America’s War Games (2008)
In the shadow of the Cold War’s aftermath, America’s War Games dissects the colossal machinery of the United States’ military spending. The numbers are staggering: the US accounts for approximately 40 percent of the world’s total military expenditures, dwarfing the combined budgets of the next thirteen countries. In 2012 alone, the US poured a staggering $682 billion into its defense apparatus, a sum surpassing the collective spending of its closest rivals.
The film navigates the post-Iraq War landscape, where the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan looms on the horizon. One might assume that a “peace dividend” would follow—a redirection of funds toward pressing domestic issues. However, the reality is starkly different. A battle to safeguard the Pentagon’s budget has erupted, and the prospects of substantial cuts seem dim.
Enter the iron triangle, a symbiotic alliance between the private sector, defense contractors, the executive branch (represented by the Pentagon), and the legislative branch. This intricate dance ensures that everyone benefits: the Pentagon acquires weapons, defense companies rake in profits, and politicians secure re-election by supporting arms deals that generate jobs and campaign contributions. The result? A bloated defense budget teeming with weapons—many of which are underestimated in their future costs.
Chuck Spinney, a former analyst in the US secretary of defense’s office, echoes President Dwight Eisenhower’s warning about the military-industrial complex. Spinney contends that the US struggles to reap the rewards of a peace dividend due to this entrenched system. The Pentagon’s base defense budget, even without additional funds for the Afghan war, remains above the Cold War average and near its highest level since World War II.
Sequestration—a mandate to slash defense spending by $500 billion over a decade—has triggered dire warnings from Pentagon officials, defense companies, and conservative commentators. Yet, critics argue that even after these cuts, the defense budget remains robust. The allure of expensive procurement projects persists, perpetuating a cycle of excess.
America’s War Games serves as a wake-up call, urging viewers to question the status quo. As the military juggernaut rolls on, it prompts us to consider the true cost of maintaining such power. Can we break free from the iron triangle’s grip and redirect resources toward a more balanced future? The answers lie not only in policy debates but also in our collective consciousness.
