By William J. ASTORE
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As we celebrate our nation’s birthday this July 4th, wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could save this deeply disturbed country by putting war and empire firmly in the rearview mirror?
What exactly defines national security, and what strategies best ensure it? Does allocating vast sums to the military genuinely enhance a nation’s safety, or does it instead threaten democratic values and freedoms due to the influence of sprawling military institutions? These are rarely explored sincerely in today’s America. Rather, the Trump administration promotes an agenda focused on preparing for continual conflicts, supported by plans for sharply increased defense budgets, euphemistically called “recapitalizations” of U.S. security.
This rhetoric casts figures like Pete Hegseth, who styles himself America’s “secretary of war,” as refreshingly candid in his celebration of a warrior ethos. Similarly, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham consistently advocates for conflict with countries like Venezuela, Iran, and even Russia. These macho men proudly declare America’s perceived destiny to dominate globally. Sadly, in the current political and cultural arena, aggressive warmongers such as Hegseth and Graham are prevailing.
Of course, America’s penchant for militarism and global supremacy through defense spending is hardly a recent phenomenon. Back in 1983, when I was a college student, I participated in a project criticizing President Ronald Reagan’s military expansion and his embrace of lofty but impractical ideas like the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), better known as “Star Wars.” Little did I expect that more than four decades later, another Republican president would revive this initiative—under the new name “Golden Dome”—while pushing for even more extravagant military budgets, despite the fact that the Soviet Union, the superpower adversary of Reagan’s era, vanished 35 years ago. Astonishingly, Trump is calling to reinstate naval battleships, a move briefly attempted by Reagan (though Reagan did not propose naming ships after himself). He promises a “golden fleet.” Why is this happening?
Much of my life has been devoted to investigating this question. After retiring from the U.S. Air Force, I began contributing to TomDispatch, publishing my first piece there in 2007 and urging Americans to save the military from its own illusions, particularly the “surge” strategy in Iraq. Alongside Tom Engelhardt, Andrew Bacevich, Michael Klare, and Bill Hartung among others, we have consistently argued at TomDispatch for reining in and reforming America’s powerful military-industrial complex. Trump’s proposal for a “dream military” budget of $1.5 trillion in 2027—$500 billion more than the current Pentagon budget—received support even from the Washington Post editorial board, illustrating how ineffective our resistance has been. It’s deeply frustrating—why does this keep happening?
At times, probably too often, I find myself retreating into catchy phrases to shield myself from the harsh world around us. I might say, America isn’t a shining city on a hill, it’s a bristling fortress in a valley of death; or, At the Pentagon, nothing succeeds like failure, referencing the Pentagon’s eight consecutive failed audits (part of a three-decade pattern of financial mismanagement) alongside disastrous campaigns in Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq. These clever expressions, however, have done little to dampen the expansion of militarism in America. Ultimately, it feels like bringing a pen to a gunfight—not an effective strategy.
In the United States, absolutely nothing seems able to halt the explosion of military spending and endless warfare. President Ronald Reagan, remembered by some of my generation as the “Teflon president,” could deflect scandals with ease (except for the tough Iran-Contra scandal). But the real master of the “no-stick” phenomenon has been the U.S. warfare state itself, headquartered on the Potomac. Credit the entrenched military establishment: despite repeated failures in combat, their budgets continue to soar, undeterred.
Reiterating the question: why does this persist? When will this enduring nightmare of glorifying war and bloated weaponry come to an end? Clearly, not soon. Even Democrats, often portrayed as Trump’s opposition, proudly back supposed military lethality and costly weapons systems while lining up to secure war-related funding. To borrow a heartfelt phrase from the 1950s, do these leaders have no sense of decency?
The Shameless Embrace of Forever War and Its Spoils
I am simply a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel getting older. Why should my views matter? Yet this country would be wise to heed Dwight D. Eisenhower—known as Ike—who led Allied forces during D-Day and served as U.S. president from 1953 to 1961. Ike was the earliest prominent figure to caution the nation about the emerging military-industrial complex (MIC) in his farewell speech. At the time, his warnings were mostly ignored. Recently, revisiting Ike’s message yet again, I was struck anew by his emphasis on the spiritual dimension of the challenge that still confronts us.
If you have forgotten—or never read—it, here are Ike’s exact words from that televised address in January 1961, where he introduced “the military-industrial complex” into our vocabulary:
“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 state house, 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.”
These insightful words came from the highest-ranking military officer of his time, a genuine citizen-soldier and president. More than sixty years later, if we have any hope to preserve “our liberties and democratic processes,” we must act on this wisdom.
Sadly, our leaders have rarely taken these warnings to heart. Since 1961, the “disastrous rise of misplaced power” within the MIC has engulfed our culture, economy, and—as the bitter Vietnam War phrase puts it—our hearts and minds. Although the MIC utterly failed to win over the Vietnamese, Afghans, Iraqis, and other peoples in these ill-fated wars, it has alarmingly succeeded in capturing the loyalty and influence of those who hold decision-making power in Washington.
