
What path forward exists? Bernie Sanders proposed a political revolution, a necessary call, though the establishment of both parties neutralized his efforts. Elizabeth Warren spoke of “big, structural changes” domestically, yet her foreign policy mirrored that of Biden and Harris. Some dissident Republicans criticize the Iran conflict, but hardly any openly advocate major cuts to defense spending.
In sum, it is highly improbable that elections alone will end imperial dominance, relentless warfare, and the ballooning military budget. Many, including myself, have penned thoughtful critiques urging significant military reductions, but bold ideas rarely gain momentum without a robust coordinated movement behind them.
The United States desperately needs an organized, large-scale campaign opposing endless war and excessive defense expenditures—yet entrenched powers continue to escalate conflicts and military budgets. This same establishment perpetuates the creation of American “enemies,” whether Iran today, or looming threats from Russia, China, North Korea, and other so-called “rogue” states reserved to justify ongoing militarization.
The staggering waste and folly of this strategy threaten the survival of the (flawed though still functioning) American democratic experiment. Though bleak, this is a necessary recognition as the tactics once used overseas increasingly target domestic dissenters.
Recall when dissenters were regarded as engaged citizens. Recall the days when war was widely condemned and military spending was viewed as a foolish allocation of resources.
America need not be mired in perpetual conflict or act as a warrior nation. A “silent majority” clearly longs for peace and prosperity for future generations. But progress will remain elusive if this majority stays quiet or apathetic.
The Main Obstacle
As Ike noted in 1961, the greatest hindrance is the military-industrial complex (MIC), bolstered by Congress as its enabler. Over six and a half decades, this power structure has expanded tremendously. The acronym MICIMATT adds the intelligence agencies, media, academia, and think tanks. We might also include the sports industry, Hollywood, video games, and unpredictable tech billionaires. Together, these forces conspire to divert trillions from taxpayers in the guise of national security, all while sustaining endless wars.
Ike believed only informed, engaged citizens actively involved in democracy could check the MIC’s worst excesses. Unfortunately, this explains why the American people are consistently deceived—especially about wars—why much remains concealed or “classified,” and why the public is urged to defer unquestioningly to military authorities.
Worse still, genuine civic participation has been marginalized. Voting is now seen as the sole “duty,” restricted to choosing between Democrat or Republican, dismissing third-party antiwar candidates as irrelevant, dangerous, or even unpatriotic.
True security does not come from weapons or endless violence, but from robust institutions guided by the rule of law, where people of conscience stand up to abuse of power. Come home, America—to a nation of generosity, hope, and peace.
Be informed. Be engaged. And take action.
Original article: bracingviews.com
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