Why We Fight

Current mood: contemplative

What are the forces that shape and propel American militarism? The award-winning film "Why We Fight" provides an inside look at the anatomy of the American war machine.

We watched this documentary in class the other day, and it spurred one of the most interesting discussions we've had all semester. Granted, the theme takes an anti-war stance, but the documentary attempts to take a balanced and genuinely thoughtful look at why exactly America has become so invested in pushing the war for democracy.

The video is available here:

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article8494.htm or
http://www.sonyclassics.com/whywefight/main.html

It's an hour and a half long, but definitely worth a look.

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People, at least on "the masses" level, are simple creatures. They want to have their basic needs fulfilled, to be able to strive for better lives for themselves, and to be able to hope for a brighter future for the next generation. One of the points made by the documentary is that Americans have decided/been convinced that having and wielding military might is essential to accomplishing these goals. The fact that President Eisenhower, one of the most politically and militarily successful figures in American history, warned against this, is extremely provocative food for thought and incredibly relevant to our way of life today.

From his January 17, 1961 farewell address to the nation:

"...Our military organization today bears little relation to that known by any of my predecessors in peacetime, or indeed by the fighting men of World War II or Korea.

Until the latest of our world conflicts, the United States had no armaments industry. American makers of plowshares could, with time and as required, make swords as well. But now we can no longer risk emergency improvisation of national defense; we have been compelled to create a permanent armaments industry of vast proportions. Added to this, three and a half million men and women are directly engaged in the defense establishment. We annually spend on military security more than the net income of all United States corporations.

This conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience. The total influence economic, political, even spiritual is felt in every city, every Statehouse, every office of the Federal government. We recognize the imperative need for this development. Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications. Our toil, resources and livelihood are all involved; so is the very structure of our society.
In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.

We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together..."