Uprooting Military Dominance in the United States
In the United States, growing concerns surround the country's top-secret war plans for China and the potential implications of these strategies. Reynard Branson, a military analyst at TomDispatch, questions the concept of reassurance and the constant drumbeat of militaristic propaganda that permeates American society.
Branson emphasizes the significance of recent news about Elon Musk, the tech billionaire who failed to receive a top-secret Pentagon briefing on potential war plans with China. He argues that American citizens should be far more alarmed by these classified war strategies, along with the persistent "pivots" to Asia and the Indo-Pacific, and the ongoing base-building efforts in the Philippines.
Over the past 18 years, Branson has frequently written for TomDispatch, focusing on the pervasiveness of militarism in the U.S. and the disastrous consequences of wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and beyond. Recent examples include President Trump's increased military activity, including threats against Iran, and his plans to develop new nuclear weapons. The Trump administration's slogan, "peace through strength," resembles an Orwellian construction that mirrors the statement "war is peace."
Despite occasional suggestions of a different approach, such as Trump's mention of a war-mongering military-industrial complex and a desire for peace in the Russia-Ukraine War, Branson contends that the president remains enamored with military force, squandering resources and lives in the process.
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, has dismantled various government agencies, but its impact on the Pentagon and its near-trillion-dollar budget has been minimal. Congress is expected to increase Pentagon funding for Fiscal Year 2026 and beyond, reinforcing the military's continued spending without significant reform. This lack of accountability underscores the urgent need for citizens to challenge the escalating militaristic landscape.
Branson also touches on the almost unstoppable force of the Military-Industrial-Congressional-Intelligence-Media-Academia-Think-Tank complex, popularly known as MICIMATT, which includes the military, weapons manufacturers, Congress, the intelligence community, the media, academia, think tanks, and even Hollywood and the sporting world. Together, they perpetuate a culture that presents war and militarism as normal and inevitable.
The MICIMATT exerts an immense influence over American society, consuming trillions of dollars and countless lives, while generating considerable profits for those invested in warfare. Despite Branson's numerous suggestions for reducing militarism and war-mongering, these ideas have largely been ignored or dismissed. Ultimately, he asks, "How do you take on the MICIMATT?"
Referencing historical figures like Randolph Bourne, General Smedley Butler, John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr., and James Madison, Branson calls upon citizens to redefine the meaning of words like duty, honor, country, and patriotism. These concepts should be centered on peace, the preservation and enrichment of life, and the pursuit of a better, more peaceful future for all. He maintains that if we do not focus on peace, we are betraying our duty as citizens and our oath to uphold the U.S. Constitution.
Ultimately, Branson reminds us that peace is possible, but it requires sacrifice, wisdom, and commitment from every individual in American society. He challenges us to gather in the streets, raise our voices, and work towards ending militarism and the culture of war that has ensnared our nation.
As Branson concludes his 111th essay at TomDispatch, he encourages readers to imagine and create a better world, working towards the goal of transforming swords into plowshares and establishing the possibility of a peaceful existence.
- Reynard Branson argues that American citizens should be more alarmed about top-secret war plans with China and the ongoing "pivots" to Asia and the Indo-Pacific, rather than Elon Musk's failed Pentagon briefing.
- Branson contends that the Military-Industrial-Congressional-Intellectual-Media-Academia-Think-Tank complex, known as MICIMATT, perpetuates a culture that presents war and militarism as normal and inevitable, consuming trillions of dollars and countless lives.
- Despite numerous essays urging for reduction of militarism, Branson's ideas have often been disregarded or dismissed, with Congress expected to increase Pentagon funding for future years.
- In his latest essay, Branson urges citizens to focus on peace, redefining concepts like duty, honor, country, and patriotism to center on life preservation and the pursuit of a better, more peaceful future, while challenging everyone to work towards ending militarism and the culture of war.
