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War ComponentsThe Business of WarI don't know how long we sat on the bench in silence, but I was aware that Kate wouldn't say anything before I did."It's a big war. Different generals. Different conditions. Or maybe it's the military version of Good cop, bad cop." "Good general, bad general. I like that," said Kate. "It's tasty. Well done! Yes, the theater of war encompasses a vast area and several plays are being acted out all the time. Another important aspect - and here comes the third reason for using expensive and ineffective weaponry - it's profitable. Whether the crack of a rifle shot or the explosion of a hell-fire missile, the executives of the war industry hear money bubbling over their river of stocks and into their wells of wealth." "Kate," I pleaded, "could you please tone down your language." "Oh, I'm so sorry," she said and blushed. "I'll try. Purple prose can be my way of avoiding anger." "Thank you." I said gently against her expression of regret. "Remember," Kate continued, "war is an enterprise of economic conquest. Where the conquest resulted from the success of the war in the past, the war itself provides a source of conquest today. As long as war is being conducted, profits are being harvested. Many corporations thrive on a state of war." The Corporate-Military Adventure"There have always been people who profited from war," I said."That's true," said Kate, "but the nature of war today differs from previous wars in two keys aspects. First of all, the military has been largely privatized. Non-military companies provide services that were formerly performed within the military itself. Laundering uniforms, repairing machinery, preparing food and even security tasks are outsourced to private companies. The mercenary industry rakes in over 100 billion dollars a year. The business of war goes well beyond the domain of weapons and mercenaries. Coca-cola receives over 100 million dollars a year in government contracts to supply beverages to military bases. Many non-military companies are growing fat on war-related contracts. Construction contracts for war zones grabs a significant portion of war costs while knocking out local industry in the name of helping the people. War is big business. One of the biggest businesses. USA's war budget dwarfs the national budgets of many countries. To that can be added the war budgets of allied countries." "You're speaking of the military-industrial complex. This has been common knowledge for some time." "Not exactly," said Kate with her liquid velvet voice. "When president Eisenhower first warned about the military-industrial complex in 1961, it was a little puppy. Today it has grown into a ferocious beast. It's like the Fenrir wolf of Norse mythology, if you know anything about that." "No, I don't," I confessed, "but I know what you mean." "I'm not so sure that you do," said Kate. "The military-industrial complex has evolved into the corporate military-venture. Commercial interests used to be involved in military business. They now own the military corporation with the government playing an administrative role." "OK, I get it. It's much bigger and more profitable, but is still the old question of people profiting from war, only on a much larger scale." Silence. I now knew the rules and waited for Kate to say something. "The enterprise of conquest runs on tax money," she said, lowered her head slightly and starred into my eyes. "Go on," I said and nodded to indicate that I was paying attention. "Money is being taken from the people in the form of taxes and given to corporate owners as profits in order the run the enterprise of conquest. Do you see?" "Yes, the wealthy corporation owners become even wealthier because of the war." "And?" asked Kate. "And what?" I asked confused. An Enemy of My OwnKate allowed me to float in my confusion a while before answering."The people of the USA (as well as the people of the other countries engaged in the enterprise of conquest) are being conquered as well. The form and degree of conquest differs considerably between the home people and the foreign people, but both peoples are being forced to pay to the lords of war. The corporate elite are controlling the politics and taking the resources of their own people in order to attack, occupy and take the resources of the people in foreign countries." I knew what Kate was trying to tell me, but I couldn't fit it into the structure of my mind. "Kate, you're telling me that I'm part of the war, and the wrong part at that." "I am telling you that you are part of the war, but not the wrong part. On the contrary, the enterprise of liberation is the only right part." "Yes, but you're saying that my government is my enemy." "Well you tell me. They are taking your resources to conquer the resources of people on the other side of world. Are they your friends? I couldn't counter Kate's reasoning but she was asking too much of me. Grasping for a straw to save myself from going to a place I didn't want to go, I asked, "You said that there were two aspects of today's wars that differed from past wars. You've told me about the corporate takeover of the military. What's the other thing?" A 50-year WarKate smiled in a way that told me she knew exactly what I was thinking and that it was OK."Oh, yes, excuse me," she said to take some of the weight off my mind. "I forgot about the other aspect. The wars today aren't wars in the traditional sense. They have no ambition of achieving peace, but calculate with a never-ending confrontation. The violence, death and destruction are as much the goal as the method. The corporate enterprise of conquest requires continuous wars to maintain a continuous flow of profits. They've spoken and written openly about what they call 'the long war', a war demanding 50 years of effort. 