The military-industrial complex is commonly used to understand the close relationship between the government, military, and other private sector industries that produce armaments. It can be regarded as a symbiotic relationship[1], in which both sides mutually benefit from the conflict, as the weapon production industries get paid for the supply, and the other side benefits by using those weapons. This is something lethal.

Throughout history and even in the current scenario there are a number of conflicts where hegemons have and still are benefiting by fueling the conflict. In short, they earn on dead bodies.

For instance, during WW1, The United States gained by rising to the top of the global industrial, economic, and commercial arenas. The government established additional agencies and programs to support the war effort, which resulted in the creation of more federal workers than the US had ever had. The war also helped to kick-start the economy. Between 1914 and 1917, manufacturing increased by 40% while the US GNP rose by 20%[2]. Compared to twenty million Central Power bonds, the Allied Powers acquired almost three billion dollars in wartime orders and borrowed over two billion dollars in bonds.

During WW2, Once more, the United States gained by rising to the top of the global industrial, economic, and commercial arenas[3]. By reviving the economy, the switch to military manufacturing contributed to the end of the Great Depression. To help the war effort, the government established additional agencies and programs, creating more federal personnel than the country had ever had. George S. Patton, George C. Marshall, and Dwight D. Eisenhower all had their military careers shaped by the conflict.

Now, we can see a symbiotic relationship between America and Israel, specifically, a symbiotic military alliance. Israel and the United States have a close alliance and collaboration based on a shared commitment to democracy, economic growth, and regional security[4]. Since the 1960s, the United governments has been an ardent backer of Israel and has been instrumental in fostering positive ties between Israel and the Arab governments that surround it. Israel has also received substantial military support from the US, including finance, equipment, and technology.

The US Department of State claims that there has never been a greater unbreakable link between the two nations[5]. Israel is the country that has received the most foreign aid from the US overall. Up to February 2022, the US has given Israel bilateral assistance totaling US$150 billion (not adjusted for inflation). The United States signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 1999, pledging to give Israel military aid worth at least US$2.67 billion a year for the next ten years; in 2009, the annual amount was increased to US$3 billion; and in 2019, the amount was raised once more, to a minimum of US $3.8 billion, which the US is now committed to giving Israel annually.

Today, both sides are benefiting from Israel’s invasion of Gaza. Executives from Raytheon and General Dynamics, two companies in the arms sector, have been open about how the Israeli attack on Gaza will benefit their companies. Defense contractors will surely profit from the conflict; their business has already boomed as a result of Russia’s war in Ukraine, which increased demand for fighter planes, missiles, tanks, artillery, ammunition, and bombs. Since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, stocks of Defence Companies RTX (previously known as Raytheon) and General Dynamics, the country’s second and third largest federal government contractors, have increased by more than 10 percent[6].

The pattern fits into a larger upward trend in defense company stock performance.

According to Frida Berrigan, author of Made in the U.S.A.: American Military Aid to Israel[7], “Financial pressures from a U.S. military-industrial complex accustomed to billions of dollars in sales to Israel and other Middle Eastern nations locked in a seemingly perpetual arms race with each other by all buying American and using Foreign Military Financing (FMF) to pay the bills” are a major obstacle to any shift in American policy towards Palestine-Israel.

However, a strong critique of the military-industrial complex and armaments producers, whom he charges with stoking conflicts for financial gain, is Pope Francis[8]. He has issued several warnings against the perils of the arms trade and its catastrophic effects on innocent lives. In his lectures, he demanded that the arms trade be stopped and that international leaders intervene to avert conflicts by disarmament[9].

The military-industrial complex gains a competitive edge in conflicts by producing and delivering armaments and military hardware. Similar to what happened during World Wars I and II, the United States rose to prominence in commerce, industry, and economics, which sparked an expansion of government agencies and programs and boosted the economy.

Furthermore, since the 1960s, the United States has been a steadfast ally of Israel, giving it financial backing as well as substantial military hardware and technology. Executives in the arms sector from Raytheon and General Dynamics have openly discussed how the Israeli attack on Gaza proves beneficial for business. We must now vigorously promote disarmament and peace, demanding an end to the arms trade and pressing international leaders to act to avert wars because this Industrial Complex is nothing but an Industry of Death.

References:

[1] Study.com. “Symbiotic Relationship: Definition & Examples – Video & Lesson Transcript | Study.com,” 2019. https://study.com/academy/lesson/symbiotic-relationship-definition-examples-quiz.html.

[2] www.revisionist.net. “Profiting from World War One: The Fortunes of the Bankers Who Financed Both Sides.” Accessed December 25, 2023. http://www.revisionist.net/hysteria/bankers.html#inbox/_blank.

[3] www.revisionist.net. “Profiting from World War One: The Fortunes of the Bankers Who Financed Both Sides.” Accessed December 25, 2023. http://www.revisionist.net/hysteria/bankers.html#inbox/_blank.

[4] United States Department of State. “The United States-Israel Relationship,” March 26, 2022. https://www.state.gov/the-united-states-israel-relationship/.

[5] Verma, Nitish. “Israel and the US: A Symbiotic Military Alliance.” BNN Breaking, October 8, 2023. https://bnnbreaking.com/world/us/israel-and-the-us-a-symbiotic-military-alliance/.

[6] jacobin.com. “Military Contractors Are Framing the Israeli War on Gaza as a Win for Investors,” n.d. https://jacobin.com/2023/10/raytheon-general-dynamics-gaza-israel-war-military-industrial-complex.

[7] Sandoval, Brandon. “CUNY Academic Works CUNY Academic Works,” n.d. https://academicworks.cuny.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2020&context=cc_etds_theses.

[8] NCR. “‘Industry of Death’: Pope Francis on Arms Dealers and Causes of World War III,” February 9, 2016. https://www.ncregister.com/news/industry-of-death-pope-francis-on-arms-dealers-and-causes-of-world-war-iii.

[9] Reuters. “Pope Francis Suggests Those in Weapons Industry Can’t Call Themselves Christian.” the Guardian, June 22, 2015. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jun/22/pope-francis-says-those-in-weapons-industry-cant-call-themselves-christian.