Nobody With Power Has The Guts To Stop It

Why We Fight (4.5/5 stars)

This is the documentary that I wish everyone would have seen in regard to the American military machine and the effect it has on the situation of the world today, much more than Fahrenheit 9/11, because it doesn't need to resort to blatant sensationalism and ridicule to get the point across.

While the focus is on the present, the movie goes back over 40 years to the last televised address of Dwight Eisenhower, who coined the term "military-industral complex" and warned against many of the things we are seeing today: a constant standing army, a never ending arms race (even though now it seems, the race is between American corporations rather than actual countries), and power in the wrong hands.

Why exactly do we get into the conflicts that we do, on such a consistent basis? Every president dating back this warning, Republican or Democrat, has gotten involved across the globe in various military action. Is it for the reasons we have heard? Is it for something else altogether? The movie stipulates that between lobbyists, politicians, think-tanks, corporations, and other groups, the complex has grown so pervasive that it is almost invisible. "When there is so much money to be made from war, you are going to see more of it." one person is quoted. With all the people in positions of power who benefit from an action, this is not such an implausible statement to believe.

Is it true? I suppose that is something for an individual to decide. But regardless, it is an extremely compelling argument.