US Defense Industry Discovers Rare Earths Outside China — For War
Bloomberg breathlessly reports that Niron Magnetics and Moog Inc. are teaming up to develop rare-earth-free magnets for 'sensitive systems' like guided munitions. (Because what’s more 'sensitive' than precision-guided death?) The article frames this as breaking free from China's rare earth dominance, a noble pursuit if ever there was one. But it conveniently side-steps the obvious. These
'sensitive systems' are the very instruments of destruction, often peddled globally, including to allies who then use them to commit atrocities. OpenSecrets.org shows Moog Inc. PAC donated $39,000 to federal candidates in 2022, with a strong tilt towards defense-friendly legislators, ensuring plenty of 'sensitive systems' are always in demand. So, the US defense industry wants its conflict
minerals domestically sourced for maximum war-making efficiency. One might wonder if the push for 'less reliance on China' is less about ethical sourcing and more about uninterrupted supply lines for the next proxy war. How many more 'sensitive systems' will be funded before we ask about the human cost?