“America should WANT a Cold War with China”.
“Time to Increase Defense Spending”.
“How America Can Prepare For War in The Middle East, Russia and China.”
What do all these stories have in common? They are all written by prominent members of arms industry-sponsored think tanks (although these affiliations are rarely mentioned in corporate media).
Think tanks are organizations of “experts” that work to influence public opinion and government policy on all manner of issues. They produce reports, talk to the media, write articles, and lobby politicians. They are usually funded by the rich and powerful, and this has become a crucial way in which the 1% launder their ideas and outlooks into public consciousness. Big corporations pay these groups to advocate for positions that will increase their influence and power. And when it comes to foreign policy, it is no different.
It is in weapons companies’ direct interest that we go to war. When we do, they make billions in profit. So it is a no-brainer for these groups to spend a few million dollars every year funding think tanks that will push a pro-war message in Washington and into our media. And they are having a profound effect.
A recent study of the New York Times, Washington Post, and Wall Street Journal found that, on stories related to the Ukraine conflict, 85% of the think tank citations they made went to those bankrolled by the weapons industry. Since the conflict started, the stocks of corporations like Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman have spiked as the West has spent more on arms.
In this video, MintPress’ Alan MacLeod explains what think tanks are, explores how they influence public policy, and details how we can protect ourselves from the pro-war propaganda they pump out. Be sure not to miss out.
Alan MacLeod is Senior Staff Writer for MintPress News. After completing his PhD in 2017 he published two books: Bad News From Venezuela: Twenty Years of Fake News and Misreporting and Propaganda in the Information Age: Still Manufacturing Consent, as well as a number of academic articles. He has also contributed to FAIR.org, The Guardian, Salon, The Grayzone, Jacobin Magazine, and Common Dreams.
