The government established relationships between the military, business and other agencies during World War II. Commodity committees were created to set prices and allocations. Businesses could make profits by lobbying politicians and fighting for contracts.
Dwight Eisenhower in the mid-1960s warned of the danger posed by the military-industrial complex to the American people. He was concerned that the complex would grow in size and have an impact on US policy. He was afraid that the military could gain too much power and compete with civilian programs. He warned against an "nuclear arms race", and the unchecked expansion of the military. He also worried that the complex might exacerbate the Cold War's escalation.
The American military industrial complex is a significant part of American foreign policy. Its most significant impact is on arms exports, cooperative production, and multinational corporations working in the arms sector. It is based on a political ideology that supports industrial war production. Its interests include maintaining colonial markets and maintaining military-strategic concepts of internal affairs.
The military industrial complex is made up of military contractors and government bureaucracies. It also includes interest groups. The United States Department of Defense (USDOL) is the largest bureaucracy on the planet. These bureaucracies cause contention among conservatives. They fear that the excessive spending on military equipment could result in economic dislocation. They also argue that separate parts of the military-industrial complex may prove to be counterforces.
The United States has a grand strategy for foreign policy. It has created a system for combating terrorism. In support of this strategy, it has created a military industrial complex. It has been a source for corruption and abuse, particularly through government contracting. The military industrial system is a serious problem and has many things to say about American foreign policy.
Concern is growing about the ties between military and defense industry. While some conservatives believe that the military industrial complex can lead to dangerous tensions overseas, others claim that it causes economic instability at home. However, it is not yet clear how much of the civilian population is involved. It is not yet clear how much military personnel is involved.
The military industrial community is comprised of industrial giants who are dependent on contracts for profit. In order to survive, they must keep up with their competitors. Their political survival depends on how they comply with their procurement interests.
Government-organized procurement for military goods has been fraught with corruption and cost overruns. Politicians give money to the army, while the military gives money to them. Many civilians are not aware of the importance of the military's role. It is important to understand how the government obtains this money.
In his farewell speech, Dwight Eisenhower warned that military-industrial complexes may be "against the best interests of the United States." He warned against collusion between interests and advised against policies that do not benefit the American people.