Trump Embraces Military Industrial Complex Conspiracy Theory

[Revoltingest]

In the news....
War is 'a last resort,' Army chief says after Trump's comments
Excerpted...
The Army's top general defended military leaders on Tuesday after President Donald Trump accused them of going to war to keep defense contractors "happy," saying he and others take the decision to send troops into combat "very, very seriously."
Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville declined to comment specifically on Trump's remarks to reporters on Monday, but defended the Pentagon brass against the accusation that they are beholden to arms manufacturers.
......
The general's comments mark the Pentagon's first public response to Trump's remarks during a combative White House news conference on Monday, in which he said "top people in the Pentagon" probably aren’t “in love with me” because “they want to do nothing but fight wars so that all of those wonderful companies that make the bombs and make the planes and make everything else stay happy.”


Do you agree with Trump that we go to war because
military leaders seek to please contractors?

 

[Yerda]

One of the rare occasions where I find I agree with Trump.

 

[Revoltingest]

One of the rare occasions where I find I agree with Trump.

Does this mean that sometimes Trump is both honest & right?
Do you think that the President & Congress play any role in waging war?

 

[Mock Turtle]

As I posted in another thread, regarding what the USA spends on the military (compared with most others) - defence or threat (to others)?

 

[Tambourine]

Do you agree with Trump that we go to war because
military leaders seek to please contractors?

I don't think so. Pleasing military contractors and going to war is a symbiotic relationship brought about by the imperialistic nature of US foreign policy, as is its bloated military budget.

But I find it funny that Trump would claim that, given that in his function as POTUS he is effectively a well paid arms dealer.

Does this mean that sometimes Trump is both honest & right?
Do you think that the President & Congress play any role in waging war?

As far as I know, Congress plays barely any role in the wars the US has been waging for the past 40-50 years or is still waging to this day. The last time a President, George W. Bush, asked for congressional approval for a war, the vote was nearly unanimous, if I recall correctly, and to my knowledge, no President's war effort has ever been hampered by an uncooperative Congress.

 

[Howard Is]

Do you agree with Trump that we go to war because
military leaders seek to please contractors?

That mother****** is really scr***** with my head.

I’ll wait until I hear what Q has to say.

 

[Revoltingest]

I don't think so. Pleasing military contractors and going to war is a symbiotic relationship brought about by the imperialistic nature of US foreign policy, as is its bloated military budget.

But I find it funny that Trump would claim that, given that in his function as POTUS he is effectively a well paid arms dealer.


As far as I know, Congress plays barely any role in the wars the US has been waging for the past 40-50 years or is still waging to this day. The last time a President, George W. Bush, asked for congressional approval for a war, the vote was nearly unanimous, if I recall correctly, and to my knowledge, no President's war effort has ever been hampered by an uncooperative Congress.

Ref....
War Powers Clause - Wikipedia
Excerpted....
Article I, Section 8, Clause 11 of the U.S. Constitution, sometimes referred to as the War Powers Clause, vests in the Congress the power to declare war, in the following wording:
[The Congress shall have Power ...] To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water ...

For example, in 1991 & again in 2002 (including Joe Biden &
Hillary Clinton) Congress voted to authorize war against Iraq.
The military doesn't make this decision. Instead, they carry
out the orders of government.

 

[Revoltingest]

That mother****** is really scr***** with my head.

I’ll wait until I hear what Q has to say.

I find it hilarious that the old liberal Military Industrial
Complex conspiracy theory is now a Trump claim.
To blame the military & contractors for what politicians
do is unevidenced, dishonest, & insulting.
Typical Trump...now with liberal support.
It's....Trumptastic!

 

[McBell]

One of the rare occasions where I find I agree with Trump.

Is this to say that you agree that Trump wants war to please contractors?
I mean, is not Trump the ultimate head of the US military?

 

[Daemon Sophic]

Ref....
War Powers Clause - Wikipedia
Excerpted....
Article I, Section 8, Clause 11 of the U.S. Constitution, sometimes referred to as the War Powers Clause, vests in the Congress the power to declare war, in the following wording:
[The Congress shall have Power ...] To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water ...

For example, in 1991 & again in 2002 (including Joe Biden &
Hillary Clinton) Congress voted to authorize war against Iraq.
The military doesn't make this decision. Instead, they carry
out the orders of government.

Yeah. That’s a nice sentiment and all, and it’s fine in theory, but as @Tambourine points out, the Congress has been handing over the war powers that it once controlled more and more to the POTUS.
Hear is a good book and discussion (7:46 minute interview for those who don’t read) on this very topic.
'Drift': Rachel Maddow On Why We Go To War

As for the OP, I also agree with @Tambourine , obviously there is a complex of industrial manufacturers who supply the military with their equipment, to the tune of hundreds of billions of dollars each and every year. But to suggest that the brass at the Pentagon has the authority to bring our nation to war against another is non-sensical. Legally Congress (and the POTUS) declare wars (and smaller military actions). In reality over the last 40-50+ years, the PsOTUS have taken us where they want to go, with secondary congressional approval.

