Power Problems
Arms, Influence, and the Military Industrial Complex
Jan 9, 2024
William Hartung, an expert on the military industrial complex, discusses the problem of retired military officials working for the arms industry and its impact on U.S. foreign policy. Other topics include China's military buildup, the Pentagon's inability to pass an audit, and the need to shift focus towards addressing citizen needs and rebuilding the nation.
41:02
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Quick takeaways
- Retired military officials joining the arms industry creates conflicts of interest and influences policy and budget decisions, necessitating legislative and regulatory reforms.
- Increased military spending is not automatically warranted to address China's military buildup, highlighting the importance of diplomacy and a comprehensive strategy.
Deep dives
The Problem of the Revolving Door Between Military Officials and the Arms Industry
The podcast explores the issue of retired military officials entering the arms industry as lobbyists, board members, and consultants, creating conflicts of interest and influencing policy and budget decisions. It discusses a report that reveals over 1700 senior government and military officials joined top weapons contractors between 2014 and 2019. The discussion highlights the historical and ongoing nature of this problem, the potential impact on the judgment of senior officials, and the need for legislative and regulatory reforms to address this issue.
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