Newsweek Discovers 'Spiraling Crises' While Ignoring Who Funds Them
Newsweek's recent reflection, "Bombs Not Bandages: Spiraling Crises in a World of War," laments a world awash in conflict. Yet, like a magic trick, it completely omits the U.S. role in fueling much of it. The piece acts as if bombs simply appear, rather than being manufactured by Lockheed Martin (whose stock, LMT, hit a 52-week high in March 2024 amidst conflicts) and then sold or gifted by a
government whose legislators are heavily invested in defense. For instance, in 2023 alone, the defense industry spent over $120 million on lobbying, per OpenSecrets.org, ensuring bills like the latest aid packages sail through. It's always "spiraling crises," never "spiraling profits" for the select few. This framing conveniently sidesteps the legislative process where politicians, many of whom
like Rep. Steny Hoyer (who received over $100,000 from defense contractors in 2022) are quick to approve escalating military budgets. One might wonder if the "spiraling crises" are just market corrections for the military-industrial complex. How many "crises" contribute to record-breaking defense contracts?