Re:How we paid for the War on Terror
by failrate on Monday August 23, 2021 @05:17PM
(#28282094)
Yes, the fed issues currency by fiat, but the actual resources consumed by this war probably account for the monetary price tag. Additionally, the money spent did not vanish in a puff of smoke at the end of a gun: it lined the war chests of the military industrial complex. This gives these people and organizations outsized influence to manipulate our government into staying in wars in order to justify buying expensive munitions. This destructive feedback loop is the true cost of war.
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Re:How we paid for the War on Terror
by 3009629147 on Monday August 23, 2021 @06:15PM
(#28282685)
Please note: most (±95%) of the U.S. money supply is not created by the Federal Reserve, but by the U.S. commercial banks as deposits when they make loans. [1] Alternatively you can read the Bank of England report on Money creation. [2] It's about the British economy but goes into further detail and the monetary principles are the same in every modern country.
[1] https://www.kreditordnung.info/docs/S_and_P__Repeat_After_Me...
[2] https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/quarterly-bulletin/2014/q1/m...
Re:How we paid for the War on Terror
by academia_hack on Monday August 23, 2021 @10:20PM
(#28284456)
A less cynical view is that it keeps the military industrial complex healthy and robust in case an urgent need (e.g. WWII) arises. I'd much prefer to just hand cash to Raytheon for that and not have them shoot anyone though....
Re:How we paid for the War on Terror
by Abishek_Muthian on Tuesday August 24, 2021 @04:01AM
(#28286144)
How do we know that MIC would draw the line when it comes to the national interest, It's not too long that the USSR and USA came close to destroying themselves and the world; What if the WWIII itself is triggered for MIC's interests?
The kind of weapons we need to be developing to fight a near peer adversary are entirely different from the types used to fight small scale wars. You can see this in the new talking points around near peer fight.
Re:How we paid for the War on Terror
by mercy_dude on Monday August 23, 2021 @06:30PM
(#28282833)
> This gives these people and organizations outsized influence to manipulate our government into staying in wars in order to justify buying expensive munitions. This destructive feedback loop is the true cost of war.
Oh and you forgot the revolving door that exists between the military industrial complex and DC power Center. And how they influence the policy decisions. Our current defence secy for example is a former Rayethonian exec.
Re:How we paid for the War on Terror
by lp0_on_fire on Monday August 23, 2021 @08:03PM
(#28283619)
Can't forget former high-ranking members of the intelligence community suddenly having a keen interest in journalism. As paid commenters or otherwise.
https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/02/06/john-bren...
>the actual resources consumed by this war probably account for the monetary price tag
Its bordering on comical the degree to which people will mock this idea while failing to understand it.
Re:How we paid for the War on Terror
by arodgers_la on Monday August 23, 2021 @05:52PM
(#28282442)
Which people and which organizations, exactly?
The usual suspects – Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, etc.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_100_Contractors_of_the_U.S...