It was in an article in the National Interest in 1989 that Francis Fukuyama boldly asked, “The End of History?” His notion was that finally free-enterprise democracy had defeated both communism and fascism. There would be no more real arguments about the best way to organize society. That was decided.

But now, since George W. Bush’s election the ideological/political battle has begun anew. This time it’s free-enterprise democracy vs. militarism. And, so far militarism is winning. This is so despite Paul Kennedy’s clear admonition about the latter. In his tome written in 1987, The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers, he goes down the long list of countries that over-extended internationally and militarily and thereafter decayed internally. The story has replayed itself for at least the last 500 years – Ming China, Spain, Napoleonic France, Russia, Germany, Britain, Japan, the Soviet Union all fit the pattern. And, now it looks like so will the United States.

External over-reaching and internal decay define our day. Most recently we’ve seen not only another $87 billion for the “minor combat” in Iraq, but also the calling up of 80,000 reservists. So, now we’ve spent more that $150 billion on attacking Iraq – and it was clearly never a national threat to the United States. The connection to Bin Laden was never made. Given that the United States is a $10 trillion economy, we’ve spent more than 1.5 percent of our national earnings on a senseless military adventure. And, we’re not nearly done yet. Indeed, as we run out of reserves, how far away can a draft be?

The internal decay is easy to see. Consider the tragic story of Marine Lance Cpl. Sok Khak Ung. In April he won a Purple Heart for wounds suffered in the invasion/liberation of Iraq. He recovered from the wounds, only to die in his father’s arms after being ambushed at a barbecue in Long Beach’s Little Cambodia this last October. The police said there was no apparent motive. Cpl. Ung’s murder underscores the grim reality that the danger is greater on American streets (from the drug wars and such) than even in “war torn” Iraq.

The militarism here abounds. At more than $400 billion in defense expenditures we outspend the next twenty countries combined. Throw in homeland defense and we’re up to about $500 billion. It’s no mere coincidence that that is about the same size as our both our trade and budget deficits.

President Eisenhower warned of the military-industrial-congressional complex and its potential to take over the country. We’re ignoring his admonition. Congress won’t let us close military bases to save money. Worse yet, Congress is spending trillions of dollars on weapons systems, the next fighter jet, national missile defense, more aircraft carriers and nuclear missile submarines. And the justification for this gorging on weaponry is to defend against the dangers of $1.49 box cutters. What we really need, and what the CIA is advertising for is Americans that speak Arabic. At least the CIA seems to understand what John Locke put so succinctly some 300 years ago, “The best fence against the world is a thorough knowledge of it.”

My own military experience taught me three lessons: (1) In the losing of a war the government’s appetite for 19-yearolds is insatiable. (2) Military spending naturally increases at the unit level and therefore in the aggregate. My commanding officers at UDT-11 always said at the end of the quarter, “Spend whatever’s left or they’ll cut our budget next quarter.” (3) National leaders engaged in militarism lie, and often. In 1972 I was headed in harm’s general direction believing in the “domino theory” and the need to stop communism. During my long plane ride to the Philippines I read the Pentagon Papers. I then knew that we were fighting a war that could not be won. In Vietnam, 50,000 19-yearolds laid down their lives for presidential lies. And, now George W. Bush has delivered the ultimate, a State of the Union Lie.

For me the worst symptoms of the new dominance of militarism can be seen in everyday and everywhere here in America. The majority seems to equate greatness with military strength, “America is the most powerful nation the earth has ever seen.” Certainly billions are being spent on advertising to make the point. Notice the growing popularity of Hummers on the road or in Governor Arnold’s garage. Then there’s the U.S. Army sponsored drag racer, Tony (“Sarge”) Schumacher. Or, how about the Marines’ advertising as if their job were a videogame. But the absolute worst: Forbes has named Northrop Grumman “2003 Company of the Year.” And that weapons maker’s corporate slogan so heavily advertised is, “Northrop Grumman, defining the future.” DEFINING THE FUTURE! Listen for it on the radio or see it on their website.

Perhaps history is over if a weapons maker is defining the future? But, let’s hope we have some history yet to go. Let’s hope that teachers, scientists, journalists, philanthropists, and yes, “we the people” can reclaim our rights to define our own future.