You and I Voted for War

Pete Seeger is asking “Where Have All the Flowers Gone”

In his farewell address on January 17, 1961, President Dwight Eisenhower said “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.”

For purposes herein I will ignore the toll on humanity associated with the last 20 years the U.S. (and other countries) spent trying to change people into the image of what we are. Shoppers at the big box stores and the mall. Conspicuous consumers. We failed. Fact is we could never have won. We cannot change people into something they do not wish to be. A harsh lesson indeed.

Two things are important to know. The premise of going into Afghanistan was to fight terrorism. The existing and growing threat from homegrown terrorism was in full view on January 6, 2021.

I will, in general, focus on the big dollar picture. I’m a generalist by nature. Details often escape me. Therefore, the numbers I am using are not absolutes. The U.S. spent over $2 trillion on the ‘war’ in Afghanistan. At first glance it was wasted money. But was it? Where did the money come from and where did it go? The answer to the first question is easy. Taxpayer money was expended on the war effort. Your money and mine. (Ignoring the ultrarich who apparently pay no taxes.)

Where did the money go? To adequately answer that question requires more time and research effort than this author has or desires to put forth. Further, the details would probably only obfuscate more than enlighten. However, in general, much of the money flowed right back into the U.S. economy. My guess is that somewhere between 50%-70% of the $2 trillion dollars is sitting in wallets and bank accounts here and abroad. After all, business is business. The money most certainly continues to be recycled through the supply chain.

The new F-35 fighter jets will cost around $35 million a pop, if and when one ever takes flight. A Warthog costs maybe $15 million. Humvee’s cost around $250 thousand. M4 carbine rifles cost around $750. Military boots cost and camouflage uniforms cost about $100 each. There is a cost for iPads, communications equipment, advanced…

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