| | '''Perpetual war''' is a term used to criticize pro-[[war]] policies that lead to nearly endless military conflicts, which benefits the [[military-industrial complex]], their overpaid executives and stockholders, while hurting virtually everyone else. It is basically a [[money laundering]] scam to transfer [[money]] from [[taxpayer]]s and the public at large into the hands of [[oligarch]]s and a [[technocratic]] class. | | '''Perpetual war''' is a term used to criticize pro-[[war]] policies that lead to nearly endless military conflicts, which benefits the [[military-industrial complex]], their overpaid executives and stockholders, while hurting virtually everyone else. It is basically a [[money laundering]] scam to transfer [[money]] from [[taxpayer]]s and the public at large into the hands of [[oligarch]]s and a [[technocratic]] class. |
| − | [[Neocon]]s are criticized by [[Rand Paul]] and others for promoting policies that lead to perpetual war. | + | [[Neocon]]s are criticized by [[Rand Paul]] and others for promoting policies that lead to perpetual war. [[Progressive]]s like [[Graham Platner]], the [[Dem]] nominee for [[U.S. Senate]] in [[Maine]] in 2026, also also outspoken opponents of perpetual war. |
| | In September 2023, Ukrainian dictator [[Volodymyr Zelensky]], who cancelled [[democracy|democratic]] elections, visited [[Washington, D.C.|Washington]] to [[Ukraine aid|beg for more aid]] after the [[Ukrainian military]] had been [[2023 Ukraine counteroffensive|defeated in the field]]. Hawley remarked to the press, "If there’s some path to victory in [[Ukraine]], I didn’t hear it today...And I also heard that there’s going to be no end to the funding requests...What we were basically told is buckle up and get out your checkbook...It’s [[American]] people’s money...They’ve spent $115 billion, and, so far, they have basically nothing to show for it...Take out Ukraine, insert [[Iraq]] or [[Afghanistan]], and you would get exactly what [[George W. Bush]] said for years – and other people after him – about why we have to stay indefinitely in those countries and keep spending [[money]] indefinitely, with no oversight...It’s the same recycled argument...We shouldn’t be spending a dime more on Ukraine”.<ref>[https://english.alahednews.com.lb/73478/393 US: WH Issues Ukraine Aid Warning], Alahednews,. September 20, 2023.</ref> | | In September 2023, Ukrainian dictator [[Volodymyr Zelensky]], who cancelled [[democracy|democratic]] elections, visited [[Washington, D.C.|Washington]] to [[Ukraine aid|beg for more aid]] after the [[Ukrainian military]] had been [[2023 Ukraine counteroffensive|defeated in the field]]. Hawley remarked to the press, "If there’s some path to victory in [[Ukraine]], I didn’t hear it today...And I also heard that there’s going to be no end to the funding requests...What we were basically told is buckle up and get out your checkbook...It’s [[American]] people’s money...They’ve spent $115 billion, and, so far, they have basically nothing to show for it...Take out Ukraine, insert [[Iraq]] or [[Afghanistan]], and you would get exactly what [[George W. Bush]] said for years – and other people after him – about why we have to stay indefinitely in those countries and keep spending [[money]] indefinitely, with no oversight...It’s the same recycled argument...We shouldn’t be spending a dime more on Ukraine”.<ref>[https://english.alahednews.com.lb/73478/393 US: WH Issues Ukraine Aid Warning], Alahednews,. September 20, 2023.</ref> |