ProphetsofWar:LockheedMartinandtheMakingoftheMilitary-IndustrialComplex

WhenPresidentDwightD.Eisenhowergavehisfamouswarningaboutthedangersofthemilitary-industrialcomplex,heneverwouldhavedreamedthatasinglecompanycouldaccumulatethekindofpowerandinfluencethatisnowwieldedbyLockheedMartin.Asafull-serviceweaponsmaker,LockheedMartinreceivesover$29billionayearinPentagoncontracts,orroughlyoneoutofeverytendollarstheDepartmentofDefensedolesouttoprivatecontractors.ProphetsofWarrecountsthefascinatingandoften-frighteninghistoryofAmerica'slargestmilitarycontractoraswellasitsroleintheformationofforeignpolicy.Thecompanyhasproducedspysatellites;helpedthePentagoncollectpersonaldataonU.S.citizens;providedinterrogatorsforemploymentatGuantanamoBay;manufacturedourhighest-techaircraft;andmore.Ithasalsobeenembroiledinnumerousscandals—frombribingofficialsintheNetherlands,Italy,andJapaninexchangeforthepurchaseofLockheedairplanesinthe1970s,totheprovisionof$600toiletcoversand$7,000coffeemakerstothePentagoninthe1980s.WilliamD.Hartung'senthrallingexposéchroniclesthegrowthofLockheedMartinintooneofthemostinfluentialcorporationsintheworld,andexaminesthepivotalrolethecompanyhashadinAmerica'smetastasizingmilitaryindustrialcomplex.Itasks:HowhasonecompanybecometherecipientofsuchalargeportionofAmerica'staxdollarsthroughcontractswiththePentagon,NASA,theDepartmentofHomelandSecurity,theDepartmentofEnergy,theNSA,andeventheU.S.CensusandtheIRS?Hartung'smeticulous,hard-hittinghistoryfollowsLockheedMartin'smeteoricgrowthandunravelshowthisarmsindustrygianthashelpedshapeU.S.foreignpolicyfordecades.,