Why the US is almost always at war? | DW Documentary

Key Concepts

• US Military Power and Global Presence: The video details the extensive global reach and military capabilities of the United States, highlighting its continuous deployment across continents and its role as the sole remaining global superpower.
• War as a Central Pillar of US Identity: The transcript argues that war has been a constant and defining element in shaping US history, national identity, and its political course for over 250 years.
• The Pentagon: The physical and symbolic center of US military power, its construction and significance are discussed in relation to World War II and the nation's global role.
• World War II's Transformative Impact: The war is presented as a pivotal event that transformed the US from a regional power into a global superpower, significantly altering its economy, military, and national self-perception.
• World War I and the Emergence of US Interventionism: This conflict marked America's growing awareness of its power and role, leading to a shift from isolationism to a doctrine of military interventionism justified by perceived American values.
• Propaganda and Soft Power: The role of Hollywood war movies, national anthem traditions, and the dissemination of American values through popular culture are examined as tools for maintaining US hegemony and projecting its image globally.
• Nuclear Deterrence and its Challenges: The development and use of atomic bombs, the subsequent nuclear arms race, and the proliferation of nuclear weapons among other nations are discussed as factors influencing US military strategy and global power dynamics.
• US Foreign Policy Evolution: The transcript traces the evolution of US foreign policy from isolationism to interventionism, the formation of alliances like NATO, and the ongoing debate between isolationist and interventionist approaches.
• American Exceptionalism and Manifest Destiny: The concept of the US having a unique moral mission and a divine right to expand its territory and influence is explored as a recurring theme in its history.
• Internal Conflicts and Civil War: The American Civil War is presented as a defining moment of internal conflict, industrial warfare, and a struggle over fundamental American ideals, with lingering legacies.
• Expansionism and Imperialism: The video details the US territorial expansion across the North American continent and its subsequent imperialistic ventures in the Spanish-American War and the occupation of the Philippines.
• The Vietnam War and its Impact: This conflict is highlighted as a turning point that complicated the US's self-perception as a liberator, leading to societal division, the end of conscription, and a shift in war movie narratives.
• Post-Cold War Interventions and "Endless Wars": The interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan are analyzed as costly and ultimately unsuccessful endeavors that failed to learn from past mistakes, leading to prolonged instability.
• Current Geopolitical Challenges: The video concludes by examining contemporary threats from Russia and China, the strain on US alliances, and the ongoing debate about the US's role in a multipolar world.

The Pentagon: Symbol of US Military Might

The Pentagon, a renowned and secretive building, serves as the nexus of US military power, strategically located near Washington D.C. The transcript notes a significant, albeit potentially misstated, event in September 2025 where President Donald Trump allegedly renamed the Department of Defense to the Department of War. The US military's global presence is emphasized, with hundreds of thousands of troops deployed worldwide, a scale unmatched by any other nation. The narrative challenges the perception of the US as a purely peaceful nation, asserting that it has been in a state of near-constant warfare since its inception, with war playing a central role in shaping its trajectory for over 250 years. The current global landscape is characterized by heightened risks of military confrontations in regions like Ukraine, the Middle East, and Asia, prompting questions about the future course of US foreign policy: aggressive defense of interests versus adherence to historical moral values. The US views itself as the sole remaining global superpower with worldwide interests, not driven by imperial expansion or altruism, but by self-interest.

The construction of the Pentagon began on September 11th, 1941, a date that also marked the terrorist attacks on the US in 2001, targeting both its economic (World Trade Center) and military (Pentagon) power. The initial plan for the Pentagon was not a skyscraper due to steel shortages for the war effort. During World War II, the US was perceived as a global police force, and the Pentagon became a symbol of this role.

World War II: Forging a Superpower and National Identity

The video highlights the significance of World War II in shaping American identity and its global standing. Annual reenactments of battles, such as the one on the Mariana Islands that secured access to the Japanese archipelago, are presented as a way to anchor military might in national consciousness. The establishment of the first Pacific base on Guam, from which strategic bombers can still reach the Asian continent, underscores the enduring military legacy of the war.

Hollywood's Role in War Propaganda: Hollywood's invention of the war movie is identified as a powerful tool for projecting US dominance domestically and internationally. During World War II, dedicated motion picture units collaborated with the military, with renowned directors like George Stevens, William Wyler, John Ford, and John Huston participating in filmmaking for public and international consumption. These films often depicted a "typical Japanese soldier" as fanatically indoctrinated.

The "Greater Good" Narrative: Films like Steven Spielberg's "Saving Private Ryan," though made after the Gulf War, are seen as articulating a narrative of the US entering conflicts for a "greater good," even at great cost. This contrasts with the perceived ambiguity of more recent wars like those in Iraq. Pop culture, particularly war films, is considered a primary mechanism for maintaining US hegemony by shaping perception, which in turn becomes reality. The tradition of singing the national anthem at sporting events, which began during World War II, is also cited as a means of fostering national pride and patriotism.

