after a generation or two of shedding the deliberate…
“after a generation or two of shedding the deliberate political encumbrances to war ... of dropping Congress from the equation altogether, of super-empowering the presidency with total war-making power and with secret new war-making resources that answer to no one but him, of insulating the public from not only the cost of war but sometimes even the knowledge that it's happened - war making has become almost an autonomous function of the American state. It never stops.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
War has become an autonomous, endless function of the American state, insulated from public scrutiny.
In simple terms: War runs on its own, hidden from the public.
Demand transparency and accountability in war powers.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- policy debates
- media analysis
- public advocacy
- legislative reform
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can citizens effectively monitor war decisions?
- What reforms could curb unchecked war powers?
Complex geopolitics can limit civilian oversight.