Outstanding piece, Bill. Very much appreciate the extended quote from Dr Forte’s article.
The short answer to Your question “Will Pentagon Spending Ever Decrease?” is NO.
At least not until there is a Revolution that overthrows America’s system of Government and Governance that enables a MICIMAT3 to even exist in the first place, let alone thrive. And the likelihood of that happening is slim to none.
Based on what has happened in the first six weeks of TRUMP 2.0, there is every reason to believe that this Nation is as close to a fully functional, autocratic, plutocratic, oligarchic, patriarchal, totalitarian Dictatorship as it has ever been in its 248+ year history; including the Great Depression/New Deal/World War II era of the last century, and the Civil War the century before.
And one can rest assured that the MICIMAT3 will be a major player in that Dictatorship.
The first six weeks of Team Trumusk have been a masterfully planned and executed Psychological Warfare Operation to determine just exactly how able and willing the American Peoples are to accept ~ and to just get on with the rest of their lives in ~ a Dictatorship.
All of which leads me to ask myself ~ and to ask other Americans to ask themselves ~ the following questions:
1. What ~ if anything ~ can be done to prevent that Dictatorship from happening? Or is it already too late to stop it?
2. Will the United States survive to celebrate its 250th Birthday on July 4, 2026, 487 days from today? And if it does, will the American Peoples be in any condition or mood to celebrate anything?
3. Has “The Decline” of The American Empire ended, and “The Fall” begun? And with it, the end of the Experiment that is The United States of America?
Interesting article Bill, especially since I tweeted this version of the same thing in other words to Morning Joe of MSNBC earlier this morning listening to the show in the living room as I'm at the computer in the kitchen when they were so upset Vance called England a "random" Nation.
Being CanaDian, I had to respond;
@Morning_Joe
As a Canadian who wakes up daily to watch your show, I feel compelled to share my perspective on your version of “America First”—a concept that long predates Trump’s version. Living my 81st year, I’ve witnessed much of modern history unfold, and I see clearly the many Sins of Historical Omission in your narratives.
Your discussions about the “special relationship” with Great Britain often overlook the deeper roots of this dynamic. England was “England First” during its 247-year Global Empire, and the U.S. inherited the Imperial mantle after World War II, becoming the dominant military-economic superpower.
This is the true basis of your perceived special relationship—not some unique bond, but a continuation of Imperial Legacy.
What’s missing from your analysis is the understanding that this pattern began with the first biblical military-economic superpower: Babylon, now known as Iraq. If you’re genuine investigative journalists, this moment in my personal history should awaken you to the broader context.
In 1976, during America’s bicentennial celebrations, as a CanaDian I walked into The Kansas City Times, a complete unknown, and they published the first of two reports on September 13, 1976. The follow-up was published on All Souls Day, November 2, 1976. These articles chronicled the signs of the times that the world is now facing, 49 years later.
These are brief excerpt from what they published September 13, 1976, “He came to town for the Republican National Convention and will stay until the election in November TO DO GOD'S BIDDING: To tell the World, from Kansas City, this country has been found wanting and its days are numbered [...] He gestured toward a gleaming church dome. “The gold dome is the symbol of BABYLON,” he said.” [...] He wanted to bring to the Public’s attention an “idea being put out subtly and deceptively” by the government that we have to get prepared for a War with Russia.”
That 1976 FUTURE is NOW with the Revelation of the details GENERALLY unfolding in the spirit of the letter. The World is waking up to see Americans may hasten “its days are numbered” part of the 1976 Vision, and waits with bated breath.
It’s also a fact of my Life during that 1976 Republican National Convention, the Secret Service pulled me out of a compressed crowd of delirious Republicans in the lobby of the Crown Center Hotel for questioning. I was led to stand at the President’s podium, in full view of the crowd and live broadcasts by CBS, NBC, and ABC. With shoulder-length hair, a beard, and my trademark #13 jersey, it was a revolutionary image for the Spirit of ’76.
FYI, Canada, with a much smaller population than England, lost 158 soldiers in your 20-year war in Afghanistan—one of the poorest countries on Earth. The only winners in that war were U.S. arms merchants and Contractors. Canadians fought in World War I and World War II two years before the U.S. entered those conflicts.
Canada refused to join the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq because it violated International law—the same Law you now invoke to demonize Russia. Such blatant hypocrisy only makes the world a more fearful and dangerous place. In biblical terms, this is the beginning of the great tribulation. You demonize Trump for attempting a détente with Russia, yet making peace requires dialogue, and dialogue requires an end to verbal demonization before the military hostility ends. As a self-proclaimed Christian, Joe, you should understand this fundamental truth.
