Defending the indefensible

There is the ‘military-industrial complex’ in every developed country, of course: millions of jobs and billions in profits. But that still depends on a perception of threat, even if the threat isn’t really there. What really makes this nonsense plausible is a very ancient mindset.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell explained that the disputed defence appropriations bill 'will cement our advantage on the seas, on land, in the air, in cyberspace and in space,' but you have to ask: an advantage that enables the United States to do what, asks Gwynne Dyer. Caricature courtesy of Commons Wikimedia

Opinion

BY GWYNNE DYER

December 31, 2020

LONDON, U.K.—The recent war between Armenia and Azerbaijan made sense, in an old-fashioned way. The dispute was about territory—borders that were drawn almost a century ago by a Russian dictator, Joseph Stalin—and Azerbaijan had lost the last war and a lot of land. So the Azerbaijanis spent a...

To keep reading, subscribe and become a political insider.

Only $7.76 a week for an annual subscription.

Enjoy unlimited website access and the digital newspaper.

Cancel anytime.

Already a Subscriber?

Get Weekend Point of View Newsletter

A round up of the past weekâ€™s opinion writers and columnists on Saturdays and Sundays.

By entering your email address you consent to receive email from The Hill Times containing news, analysis, updates and offers. You may unsubscribe at any time. See our privacy policy