Dwight Eisenhower warned about the "military-industrial complex" in his 1961 farewell address. The complex is a network of interests linking arms and ammunition companies, research and development centers, and influential actors inside Congress and the executive branch. The danger is that the complex turns war into a routine economic choice.
Last year weapons worth almost $2.9 trillion were sold, 2.9 percent more than in 2024. The USA under Donald Trump is driving other countries to arm themselves. F.A.Z. has a premium global economy and arms dealers are well-paid.
Iran is believed to have around 972 pounds of highly enriched uranium stored across the country. The head of the UN's nuclear watchdog suggested that roughly half of this stash still resides in Iran's Isfahan nuclear facility. Iran’s nuclear program was a primary reason why the United States launched strikes on Iran in late February. Iran proposed reopening the Strait of Hormuz if the White House agrees to postpone nuclear talks and lift its naval blockade on Iranian ports.
The majority of Iran's highly enriched uranium is probably still at its Isfahan nuclear complex, according to Rafael Grossi, the head of the UN nuclear agency. The IAEA has satellite images showing the effects of the latest US-Israeli airstrikes against Iran. Israel bombed three Iranian nuclear sites during the 12-day war last year. Iran declared a new uranium enrichment facility at Isfahans last June. Grossi says all of Iran’s nuclear sites must be inspected.
The Russian-Ukrainian War is now well into its fifth year. Both sides have experienced significant losses in personnel and equipment. Ukraine has developed its own long-range strike capabilities. Ukraine's new theory of victory parallels Allied strategic bombing in World War II.
Kim Dong-seok is the head of the Korean American Grassroots Conference. Kim claims that President Donald Trump is influenced by a faction of hawkish interventionists. They engineered a "destroy-and-deal" strategy that relies heavily on drone warfare to bomb targets without committing US ground troops. Financial incentives also drive this approach, as drone warfare directly benefits the president’s family. Kim points to the 600,000-strong Iranian-American community divided over the recent US air strikes on Iran. Kim urges progressive and conservative factions to unite for survival.