Well, thanks for the first response that isn’t rehashing my top two favorite movies. :D

Still, it doesn’t answer my question. Who disburses the “spending” to the vendors who provide weapons in exchange for that money? And how do they choose who gets it?

I think what irks me is that while I understand the benefits of this system when it comes to supplying the US military (rapid mobilization), I question the ethics of redirecting the output of this system to another country, who is ultimately an additional end customer for the arms companies.

I can’t articulate the precise source of my discomfort, but I know it feels wrong for this artificial market to exist according primarily to the whims of politicians and those who pay them.

One argument in favor of the military industrial complex is that it keeps the wheels greased for when a real war happens. And we’re seeing the benefits of that in Ukraine right now. But to be honest, I get the sense that the MIC, i.e. the power structure controlled by executives at the top US arms manufacturers, has a vested interest in prolonging this war, any war, so long as the weapons need replacing.

Tactically speaking, the US military ships goods and supplies on-hand using US military logistic resources. They may backfill their supplies, of course, but the order of the day is speed of material to the war zone.

But the US military is not engaged in a war with Russia in Ukraine. Congress would need to declare war for that to be the case. So why should we so easily accept the premise that the US military is responsible for purchasing equipment and delivering it to war zones in countries where we have no troops, to be used for killing soldiers with whom we are not at war?

It’s military aid, not arms sales. There’s little incentive the resources be used efficiently. That way there can be more aid bills. It’s what people voted for I guess.

Instead, Congress has declared military aid to Ukraine. The US military is responsible for doing whatever they are told to do by our civilian leaders.