Can anyone explain what the "Military Industrial Complex" means when it is in reference to the US government?

Answer 1

The term military-industrial complex (MIC) usually refers to the combination of the U.S. armed forces, arms industry and associated political and commercial interests, which grew rapidly in scale and influence in the wake of World War II. The term may also be used for militarism, in reference to any such business partnership between industry and military.

As pejorative terms, the "MIC" or the "Iron Triangle" refer to an institutionalised collusion among defense contractors (industry), The Pentagon (military), and the United States government (Congress, Executive branch), as being against the public interest, and driven by profiteering.
The term was first used publicly by President of the United States (and former General of the Army) Dwight D. Eisenhower in his Farewell Address to the Nation on January 17, 1961:

A vital element in keeping the peace is our military establishment. Our arms must be mighty, ready for instant action, so that no potential aggressor may be tempted to risk his own destruction...
This conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience. The total influence — economic, political, even spiritual — is felt in every city, every statehouse, every office of the federal government. We recognize the imperative need for this development. Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications. Our toil, resources and livelihood are all involved; so is the very structure of our society.
In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.
We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals so that security and liberty may prosper together.
Eisenhower warns us of the military industrial complex
In the penultimate draft of the address, Eisenhower initially used the term military-industrial-congressional complex, indicating the essential role that U.S. Congress plays in propagating the military industry. But, it is said, that the president chose to strike the word congressional in order to avoid offending members of the legislative branch of the federal government. The author of the term was Eisenhower's speech-writer Malcolm Moos.

Vietnam War-era activists referred frequently to the concept. In the late 1990s James Kurth asserted that "[b]y the mid-1980s . . . the term had largely fallen out of public discussion," and opined that "[w]hatever the power of arguments about the influence of the military-industrial complex on weapons procurement during the Cold War, they are much less relevant to the current era."

Contemporary students and critics of American militarism continue to refer to and employ the term, however. For example, historian Chalmers Johnson uses words from the second, third, and fourth paragraphs quoted above from Eisenhower's address as an epigraph to Chapter Two ("The Roots of American Militarism") of a recent volume on this subject (The Sorrows of Empire: Militarism, Secrecy, and the End of the Republic [New York: Metropolitan Books, 2004], p. 39).
External links
Schema-root.org: military industry 38 military industry topics, each with a current news feed
Open Secrets: Top Defense Contributors to Federal Candidates and Parties database
War Resisters: Piechart and info on defense spending
Military-industrial complex on SourceWatch
National priorities project chart showing how your federal income tax is spent
Quotes on Money and Banking and Militarism
Flows of Money and Patronage from Washington Truth in Recruiting
Why We Fight : A Film by Eugene Jarecki exploring the effects of the Military Industrial Complex
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military-industrial_complex"

Answer 2

Ike warned about the Military Industrial Complex back in the 50s
It is company's that make money from war by providing the weapons.
More war the more they make.
Selling weapons to 3rd world country's.
And getting the US involved cleaning up the mess the weapons caused.

Answer 3

In recent decades, the republicans' huge defense budget has built up a stockpile of weapons and a variety of subsidiary industries so huge they almost have to go to war once in a while to justify it. For example, Dick Cheney's former company, Halliburton, is basically an oil company but also does a lot of defense-related work such as putting out oil fires in Iraq and Iran. Many people have accused Cheney of a conflict of interest for awarding these lucrative contracts to a company that, although he is no longer with them, paid him a $20 million severance package around the beginning of the Iraq war.

Answer 4

The mix of: Industry required to supply the military and Government that is required to take the tax money to fund the industry and Government.
Perpetuated in a joyous cycle of greed and avarice that can only be reinvigorated by constant war and conflict. Pretty much what Bushes 'advisers' have set out for us.

Answer 5

It was a term first used by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, which refers to the combination of the military with large industrial businesses that results in a pressure to make war.

The large businesses that supply the military have a vested financial interestest in the use of their weapons and the purchase of new weapons.

Answer 6

The combination of the army, navy, military intelligence and all other branches involved in the industry of war, as well as all the private business interests (that's where the Industry part comes in) who manufacture weapons, armaments, armament components, and all other war machinery. It would, for example, include companies like Boeing (who have a small contract for airplane parts), as well as the obvious ones like Smith and Wesson, as well as independent consultants (like Executive Outcomes, the African mercenary group), advisors, etc.
Fascinating industry, and creepily sprawling.

Answer 7

They are talking about all the businesses that build tank, guns, bombs,bullets, uniforms, supply food services, pre-packaged food, tents, everything that is used by the military to do their "job". many of those thing are now provided by private companies with "no-bid"contracts. companies that are run by friends of the administration. VP Cheney used to by boss of one of the biggest ones--Halliburton. some say that is why the gov't blew up twin towers-- to give their friends some more work.

Answer 8

Those companies who feed off war and conflict who would lose business or go out of business if peace broke out.

Answer 9

Dude, you have too much time on your hands.