50 years!" she repeated in a soft voice that sounded louder than a scream. "Who can seriously consider 50 years of war? No one knows what the next 5 years will bring." "Are you trying to tell me that they don't want to win the wars?" "No, that is not what I'm saying." "Well, what are you saying?" I asked forcing myself to speak lovingly. After a pause Kate said, "You're right. My faulty explanation promoted the impression that they don't want to win their wars. That's not the case. A victory for them means submission, a country that runs in accordance with their wishes. Regardless of the victory or victories, they realize that they can never eliminate opposition to their conquests and policies. People and groups will always resist their domination. They believe themselves to be very clever in recognizing this unavoidable consequence of their control, and they pride themselves in being prepared to deal with all forms of resistance to their rule. A suitable degree of resistance is even desirable to keep the machinery of security in trim and the profits flowing. Kate must have seen how hard I was thinking and gave me the room I needed. "If I understand you, you're speaking about a new form of colonialism. They want to control or dominate countries and are willing to be on hand to keep any resistance in check. Actually, this is not a new form of colonialism, it's the classic form with modern weapons and methods." "Aren't you the clever one," said Kate. "That's almost correct." "Almost?" "They want to dominate everything and everyone and believe that they are strong enough, clever enough and flexible enough to constantly adapt and deal with all forms of resistance. The entire strategy of the long war finds its clearest expression in the term, the War on Terrorism." The Reality Metaphor"You don't hear the phrase War on Terrorism any more," I pointed out."No, but the concept still applies and the term illustrates the strategy of the long war. War on Terrorism is a metaphor sold as a reality. Speaking of a war on poverty, war on corruption, etc. promises a strenuous and determined effort, not armed conflict. Fighting terrorism - a crime - cannot be accomplished with military invasion and occupation. It's semantically ridiculous and politically counterproductive. What the term war on terrorism actually says is that opposition to US domination will not be tolerated." "You're either with us or against us," I said quoting president Bush. Kate dizzied me with a smile of approval. "Remember," said Kate, "the War on Terrorism applies to Americans as well as the people of allied countries. Any law or rule can be broken in the name of national security. Surveillance of the population gets tighter and tighter as the economy wobbles, social services decline and the gap between the wealthy and the rest of the population climes." "No one will argue with you there. Despite the WOBBLY economy, as you put it, the wealthy pass out vulgar bonuses and the military budget gets bigger." "To summarize," said Kate, "the corporate elite believe that economic conquest of everyone can be achieved by applying the formula: Control the government, own the military and maintain war production." The silence between us grew because Kate waited for me to say something and I didn't know what to say. She sensed my dilemma and spoke quietly in my ear, "They are killing people. Daily." She may as well have slapped me in the face. "What do you mean?" I asked. "Not only in Iraq and Afghanistan, but Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia and other places. Daily. They speak of these people - when forced to speak of them at all - as terrorists, insurgents, Taliban, extremists, suspected militants, whatever, as though these labels justify murder. The majority of the victims are villagers and people whose crime consists of living in a place the warlords intend to control. The message shouts murderously clear, resistance will not be tolerated." "You really know how to make it sound horrible," I said. "Look at me," commanded Kate. "If you have any trust in me at all, trust what I am about to tell you." She didn't have to wait for my intense concentration. "It's much, much more horrible than I have described. Much more!" She had me in a trance. Before I could respond, she continued. "These horrors spread. The nature of the conflict guarantees its spread. It's only a matter of time before the people in the USA and the allied countries experience similar horrors first hand." She had maintained her soft, loving voice while emphasizing the horrors and predicting their spread. It was too much for me. I blew it. "Don't you ever get angry?" I shouted angrily. "Have you ever been angry?" "Once," she said. © Joel Miller/BenTarZ ⇐ Back - 11 Captrain K Next - 13 Kate's Anger ⇒ |