Among your sins of omission is the failure to acknowledge that the Russians paid a far higher price than Americans to defeat Hitler. The only reason they reached Berlin was as allies to the West, with the U.S. supplying weapons. After the war, industrialists in the arms industry understood that the end of war meant the end of their gravy train. A new enemy had to be designated quickly to keep the arms merchants in business. Russia became that enemy, and U.S. domestic propaganda ensured Americans equated anti-Russian sentiment with patriotism. The Russians liberated Auschwitz but the petty, small minded US/NATO won't even invite Russia to participate in the annual commemorations.
In 1962, the US initiated the 1st Act of WAR because of Russian missiles in Cuba. The US isn't that exceptional. Russia feels the exact same way about US missiles in Ukraine right on Russia's border.
There’s one serious matter of optics that people like you in the mainstream media aren’t covering—a grave sin of omission. Trump claims his motivation is to prevent the tragedy and hell of war, lamenting the loss of life. Yet, while he expresses concern for Ukrainian lives, he gives Israel the green light to unleash hell in Gaza.
This double standard risks leading humanity to Armageddon—the great day of the battle of God Almighty, as described in Revelation. The Middle East is already shaping up as the battleground, with Jewish Israel, Christian America, and the Muslim states poised for conflict. What could go wrong when the plans of the wise are brought to nothing?
Finally, let’s not forget what Canada did for you in Afghanistan with 158 CanaDian Troops killed—a war that was yours, not ours. Now, the U.S. has declared economic war on Canada with tariffs, deliberately aiming to cause a recession, if not worse. The economic damage could soon become irrevocable for both our nations and the world. For decades, we’ve been each other’s best customers and friends.
"It ain't rocket science": The doctrine of "American Exceptionalism" is utterly INSANE. The US has no "moral" authority whatsoever to impose its will on the whole planet, and furthermore it cannot succeed in this mad endeavor. Mr. Hitler had a similar vision, yes, for his "Master Race"? Didn't turn out according to his plan. Trump remains beholden to Israel to retain the votes of the US "Evangelicals." This does indeed make an assault on Iran a very real threat.
Trump's U.S. has strongly suggested Ukraine give up its territory currently occupied by Russia’s military. I suggest that the former party relinquish territory it holds outside of the continental United States before it expects/asks Ukrainians to relinquish to Putin’s Russia a sizeable chunk of territory that actually belongs to Ukraine.
(China has similarly suggested that Ukraine let go of the occupied territory as part of a permanent ceasefire settlement/deal with Russia. Perhaps China should give up on Taiwan, which is an independent nation, before it asks Ukrainians to sacrifice territory that actually belongs to them.)
Nah, the U.S. (and China) won't be doing that. They even likely wouldn't give up any territory if they were in Ukraine's situation. That's for suckers.
As for Russia, Vladimir Putin pathetically hypocritically criticizes then punishes Ukraine's people when the latter's military dares to strike back against Russia's campaign of deliberate targeting and killing of civilians and destruction of infrastructure with barrages of missiles or drones. According to his own words, Putin is astonished and angry, as though the Ukrainians really have no moral right to self-defense!
Of course, Putin will absurdly justify its first-strike attacks against Ukrainian civilians as a necessity of ‘de-nazifying’ their democratically elected government. But he should first ‘de-nazify' Russia's Kremlin — and especially his own presidency! Notably, the far-right AfD party of Germany supports, or at least sympathizes with, Putin's Russia, and vice versa. (Or are they simply each other's Useful Idiot?)
It's utterly naive to think that fascistic conduct is somehow less offensive if its perpetrator is not externally considered to be or tagged by the West as "neo Nazi".
Nevertheless, it all reveals a great yet misplaced sense of entitlement held by Putin’s Russia. And China and definitely Trump's America. They indeed are the high-school bully whose concept of his fair share is always three-quarters of the pie. Also worrisome for the little guy is when the bully is perfectly fine or even proud of the fact.
No, not until we "decrease" THEM. Our political class is overrun with corrupt, warmongering, misguided and misinformed fools -- both sides of the aisle -- all one way or the other on the payroll of the military establishment. Until we oust them, nothing will change.
The first thing Trump will have to do ~ if he does indeed cut off all military and economic aid and assistance to Ukraine ~ is figure out how to ensure that the MICIMAT3 maintains its cash flow, profit margins, and return on investments in the elected politicians [starting with him], entrenched bureaucrats, and anointed appointees in Washington, DC.
If that doesn't happen, the next bullet won't just nick his ear, but take the front top half of his skull off.
Outstanding piece, Bill. Very much appreciate the extended quote from Dr Forte’s article.
The short answer to Your question “Will Pentagon Spending Ever Decrease?” is NO.
At least not until there is a Revolution that overthrows America’s system of Government and Governance that enables a MICIMAT3 to even exist in the first place, let alone thrive. And the likelihood of that happening is slim to none.
