Want to rent a three-star General? How about a CIA veteran?
In the post-Cold War world, privatization has extended deep into the military. Cold Warriors are now available for hire, and without nosey congressional oversight committees to bother with. The Pentagon’s budget is still a hefty $268 billion dollars, yet professional national security players keep turning up in the private sector.
With their counterparts in other countries, especially Russia, they populate an expanding universe of defense contractors, lobbyists, intelligence consultants, arms dealers, and mercenaries. The writer Ken Silverstein says these Private Warriors are shaping U.S. foreign policy, and in some cases even carrying it out. In this election season, Silverstein says, they are also the main reason that the long-shot “Star Wars” missile defense program is still afloat.
(Hosted by Christopher Lydon)
Guests:
Ken Silverstein, author of Private Warriors.