World War II as a Defining Conflict: For many Americans, World War II remains the most understandable and relatable war, representing a clear justification for US involvement due to a direct attack on the nation. In 1939, the US military ranked 19th globally, a "military pygmy" despite its industrial capacity. The World Wars, however, transformed the US into a global superpower and redefined the average American's understanding of their country's purpose. The end of World War II in 1945 saw the US dictating a new world order, a role it largely maintains. The Midway aircraft carrier, now a museum in San Diego, and the World War II memorial in Washington D.C. serve as tangible reminders of this era.

World War I: The Genesis of US Interventionism

While World War II is a central theme, World War I is also recognized for its role in America's growing awareness of its power and global role. Initially, the US was reluctant to enter the conflict, adhering to an ideology of avoiding foreign entanglements. President Woodrow Wilson's re-election in 1916 was partly due to his platform of keeping the US out of war. However, Germany's disruption of Atlantic shipping through submarine warfare eventually led to public demand for entry.

Wilsonian Doctrine and Propaganda: In April 1917, President Wilson decided to enter the war, breaking his promise and establishing a new foreign policy doctrine justifying US military interventionism based on a perceived sacred mission to uphold American values globally. Wilson's war address outlined the stakes and the US's potential role, proposing a new global position for the nation. World War I also saw the development of propaganda techniques, with the creation of a Department of War Information to influence public opinion through presentations and posters. These "Wilsonian principles" have continued to animate American foreign policy.

Transformation of the US Military: The US sent two million men to Europe, introduced conscription, built a massive arms industry, and learned to coordinate overseas troop deployments. This undertaking fundamentally changed the US military, marking the beginning of the modern US military and the era of America as a superpower. The social, economic, and cultural consequences of World War I profoundly shaped the nation's identity, with successful wars like WWI and WWII contributing to a sense of saving the world and American exceptionalism.

Post-WWII Global Order and Nuclear Power

Following World War II, the US emerged as a dominant global power, financing European reconstruction through the Marshall Plan and establishing institutions like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. The UN's new headquarters in New York City symbolized this shift in global political centrality. The war's industrial mobilization propelled the US economy out of depression and fostered post-war prosperity, impressing Americans with the necessity of global engagement.

US Military Superiority: Today, over 200,000 US military personnel are stationed abroad at hundreds of bases, enabling rapid intervention. The US military boasts 11 aircraft carriers, more than any other nation, approximately 14,000 military aircraft, and around 5,000 nuclear warheads.

The Atomic Bomb and its Legacy: On July 16, 1945, the US became the first nation to detonate an atomic bomb. President Truman's decision to deploy this weapon on Japan in August 1945, leading to the destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, marked the end of World War II in the Pacific. The US possessed the ultimate weapon, securing its superiority. The transcript acknowledges the ongoing debate surrounding the decision to use nuclear weapons, with some arguing for their deterrent effect against even more violent conventional wars, while others advocate for their abolition. The Enola Gay, the B29 bomber that dropped the Hiroshima bomb, is displayed in a museum despite protests from Japan. The unconditional surrender of Japan, unlike the armistice of WWI, demonstrated an uncompromising display of US power. The justification for this approach was the eradication of Japanese militarism, which led to Pearl Harbor.

US Military Presence in Japan: Eighty years after Hiroshima, US troops remain stationed in Japan, with a large naval base in Yokosuka and a significant air base in Okinawa, crucial for US intervention in the Asia-Pacific region. Japan, a former enemy, has become a close ally, facilitating a response to threats from China, mirroring a similar strategy in Europe with Germany in relation to Russia. This global deterrent strategy, combined with nuclear weapons, seemed to assure US supremacy post-WWII.

The Korean War and the Challenge to US Supremacy

The Korean War, beginning on June 25, 1950, with North Korea's invasion of South Korea, marked the first challenge to the US's role as a global police force. The UN Security Council authorized military action, with General Douglas MacArthur leading the unified command. US troops, based in Japan, were deployed to Busan. MacArthur's counter-offensive aimed for the complete surrender of North Korea and its allies, even considering nuclear weapons.

The Nuclear Arms Race: However, the world had changed. In 1949, the Soviet Union detonated its first atomic bomb, initiating the nuclear arms race. This development forced MacArthur to abandon his plan for total victory. Domestic resistance in the US, coupled with the fear of nuclear escalation with the Soviet Union, led to a ceasefire and the permanent division of the Korean peninsula. This outcome is seen as a failure of 25 years of American policy and a tragedy for East Asia. The transcript notes the irony that the atomic bomb, used to force Japan's surrender, also contributed to the US settling for a compromise in Korea due to nuclear deterrence.

