Why Conservatives Must Oppose Military Statism

The core creed of modern conservatism is the maintenance of vigilance against big government, yet few conservatives recognize that its most wasteful and corrupt manifestation is seen in unchecked military statism.While I have nothing but respect for the brave men and women of our armed forces, the amount of waste that plagues the Department of Defense and other military bureaucracies is staggering. In fact on 9/10/2001, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld declared that the Pentagon was unable to track $2.3 TRILLION in transactions! The incestuous relationship between the military and politically connected corporations may very well constitute the most egregious example of corporate welfare and crony capitalism. Such a relationship provides powerful incentives for military related firms to lobby for aggressive foreign and military policies, even when such actions are contrary to national interests.