dave you know what happens on the ground i know i know that we help people the people on the ground i know that we killed evil terrorists and insurgents that systematically tortured and raped and murdered the innocent local populace i know that we did that i know that we were able to protect children from these insurgents from these terrorists i know we were able to protect families i know that those families wanted these insurgents out of their city and out of their country and so while there were defense companies certainly making money there was a simultaneous good that was taking place then we took lives but we also saved lives and that’s the truth enriching global corporations and enriching the military-industrial complex that enrichment certainly influences behaviors right it influences someone that’s making a weapon system to try and make their weapon system better to try and make better body armor there’s a there’s someone right now as we speak that is trying to make better body armor and part of the reason they’re trying to make it is to protect the american soldier but guess what they got a mortgage to pay and they want to make better better body armor because they want to make more money and if they can make better body armor then the us government goes wow that’s lighter it’s stronger it provides more protection we’re gonna buy it it’s not that the person is just thinking about money but the money the the the two goals are aligned there’s a simultaneous drive that is that is moving behavior in the right direction and often times like i just use that example body armor they’re aligned with this company out there acme body armor they want to make best body armor and they want to make it do they want to protect americans yes they do do they want to make money yes they do so i have no problem with that if they’re aligned it works out perfectly here’s the problem the problem is if they’re out of alignment that’s where it can become awful and that’s what we need to watch out for what is the driving force behind going to war are we going to work is the right thing to do are we going to war for benevolent reasons are are we positive that it will have a a positive impact that will offset the natural negative impacts of war because when you go on a war there’s going to be negative impacts people are going to die people are going to get wounded and is the positive impact going to offset that negative impact is it going to help stability in the world is there a strategic benefit for us as america if we’re going to war for those reasons because there’s going to be a strategic advantage because it protects our national security because it’s going to be truly good for the people on the ground that need protection that need help to get out from a tyrannical a tyrannical regime or an evil regime and there are evil regimes and if you don’t think there’s evil regimes you’re wrong because there’s people in the world there’s regimes in the world that will systematically rape little kids so if we’re going to war for those reasons okay it’s we can consider it if the primary driver of going to war is to make money if it’s the profit if it’s to sell more guns and bombs if it’s not going to stabilize the world if it doesn’t help us protect our national security if it’s going to be a strategic defeat then we’re wrong and can there be alignment by these two drivers yes there absolutely can i don’t mind i don’t mind someone making great body armor making money off i don’t make i don’t mind somebody making a great weapon system that makes a bunch of money and it helps us win a war i have no problem with that at all but if these things aren’t aligned and we’re fighting for money or we’re fighting for profit and we’re not getting positive impact and we’re not getting strategic benefit well then we need to listen to major general smedley butler and say to hell with one
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