 

[Howard Is]

I find it hilarious that the old liberal Military Industrial
Complex conspiracy theory is now a Trump claim.
To blame the military & contractors for what politicians
do is unevidenced, dishonest, & insulting.
Typical Trump...now with liberal support.
It's....Trumptastic!

And the whole scam leaves out any discussion of the Carlyle Group.
Not that I, or anybody, know anything about the Carlyle Group.

 

[Revoltingest]

Yeah. That’s a nice sentiment and all, and it’s fine in theory, but as @Tambourine points out, the Congress has been handing over the war powers that it once controlled more and more to the POTUS.
Hear is a good book and discussion (7:46 minute interview for those who don’t read) on this very topic.
'Drift': Rachel Maddow On Why We Go To War

As for the OP, I also agree with @Tambourine , obviously there is a complex of industrial manufacturers who supply the military with their equipment, to the tune of hundreds of billions of dollars each and every year. But to suggest that the brass at the Pentagon has the authority to bring our nation to war against another is non-sensical. Legally Congress (and the POTUS) declare wars (and smaller military actions). In reality over the last 40-50+ years, the PsOTUS have taken us where they want to go, with secondary congressional approval.

You say "Congress has been handing over the war powers
that it once controlled".
Do you believe bear no responsibility for doing so?

It's not that Congress once did this, & afterwards has no control.
They still regularly vote to authorize war as constitutionally required.
Without this, the President wouldn't be able to legally wage war.
So if there is a MICC (Mil Ind Complex Conspiracy), it would mean
that Congress & Presidents are part of it.
Is there evidence for this?
How does the MICC control the President & Congress?
Given that both Biden & Clinton voted for war, are they part of it?

 

[Revoltingest]

And the whole scam leaves out any discussion of the Carlyle Group.
Not that I, or anybody, know anything about the Carlyle Group.

You're free to elaborate.

 

[Yerda]

Does this mean that sometimes Trump is both honest & right?
Do you think that the President & Congress play any role in waging war?

Generally I think he says whatever suits him at a given time.

Yep I do think they play a role.

Is this to say that you agree that Trump wants war to please contractors?
I mean, is not Trump the ultimate head of the US military?

I'm not sure I follow.

 

[Tambourine]

I mean, is not Trump the ultimate head of the US military?

You would think so, but if we follow Trump's logic, then he was utterly powerless and in no way responsible for what happened in his administration during the four years he was in office as President of the US.

 

[McBell]

Generally I think he says whatever suits him at a given time.

Yep I do think they play a role.

I'm not sure I follow.

The President of the USA is the Commander and Chief of the US Military.
Thus if his claim is true, He has to be involved.
Meaning that if you think his claim is true, you also think he is involved.

That Trump is the Commander and chief of the US Militarty is the main reason I find it to be true.

It is interesting that Trump accuses himself of something right in plain view and so many few people see it, let alone understand it.

 

[McBell]

You would think so, but if we follow Trump's logic, then he was utterly powerless and in no way responsible for what happened in his administration during the four years he was in office as President of the US.

Trump takes credit for only that which he thinks make him look good.
It does not matter if he was even involved.

He does not take responsibility for anything he thinks makes him look bad.

 

[Revoltingest]

The President of the USA is the Commander and Chief of the US Military.
Thus if his claim is true, He has to be involved.
Meaning that if you think his claim is true, you also think he is involved.

That Trump is the Commander and chief of the US Militarty is the main reason I find it to be true.

It is interesting that Trump accuses himself of something right in plain view and so many few people see it, let alone understand it.

Particularly in an election year, nothing has to make sense.
It's all about instilling feelings in susceptible voters.

 

[PureX]

In the news....
War is 'a last resort,' Army chief says after Trump's comments
Excerpted...
The Army's top general defended military leaders on Tuesday after President Donald Trump accused them of going to war to keep defense contractors "happy," saying he and others take the decision to send troops into combat "very, very seriously."
Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville declined to comment specifically on Trump's remarks to reporters on Monday, but defended the Pentagon brass against the accusation that they are beholden to arms manufacturers.
......
The general's comments mark the Pentagon's first public response to Trump's remarks during a combative White House news conference on Monday, in which he said "top people in the Pentagon" probably aren’t “in love with me” because “they want to do nothing but fight wars so that all of those wonderful companies that make the bombs and make the planes and make everything else stay happy.”


Do you agree with Trump that we go to war because
military leaders seek to please contractors?

The military can't go to war of it's own accord for any reason. It has to be sent to war by the legislative branch and the president.

It's true that the U. S. military has been sent into war to keep military contracts very profitable but that's the fault of the House, the Senate, and the president, not the military. The invasion of Iraq being the glaring example.

 

[Tambourine]

I find it hilarious that the old liberal Military Industrial
Complex conspiracy theory is now a Trump claim.
To blame the military & contractors for what politicians
do is unevidenced, dishonest, & insulting.
Typical Trump...now with liberal support.
It's....Trumptastic!

I agree, there are plenty of things the US military should be blamed for, such as the thousands of civilian victims its drone war has been racking up since Trump took office.