In a shocking paradox, this extravagant military apparatus rarely wins battles yet consistently avoids accountability, maintaining near-complete control over the country. It defies reason, but rationality has never been America’s strong suit. Recently, we witnessed unprecedented illogic when America’s bully-boy president demanded an additional $500 billion on top of an already enormous Pentagon budget—pushing the annual total toward $1.5 trillion. Sorry to my Navy friends, but even the most prodigal spenders would struggle to exhaust that amount.
In short, no matter its missteps, the Pentagon, America’s prodigal son, endlessly demands more—and always gets it.
More, More, More!
This staggering military expenditure harms not only the country but the military establishment itself, which did not request a $500 billion increase. The Pentagon was relatively satisfied with a one-trillion-dollar annual budget. The president’s proposed hike is not only imprudent but threatens to damage what remains of U.S. democracy and possibly the military as an institution.
Like any large organization, the Pentagon habitually seeks expansion: more personnel, weapons, and influence, often justified by exaggerated or fabricated threats. However, true insight and innovation rarely spring from abundance; tough times tend to spur clearer, more creative thinking, while wealth begets complacency.
Not long ago, Trump occasionally spoke wisely against the military-industrial complex and endless wars during his campaigns. Many Americans voted for him in 2024 hoping he would focus on internal prosperity rather than foreign conflicts and weapons markets. Sadly, Trump has transformed into a warlord, greedily exploiting Venezuelan oil, scheming to annex Greenland for its resources, and not hesitating to strike Iran, Nigeria, or other nations. Meanwhile, Russia and China continue to be portrayed as ominous “near-peer” threats.
Though some Trump supporters imagined him as a peacemaker, militarism and imperial ambitions are clearly far larger than any one leader. Historically, war-making and military buildup have been bipartisan efforts, complicating any hope for reform. Replacing Trump in 2028 won’t magically erase entrenched militarism, grandiose imperial goals, or the potential for a $1.5 trillion military budget. Clearly, more, more, more remains the bipartisan anthem inside the Pentagon, Congress, and the White House today.
Taking on the MICIMATTSHG, or Blob
Former CIA analyst Ray McGovern expanded upon the classic military-industrial complex acronym (MIC) by coining MICIMATT—the Military-Industrial-Congressional-Intelligence-Media-Academia-Think-Tank complex—to emphasize its sprawling, blob-like growth. It’s true that Congress and other sectors are deeply entangled in the blob. I’d add an “S” representing the sporting world, an “H” for Hollywood, and a “G” for the gaming industry, all of which interact with, influence, and frequently serve Ike’s original MIC. Together, this forms today’s MICIMATTSHG. Remember Ike’s warning about the “disastrous rise of misplaced power” if unchecked? He also cautioned that this complex could reshape American society, undermining democracy and freedom, and even eroding spiritual values.
What did Ike mean by that? In a 1953 speech, he warned that we risked hanging ourselves on a “cross of iron”—becoming captives of militarism, sacrificing the labor of citizens, the ingenuity of scientists, and the lives of young people to pursue military dominance abroad—while relinquishing democratic values at home. This is precisely what has occurred. The American people have been distracted, muted, or sidelined by slogans like “support our troops” and extravagant patriotic spectacles, even as these displays mask less than triumphant realities.
And it never stops, does it? Polls show most Americans oppose war with Venezuela or Iran, yet these views are routinely ignored. Increasingly, we live in a nation ruled by the dictum “might makes right,” even though military force has more often led to failure since 1945.
What can be done? Many steps are needed, but fundamentally our society must reverse course—perform an “about-face” and march swiftly away from endless war toward peace. This must include substantial cuts in Pentagon budgets. The only effective way to check the blob’s relentless growth is to starve it of funds—and stop venerating it. Instead of demanding a $500 billion increase, Congress should require a $500 billion reduction in defense spending. Our goal should be to compel the military-industrial complex to innovate, streamline, and prioritize defending America and its principles—not fueling imperial ambitions by wannabe warlords.
Trump’s current strategy—feeding the imperial beast further—represents a national nightmare, not a path to greatness. It guarantees America’s decline and eventual collapse economically, politically, and spiritually, just as Ike predicted in 1961. More conflicts and weapons will never restore America’s greatness. As Civil War General William T. Sherman famously stated, war is “all hell.”
Americans must act to slash war budgets, reduce empire size, embrace diplomacy, and pursue peace. Unfortunately, the blob has become a dominant, almost unstoppable force. Aren’t you weary of being its servant?
On the 250th anniversary of America’s founding—a nation built on opposition to empire and military rule—it is profoundly sorrowful to realize the greatest enemy has become ourselves. Ike’s words remain a crucial teaching: only Americans can truly harm America, he once said. To which I add: only Americans can truly save America.
Original article: tomdispatch.com
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