The Military Industrial Complex Redux

While I am not a veteran, my father and his three brothers were all Korean War era veterans. My youngest uncle recently passed away in his early 60's due to the long-term effects of alcoholism and the abuse of prescription drugs. His heavy drinking began in the military. The pills came from the VA Hospital. He was also a life-long smoker.

I was sharing some of his story with another vet who quit smoking tobacco years ago. He now runs marathons. He re-emphasize how almost everyone in his unit smoked and drank heavily.

As he was sharing how the defense establishment subsidizes tobacco and alcohol for US military consumption, I thought of something that I have never heard articulated previously. The military industrial complex extends far beyond weapons systems, combat machinery, and supplies. The military is in an unholy alliance with big alcohol and tobacco. How many American veteran's lives have been cut short due to addictions that begin with cheap booze and cigarettes?

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