PROFITING FROM WAR: HOW THE WEALTHY ARE DOING THIS WITH TAXPAYERS' MONEY

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 This blog is about how wealthy investors profit from the war machine that they perpetuate, even in "peace" times by stirring up discontent that causes governments to divert their citizens' tax dollars to armament manufacturers, and ultimately their own pockets, The blog starts by examining what Lockheed Martin and BAE Systems are currently doing - via their key investors -  to influence that process focusing on  Australia's current radical weaponry expansions post the AUKUS agreement with the United States and United Kingdom. 

It is intend to update this blog on a frequent basis as developments are occurring almost daily.


Introduction

 

“Despite the effort and priority accorded to maintaining a healthy local defence industry, there’s surprisingly little hard data in the public domain about the size and shape of the sector.” Australian Strategic Policy Institute, 2017[1]

 

Extraordinary amounts of Australian public funds flow into the arms industry. It’s an industry described as being ‘awash with money’ often under conditions of secrecy afforded by reference to national security.[2]

 

“Arms corporations in Australia do not need to cultivate influence and a positive image with the public because their main customer is the government. Instead, they make extensive use of the revolving door, backroom lobbying, manipulation of research and policymaking, and supplying information to ‘expert’ commentators who can be relied upon to talk up tensions, arms races and possible war.”[3]

 

“Media outlets regularly invite former military and public officials to comment on U.S. defense policies—without disclosing their financial interests in these policies”.[4]

 

“State capture is the exercise of power by private actors — through control over resources, threat of violence, or other forms of influence — to shape policies or implementation in service of their narrow interest” (World Bank 2017).[5]

 

“The classical Marxist theory of imperialism explains that due to capitalist competition the world becomes a battleground where major powers whose giant companies have outgrown national borders fight for control. As the Marxist theorist Bukharin put it: ‘The struggle between state capitalist trusts is decided in the first place by the relation between their military forces, for the military power of the country is the last resort of the struggling ‘national’ groups of capitalists.’”[6]


[2] 7 Examples include Australian strategy in an age of coyness, Rod Lyon, 16 March 2016, https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/australian-strategy-in-an-age-of-coyness/ ; and Australian government rejects Airbus Helicopters A$3 billion savings offer, Kym Bergmann, 7 October 2020. https://asiapacificdefencereporter.com/government-rejects-airbus-helicopters-a3-billion-savings-offer/


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