Based on what has happened in the first six weeks of TRUMP 2.0, there is every reason to believe that this Nation is as close to a fully functional, autocratic, plutocratic, oligarchic, patriarchal, totalitarian Dictatorship as it has ever been in its 248+ year history; including the Great Depression/New Deal/World War II era of the last century, and the Civil War the century before.
And one can rest assured that the MICIMAT3 will be a major player in that Dictatorship.
The first six weeks of Team Trumusk have been a masterfully planned and executed Psychological Warfare Operation to determine just exactly how able and willing the American Peoples are to accept ~ and to just get on with the rest of their lives in ~ a Dictatorship.
All of which leads me to ask myself ~ and to ask other Americans to ask themselves ~ the following questions:
1. What ~ if anything ~ can be done to prevent that Dictatorship from happening? Or is it already too late to stop it?
2. Will the United States survive to celebrate its 250th Birthday on July 4, 2026, 487 days from today? And if it does, will the American Peoples be in any condition or mood to celebrate anything?
3. Has “The Decline” of The American Empire ended, and “The Fall” begun? And with it, the end of the Experiment that is The United States of America?
Interesting article Bill, especially since I tweeted this version of the same thing in other words to Morning Joe of MSNBC earlier this morning listening to the show in the living room as I'm at the computer in the kitchen when they were so upset Vance called England a "random" Nation.
Being CanaDian, I had to respond;
@Morning_Joe
As a Canadian who wakes up daily to watch your show, I feel compelled to share my perspective on your version of “America First”—a concept that long predates Trump’s version. Living my 81st year, I’ve witnessed much of modern history unfold, and I see clearly the many Sins of Historical Omission in your narratives.
Your discussions about the “special relationship” with Great Britain often overlook the deeper roots of this dynamic. England was “England First” during its 247-year Global Empire, and the U.S. inherited the Imperial mantle after World War II, becoming the dominant military-economic superpower.
This is the true basis of your perceived special relationship—not some unique bond, but a continuation of Imperial Legacy.
What’s missing from your analysis is the understanding that this pattern began with the first biblical military-economic superpower: Babylon, now known as Iraq. If you’re genuine investigative journalists, this moment in my personal history should awaken you to the broader context.
In 1976, during America’s bicentennial celebrations, as a CanaDian I walked into The Kansas City Times, a complete unknown, and they published the first of two reports on September 13, 1976. The follow-up was published on All Souls Day, November 2, 1976. These articles chronicled the signs of the times that the world is now facing, 49 years later.
These are brief excerpt from what they published September 13, 1976, “He came to town for the Republican National Convention and will stay until the election in November TO DO GOD'S BIDDING: To tell the World, from Kansas City, this country has been found wanting and its days are numbered [...] He gestured toward a gleaming church dome. “The gold dome is the symbol of BABYLON,” he said.” [...] He wanted to bring to the Public’s attention an “idea being put out subtly and deceptively” by the government that we have to get prepared for a War with Russia.”
That 1976 FUTURE is NOW with the Revelation of the details GENERALLY unfolding in the spirit of the letter. The World is waking up to see Americans may hasten “its days are numbered” part of the 1976 Vision, and waits with bated breath.
It’s also a fact of my Life during that 1976 Republican National Convention, the Secret Service pulled me out of a compressed crowd of delirious Republicans in the lobby of the Crown Center Hotel for questioning. I was led to stand at the President’s podium, in full view of the crowd and live broadcasts by CBS, NBC, and ABC. With shoulder-length hair, a beard, and my trademark #13 jersey, it was a revolutionary image for the Spirit of ’76.
FYI, Canada, with a much smaller population than England, lost 158 soldiers in your 20-year war in Afghanistan—one of the poorest countries on Earth. The only winners in that war were U.S. arms merchants and Contractors. Canadians fought in World War I and World War II two years before the U.S. entered those conflicts.
Canada refused to join the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq because it violated International law—the same Law you now invoke to demonize Russia. Such blatant hypocrisy only makes the world a more fearful and dangerous place. In biblical terms, this is the beginning of the great tribulation. You demonize Trump for attempting a détente with Russia, yet making peace requires dialogue, and dialogue requires an end to verbal demonization before the military hostility ends. As a self-proclaimed Christian, Joe, you should understand this fundamental truth.
Among your sins of omission is the failure to acknowledge that the Russians paid a far higher price than Americans to defeat Hitler. The only reason they reached Berlin was as allies to the West, with the U.S. supplying weapons. After the war, industrialists in the arms industry understood that the end of war meant the end of their gravy train. A new enemy had to be designated quickly to keep the arms merchants in business. Russia became that enemy, and U.S. domestic propaganda ensured Americans equated anti-Russian sentiment with patriotism. The Russians liberated Auschwitz but the petty, small minded US/NATO won't even invite Russia to participate in the annual commemorations.