Nuclear Proliferation: The proliferation of nuclear weapons continued with the UK, France, China, Israel, India, Pakistan, and North Korea developing them. This multipolar nuclear world challenged the US's deterrence theory, which was initially based on a bipolar confrontation with the Soviet Union. Japan, facing threats from nuclear-armed China and North Korea, acknowledges that even with US support, outright defeat of these nations is unlikely, and compromise may be necessary. The US, it is argued, no longer has the means to defeat all its enemies, necessitating alternative methods to maintain dominance.

Soft Power and the American Dream

Movies and television are highlighted as crucial in establishing the US's legendary military status and disseminating American values globally, including consumerism, individual freedom, and the "American Dream." Hollywood is described as a factory producing this dream, with its products, like swimming pools and kitchens, being universally desired, contrasting with the perceived lack of appeal of Soviet lifestyles. This ideological conflict reinforces the US's role as the leader of the free world, driven by a sense of "North American universalism" and the necessity of power.

NATO and the Pax Americana

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), headquartered in Paris, represents a broad network of diplomatic and military alliances aimed at countering communism. Founded in 1949 by 12 countries, NATO provided a US protective shield over Europe, aligning European nations with the US and serving American interests. The US, with its global interests, believes it must protect them itself.

Shift from Isolationism: The formation of NATO marked a significant departure from the US principle of avoiding "entangling alliances," a change influenced by the perceived mistake of withdrawing from security policy after World War I, which some believed favored the rise of aggressor states. This alliance logic contributed to the division of Europe into ideological blocs, symbolized by the Berlin Wall.

A Mixed Blessing: The "Pax Americana" provided security, freedom, democracy, and prosperity for Western Europe during the Cold War, but it also involved cooperation with dictators as long as they were anti-communist, making it a "mixed blessing." The alternative of a Soviet-dominated world order is presented as less desirable.

The Roots of American Identity: Revolution and Expansion

The video traces the origins of the US's self-perception of moral and military supremacy back to its founding. The reenactment of the American Revolution in Virginia symbolizes the nation's birth through conflict. The Declaration of Independence, proclaiming equality for all, established a moral stance of universal validity.

George Washington and the Founding Principles: Led by General George Washington, the revolutionaries fought for independence, later supported by the French. The US Constitution, while establishing a republic, initially harbored distrust of a standing army, fearing its use as a political tool by ambitious generals. The tradition of American republicanism favored armed citizens over a standing army, a principle reflected in the Second Amendment. However, the transcript notes that today, with a large military complex, the need for an armed citizen militia is questioned, and the proliferation of firearms is linked to this historical context.

The Civil War and its Legacies: The American Civil War, a fratricidal conflict with immense casualties (estimated at 750,000), is presented as a defining moment that consecrated American ideals of equality and representative government. The war's industrial nature, including the use of railroads and ironclad ships, made it the first industrial war globally. The refusal of Southern slaveholders to abide by election results is drawn as a parallel to contemporary political divisions. The Civil War's legacy continues to influence the US, with the transcript suggesting progress has been made, evidenced by the participation of a retired US Army general in the discussion.

Westward Expansion and Imperial Ambitions

The 19th century US was characterized by violence and expansion. The War of 1812, fought for survival and territorial gain, is seen as reinforcing the narrative of the US as a global, powerful nation. The founding fathers envisioned Canada joining the Union. Expansion shifted west and south, with territorial gains through negotiation (Louisiana Purchase, Florida, Oregon Territory) and conflict.

The Alamo and the Mexican-American War: The battle of the Alamo in Texas is depicted as a key military tourism destination, with Hollywood films romanticizing the Texan settlers' heroism. However, the transcript reveals the settlers' primary aim was to reintroduce slavery, which had been abolished in Mexico. The subsequent Mexican-American War, motivated by the desire to spread slavery and a "land grab," is criticized for violating international law. The brutal warfare against Native American nations is also characterized as imperialistic. San Antonio, a city with a significant military presence, exemplifies the importance of the military in the US and serves as a monument to the conquest of the West.

Manifest Destiny and Native American Wars: The concept of "manifest destiny" was used to justify westward expansion, with the US seeing itself on a divine mission to conquer land to the Pacific. The Indian Wars, particularly the Battle of the Little Bighorn where Lieutenant Colonel Custer was defeated, are discussed. Despite Custer's defeat, he was glorified as a hero of American expansion, and the government subsequently intensified its efforts to subdue Native Americans, leading to what is described as intentional genocide. The transcript notes that war is always the first resort when dealing with perceived enemies of the United States. The indigenous people were forced onto reservations, and the US Army actively shaped a national epic that marginalized Native Americans. The long and bloody American Indian Wars ended in 1890 with the decimation of 90% of the indigenous population.

