Theory or Fact?

Has the economic profitability of war-making become an engine for maintaining and producing conflict in the world?

Our recent period of conflict in Afghanistan and Iraq has clearly continued to escalate in terms of economic commitment and the outlay of resources and manpower. In the midst of this measurable military escalation has been an accompanying civilian escalation of war related goods and services that exceeds the military led activity underway.

A recent military contractor has advertised over 100 available jobs in all areas of materials procurement, computer analysis, engineering development, and a wide range of support systems for military activity. The top executives of this military contract firm have salaries above $400,000 annually. This firm has close ties to Pentagon officials and key political leadership. Strangely but true, this company provides funding for interim military civilian personnel without requiring those personnel to do any work for their company. The reason…this company is regarded as a non-profit charitable organization.

But don’t be too surprised when $45 million dollars is handed over to this company for its work on behalf of government projects…all while enjoying profitable tax free status. Even if this corporation is totally legitimate and legal…in its documents for job openings, one of the positions is to oversee a team of 70 to generate a revenue stream of over $20 million annually. Are we “revenue streaming” war these days? I’m afraid so.

To make matters worse, if we are calling these endeavors a non-profit initiative…do we further promote the sacrifice of soldiers on the battlefield in the name of profitable enterprise? Is that the ultimate motivation for prolonging conflicts?

If war has become the motivator of ever bigger business endeavors…there will be no peace if profit-taking is the initiative that propels greed deeper into our mentality and calls for reckless pursuit of military activity.

The truth is … I was almost tempted to solicit a $14,000 a month paycheck for myself. I felt confident I could do nothing but be assigned an in name only consultant title and could even help them develop some imaginary non-profit “faith initiatives” like metal welding and computer programming to go along with similar efforts now underway. Profiteering and war…it sounds like a match made for the evening news.

In the midst of these revelations…remember the words of Jesus to his followers…”You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.” Matthew 5:13 NIV

We are called to influence our world…to preserve it…to help it to be healed…to share the light and love of Christ…to wage peace as peacemakers…and those who show mercy. It is time to act.