My friend @davidsvine book talk is live on YouTube now! Join for a discussion on the history of US imperialism and the continued costs of war

In the continued US wars on terror, casualties abroad average 50 times that of US casualties. Between 770-800,000 direct combat deaths, 3.1-4 million total deaths, and a conservative estimate of 37 million people displaced.

US taxpayers have spent $6.4 trillion dollars since 2001 funding the wars on terror. In the age of COVID, this number only becomes more criminal as the US continues to shirk its responsibilities to feed, house, clothe, and provide medical care to its people.

The United States currently operates approx. 800 bases in 80 countries around the world: an empire of bases

Whether we realize it or not, all of our lives have been shaped by the United States’ perpetual wars and preparations for war. The US has been engaged in war or some fashion of combat for all but 11 years of its 244 years. That’s 95% of its history.

The US has invaded Canada on 11 occasions, invaded Cuba at least 6 times, Honduras 8 times, Panama 24 times.

US wars, bases, and expansion abroad, 1776-1803

US wars, bases, and expansion abroad, 2001-2020. There are similar maps chronicling our imperial expansion for every era of US history

Building based abroad does not keep us safe, rather, it makes war more likely. However, there have been many instances where US leaders have actively lobbied against war: it is not an inevitability.

Steps toward change:
-Democratize US foreign policymaking in order to make it reflective of the interests of the country as a whole, not just business and political elites
-Humanpolitik over realpolitik
-Peace, avoidance of war, violence reduction
-Prevent war with China

-Delegitimize war was policy option
-War is not an effective response to “terrorism”, security/intelligence options have proven to be more effective
-Abolition of nuclear weapons
-Defund the “Warfare state”
-Expose the “theft” per Eisenhower
-Cross-issue organizing

-Reduce power of MICC
-military conversation to unarmed global health and disaster response force
-Industrial conversion to green energy
-antitrust law to break up/nationalize arms manufacturers
-Constitutional amendment to reduce Pentagon power: controls 1/2 of discretionary $

An “honest” map of the US and its seven colonies, including Washington DC

If this thread interested you, I highly encourage you purchase David’s book! All royalties will be donated to nonprofits who help with some of the victims of US wars discussed in the book. https://www.politics-prose.com/book/9780520300873