The Rise of American Imperialism

By the late 19th century, the US had conquered the continent and began to dominate the Western Hemisphere and the Pacific. The Spanish-American War of 1898 marked a new chapter of American imperialism. The US attacked the Spanish fleet in Manila Bay to support its efforts in Cuba, leading to an unexpected colonial victory in the Philippines.

The Philippines and the Spanish-American War: President McKinley's annexation of the Philippines, despite initial unfamiliarity with its location, led to a brutal war against Filipino insurgents seeking independence. The US also gained control of Cuba, Puerto Rico, and Guam, establishing a new US colonial empire. This period is seen as the beginning of an "American golden age," driven by profit and prosperity, sometimes at the expense of founding ideals. Mount McKinley in Alaska was renamed Denali, reflecting a shift away from celebrating imperialistic figures.

Post-War Philippines and China's Rise: The Philippines remained a US colony for nearly half a century, becoming an outpost for US military operations. Despite this history, the Philippines has been a consistent US ally, even resisting Japanese occupation during WWII. Today, the Philippines faces provocations from China, and while seeking US support, acknowledges the US's own agenda. The US military plans to re-establish a base in Subic Bay, a former base during the Vietnam War, across the sea from China.

The Vietnam War and its Aftermath

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. serves as a somber reminder of the 58,000 US soldiers who died in Vietnam, with an estimated 3.4 million deaths on both sides. The period from WWII to Vietnam was characterized by an uncomplicated sense of the US doing the right thing as liberators. However, Vietnam's "messy and ugly" nature, both in Southeast Asia and domestically, led to a more ambivalent understanding of the US's role.

The First Televised War and Societal Division: Vietnam was the first war to be televised nightly, bringing the conflict into American living rooms and triggering a mass cultural counter-movement. Young people refused to be drafted, questioning the values represented by military uniforms. This upheaval led to the end of conscription and the transition to a professional military, a development feared by the nation's founders. The link between the military, politics, and society was broken, and war movie narratives shifted, often portraying the military not as heroes but focusing on individual struggles, even against military institutions.

Lessons Unlearned: The evacuation of US troops and allies from Saigon in 1975 highlighted the importance of knowing how to exit a conflict. The transcript suggests the US is slow to learn lessons from past wars, repeating mistakes. Richard Armitage's experience in Vietnam and subsequent involvement in the "endless wars" in Afghanistan and Iraq, described as impossible to win and difficult to end, exemplify this. The justification for the Iraq invasion, based on manipulated intelligence about weapons of mass destruction, led to significant loss of life and the rise of the Islamic State. The protracted war in Afghanistan also ended in failure. The transcript questions the clear determination of good versus evil in these conflicts, acknowledging that the last set of wars were not beneficial for the US.

Contemporary Geopolitical Landscape and the Future of US Power

The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 is presented as a classic war scenario, with the US pledging support for Ukraine. However, the transcript notes potential shifts in US policy, with the Trump administration considering concessions to Russia, causing concern in Europe. The credibility of US alliances is at stake, and the US's ability to safeguard its own security and provide military protection, including its nuclear shield, is crucial. A failure to repel Russian aggression could have significant implications for capitals like Beijing, questioning US commitment to allies like Taiwan.

Diminished Power and the Multipolar World: The US is acknowledged as still important but with diminished power as other nations rise. The world, it is argued, does not want a unipolar power. The frequent changes in US presidency every four years are seen as a factor affecting the credibility of US deterrence policy, contrasting with the long-term strategies of leaders like Kim Jong-un, Xi Jinping, and Vladimir Putin.

The Dichotomy of US Foreign Policy: Two distinct mindsets regarding US foreign policy persist: one advocating for isolationism and focusing on creating a moral republic, and the other promoting global engagement for moral reasons. This leads to a pendulum swing in US foreign policy. Donald Trump's approach is described as a "third way," prioritizing American supremacy and economic interests, aiming to replace the old world order with a new system of American power. This vision emphasizes American exceptionalism, strength, and the ability to end wars.

Trump's Relationship with the Military and the Future of War: Despite a history of clashes with veterans and military leaders, Donald Trump, as commander-in-chief, holds immense power over the world's largest army. The transcript highlights that the US has a legal mechanism for declaring war through Congress, with the last declaration in 1941. Subsequent conflicts have been initiated by the executive branch for perceived US interests.

Renewed Expansionism and Tested Alliances: Washington is reportedly eyeing expansion options like Canada, Greenland, and Panama. After 80 years of Pax Americana, old alliances with Europeans are being tested, and US supremacy faces challenges from Russia in Europe and China in Asia. The video concludes by posing the question of whether the US will resort to war to reassert its power, with soldiers who die for the US potentially being buried at Arlington National Cemetery, above the Pentagon.