I am Confused on an Issue...?, page 1

Originally posted by FritosBBQTwist
No links. No current events. Just a question or two about PAST events countries like the U.S does involving war really.

The U.S have had its fair share of wars, small or big. Most people on ATS can see that this is usually for either

a) Big Business
b) To start a democracy (Possibly make an ally?)
c) Strings being pulled by a higher up group

Just a) in fact. Wars to start a 'democracy' are usually funded by big business, the higher groups that pull the strings, are generally big business. With perhaps, the exception of the current situation in Israel/Palestine, there are no truly, authentic, territorial wars anymore, and even in that circumstance, the situation is only 'tolerated' by big business because it is to their advantage in some way for them not to get involved. However, in my estimation, it seems likely that 'subversives' working for some global concern will have had some hand in exacerbating the situation.

In terms of economic booms created by war, the clearest and best documented example, for me, is the way in which Germany was utilised after the first war. Although the US was in the midst of a depression and desperately in need of inward investment, major corporations and individuals chose to invest in the German economy, simply because under Hitler, they were promised rapid industrial expansion which would lead to an incredible return on their investment. By supporting Hitler and investing in his expansion East, knowing that companies in Poland etc would be up for grabs for peanuts added additional incentive.

For the bankers who in the most part handled these investments there was the added profit to be made, should the US join the war, in lending the government money to fund mobilisation. Effectively therefore, the money made by investing in Germany's war effort was then funnelled back into the US to fund the war against Germany. The increase in industrialisation required to arm and mobilise a force on the scale deployed by the US also boosted the economy by creating jobs and employing women to replace enlisted men (thereby increasing the number of tax payers, enabling great leverage for state loans). With both sexes earning a wage, and a lack of scarcity in the US that precluded any need for rationing, the economy was boosted by the increase in disposable income which led to an increase in luxuries being manufactured and sold. Following the end of the war, there was an increase in civil works which kept the momentum of investment and employment going. Much of those works were 'tendered' out to either Bechtel or McCone. Both of whom would become major players in subsequent conflict. ITT, a major investor in Nazi Germany, also switched primarily to security work and featured in subsequent military operations by the US.

The primary reason why the US became so involved in spreading 'democracy' was to regain control of private interests in those countries that they consider un-democratic, for example most recently Venuzuela, and Bolivia, both countries nationalised companies that were owned by overseas, particularly US investors. The Bay of Pigs for instance was orchestrated in part, by board members of United Fruit, which had been nationalised by Castro. It all comes down to money if you look close enough.