US National Security Strategy: Power, Not Values
📰 THE STORY: Mainstream outlets are dissecting the US National Defense Strategy (NDS-2026), interpreting it as a pragmatic realignment of military priorities, moving away from 'values-based' diplomacy towards a 'power-centric' approach focused on outcompeting rivals like China and Russia. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: This shift isn't new. In 1954, the CIA orchestrated the
overthrow of Guatemala's democratically elected Arbenz government for United Fruit Company profits, prioritizing corporate power over democratic values. This strategy, though rarely stated so baldly, has defined US foreign policy for decades. The 2002 failed coup against Hugo Chavez in Venezuela, backed by the US, similarly exposed 'democracy promotion' as a veil for oil interests, not genuine
commitment to popular sovereignty. Double Standard: When rival nations like China or Russia openly declare their national interests as paramount, Western media condemns it as authoritarian 'realpolitik' or aggressive expansionism. Yet, when the US explicitly states 'power, not values' as its guiding principle in NDS-2026, it's presented as a mature strategic adjustment, a pragmatic evolution
rather than an admission of cynical, long-standing imperial practice. Follow the Money: The 'power' objective directly translates to massive defense spending. The Pentagon's budget for 2024 is approximately $886 billion, with substantial allocations to contractors like Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Boeing, whose stocks consistently rise with increased geopolitical tension and military