On Long War
The Art of War, SunTzu, About 2,500 years ago:
3. Again, if the campaign is protracted, the resources Of the State will not be equal to the strain.
4. Now, when your weapons are dulled, your ardor damped, Your strength exhausted and your treasure spent, Other chieftains will spring up to take advantage Of your extremity. Then no man, however wise, Will be able to avert the consequences that must ensue.
5. Thus, though we have heard of stupid haste in war, Cleverness has never been seen associated with long delays.
6. There is no instance of a country having benefited from prolonged warfare.
Gathered from writing of about 512 BCE.
The consequence of interminable war, the appeasement of the military industrial complex in Iraq and elsewhere could be the demise of the United States. It may be occurring as we debate.
We bankrupt ourselves in the pursuit of security and the vain notion that we can impose a government to our liking on Iraq and elsewhere.
The 4% of GDP for national security enriches a few while harming many.
Sun Tzu foresaw the military industrial complex.