Comment
Johnson demonstrates one more time how deep the military complex has penetrated
into the decision making process of the political and economical elites of the US.
War is seen as strategic business and serves those who are supposed to prevent war under
the pretext of national security. Since the fault lines between (geo-) politics and
multinationals have been blurred beyond recognition, as have their interests, we are made to
belief that in order to survive the groundless attacks from some fanatics we need to ever
increase the defensive walls we build around the world.
With a President who seems to belief that the US has met resistance because
“they hate our freedom,” it is easy to understand why so many people in the US itself have
turned away from any participation in the political processes at all. Thanks to writers as
Chalmers Johnson the common guy on the street can (or could), by only reading one
single book, supersede the historical knowledge of a President like George W. Bush.
Yes, one could argue if the number of 725 military bases in 153 countries is indeed the
correct one, and yes, one could argue about the actual numbers of the regular army.
One could even argue about the validity of the comparison with an Empire in general, or the
Roman Empire in particular. Nevertheless, what ever the exact definitions or numbers,
it is clear that the military complex puts a great burden on the US, economically,
politically and strategically. The military complex needs wars and well defined enemies
to survive, but the US does not need either war, nor the military complex to do so.
On the contrary, what Johnson tries to demonstrate is the fact that if we (as a global
community) follow the given path which is dictated by the US today,
the outcome will be a surprise only to some.
