In a current news release, the Pentagon, together with NATO, announced a new naval command in the Atlantic. Why this reorganizing and reinforcement of ships, aircraft and troops in the Atlantic? The answer is the usual one that tries to justify escalation of military forces - security. In this case the vague attempt at the need for security is based on the possibility of a Russian resurgence in the North Atlantic. "Resurgence" is a very thin reed to base a massive buildup of military forces; but, then, the military-industrial complex doesn't need anything approaching a legitimate reason to line the pockets of its contractors. Is that a reach? Not really. An objective analysis of America’s militarism since Korea boils down to U.S. involvement in wars that did not involve our national security and points to the common denominator of the undue influence military contractors had over Congress (read: political campaign money). Also related to this unwanted escalation in arms procurement is the additional $54 billion Trump added to an already bleared military budget. The military’s motto, “If you appropriate it, we will spend it, necessary or not.”
The tragedy inherent in this military buildup is the Russian’s reaction. If the U.S. can claim the need for “security” as its justification, Russia can make the same claim as it tries to balance what it sees as aggression on the part of NATO members. The result is a spiral in military buildup that pours money in weapons of war; health, schools, infrastructure be damned. The wisdom of America’s Founding Fathers put control of the military in civilian hands. Oh wait, that gives control to Trump