Ralph welcomes back crack investigative journalist, Andrew Cockburn, who in his latest book “The Spoils of War” outlines how the U.S. military budget has never been about “defense” but about profit. The military-industrial- congressional-media complex profits. We pay. Plus, Ralph answers a listener question.
Andrew Cockburn is the Washington Editor of Harper’s Magazine and has been reporting and commenting about the politics of war and national security for over forty years. He is the author of several books, including Rumsfeld: An American Disaster and The Spoils of War: Power, Profit and the American War Machine, as well as the Substack newsletter Spoils of War.
Defense companies are a leech on society. I described the whole complex as a single-cell organism that exists only to secure and expand its food supplies so it gets bigger.
Andrew Cockburn, author of The Spoils of War: Power, Profit and the American War Machine
My God [the current administration] almost makes Madeleine Albright look smart. They’re handed this machine and they think, out of just sheer irresponsibility, they want to use it.
Andrew Cockburn, author of The Spoils of War: Power, Profit and the American War Machine
I feel there’s no possibility of there being anyone like [Admiral Rickover]. Because the system is now geared to spitting out anyone who shows a sign of independence.
Andrew Cockburn, author of The Spoils of War: Power, Profit and the American War Machine
I think people should pay much more attention to the soft underbelly [of the military industrial complex]. Not just to say, “It’s all bad, and we shouldn’t be pissing away all our national treasure on the military industrial complex.” But to point out that it has feet of play. Legs of play. Bodies of play. Because people have to understand that. People have to understand they’re being had. [That’s] what the whole game is about. Then we might get some sanity back in the discussion.
Andrew Cockburn, author of The Spoils of War: Power, Profit and the American War Machine
The trajectory of this empire will devour our country. It’s already starving trillions of dollars over the years that could have rebuilt, modernized, upgraded all the public facilities, schools, public transit, drinking water systems, land erosion recovery, highways, and bridges. We’re paying the real price here. And I think it’s about time we listen to some of our returning veterans…who are now free to talk. And they’ll tell you something about the glory of war in a very satiric, bitter manner.
Ralph Nader
The Spoils of War