In 1962, the US initiated the 1st Act of WAR because of Russian missiles in Cuba. The US isn't that exceptional. Russia feels the exact same way about US missiles in Ukraine right on Russia's border.
There’s one serious matter of optics that people like you in the mainstream media aren’t covering—a grave sin of omission. Trump claims his motivation is to prevent the tragedy and hell of war, lamenting the loss of life. Yet, while he expresses concern for Ukrainian lives, he gives Israel the green light to unleash hell in Gaza.
This double standard risks leading humanity to Armageddon—the great day of the battle of God Almighty, as described in Revelation. The Middle East is already shaping up as the battleground, with Jewish Israel, Christian America, and the Muslim states poised for conflict. What could go wrong when the plans of the wise are brought to nothing?
Finally, let’s not forget what Canada did for you in Afghanistan with 158 CanaDian Troops killed—a war that was yours, not ours. Now, the U.S. has declared economic war on Canada with tariffs, deliberately aiming to cause a recession, if not worse. The economic damage could soon become irrevocable for both our nations and the world. For decades, we’ve been each other’s best customers and friends.
Why now? And for what reasons?
Canada should be punished for the wars it has participated in. Trump's actions just make it ironic.
Here's a different perspective on the Trump-Zelenskyy meeting: https://www.tiktok.com/@itvnews/video/7477622016900599062
And a more completed one is at https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=567403759651342 .
The most complete is https://youtu.be/CUpOMSJ1MdU
"It ain't rocket science": The doctrine of "American Exceptionalism" is utterly INSANE. The US has no "moral" authority whatsoever to impose its will on the whole planet, and furthermore it cannot succeed in this mad endeavor. Mr. Hitler had a similar vision, yes, for his "Master Race"? Didn't turn out according to his plan. Trump remains beholden to Israel to retain the votes of the US "Evangelicals." This does indeed make an assault on Iran a very real threat.
The US has had the "liberation" of Iran ~ and its Natural Resources ~ in the planning phase since 1979, and the overthrow of The Shah.
Trump's U.S. has strongly suggested Ukraine give up its territory currently occupied by Russia’s military. I suggest that the former party relinquish territory it holds outside of the continental United States before it expects/asks Ukrainians to relinquish to Putin’s Russia a sizeable chunk of territory that actually belongs to Ukraine.
(China has similarly suggested that Ukraine let go of the occupied territory as part of a permanent ceasefire settlement/deal with Russia. Perhaps China should give up on Taiwan, which is an independent nation, before it asks Ukrainians to sacrifice territory that actually belongs to them.)
Nah, the U.S. (and China) won't be doing that. They even likely wouldn't give up any territory if they were in Ukraine's situation. That's for suckers.
As for Russia, Vladimir Putin pathetically hypocritically criticizes then punishes Ukraine's people when the latter's military dares to strike back against Russia's campaign of deliberate targeting and killing of civilians and destruction of infrastructure with barrages of missiles or drones. According to his own words, Putin is astonished and angry, as though the Ukrainians really have no moral right to self-defense!
Of course, Putin will absurdly justify its first-strike attacks against Ukrainian civilians as a necessity of ‘de-nazifying’ their democratically elected government. But he should first ‘de-nazify' Russia's Kremlin — and especially his own presidency! Notably, the far-right AfD party of Germany supports, or at least sympathizes with, Putin's Russia, and vice versa. (Or are they simply each other's Useful Idiot?)
It's utterly naive to think that fascistic conduct is somehow less offensive if its perpetrator is not externally considered to be or tagged by the West as "neo Nazi".
Nevertheless, it all reveals a great yet misplaced sense of entitlement held by Putin’s Russia. And China and definitely Trump's America. They indeed are the high-school bully whose concept of his fair share is always three-quarters of the pie. Also worrisome for the little guy is when the bully is perfectly fine or even proud of the fact.
MMT means American money is endless until it can't handle inflation.
"Will Pentagon Spending Ever Decrease?"
No, not until we "decrease" THEM. Our political class is overrun with corrupt, warmongering, misguided and misinformed fools -- both sides of the aisle -- all one way or the other on the payroll of the military establishment. Until we oust them, nothing will change.
https://warismakinguspoor.com/a-nation-at-peace/
The first thing Trump will have to do ~ if he does indeed cut off all military and economic aid and assistance to Ukraine ~ is figure out how to ensure that the MICIMAT3 maintains its cash flow, profit margins, and return on investments in the elected politicians [starting with him], entrenched bureaucrats, and anointed appointees in Washington, DC.
If that doesn't happen, the next bullet won't just nick his ear, but take the front top half of his skull off.