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William Hartung

William D. Hartung is the director of the Arms and Security Project at the Center for International Policy. He is the author of "Prophets of War: Lockheed Martin and the Making of the Military-Industrial Complex" (2012) and "How Much Are You Making on the War Daddy?: A Quick and Dirty Guide to War Profiteering in the Bush Administration" (2003). He is the co-editor of "Lessons from Iraq: Avoiding the Next War "(2008).

Articles by this author

By 2030, nearly one in eight dollars in Pentagon procurement could be consumed by nuclear weapons.(Photo: Arby Reed/cc/flickr)

Memorial Day Can't Hide Biden's Bloated Pentagon Budget

Total spending on the Pentagon and related work on nuclear weapons at the Department of Energy will top $750 billion, one of the highest levels ever—substantially higher than the peaks of the Korean or Vietnam wars or the Reagan buildup of the 1980s.

William Hartung · May 28, 2021

Between 2016 and 2020, this country accounted for 37% of total international weapons deliveries, nearly twice the level of its closest rival, Russia, and more than six times that of Washington's threat du jour, China. (Photo: Kena Betancur/Getty Images)

When It Comes to the Tools of Death and Destruction, No One Tops the US

America dominates arms sales again and again.

William Hartung · May 25, 2021

A Saudi-imposed blockade in Yemen, in the midst of a civil war has left civilians without medicine, food, and clean water, exacerbating famine and widespread suffering as the Covid-19 pandemic continues and the nation continues to be considered the location of the world's most dire humanitarian crisis. (Photo: @nfcinereporter/Twitter)

No, Biden Is Not Pushing the Saudis Hard Enough to End Yemen Blockade

The Biden administration has multiple avenues of leverage over Riyadh that can be used to press for an unconditional lifting of the blockade. It must use them.

William Hartung · Apr 7, 2021

Two decades into the twenty-first century, it’s clear that more money for the Pentagon hasn’t made this country safer. (Photo: Stock photo/Getty)

How the National Security State Has Come to Dominate a "Civilian" Government

Demilitarizing our democracy.

Mandy Smithberger · Jan 28, 2021

The arms makers and their allies in Congress and the executive branch won’t give up without a fight when it comes to the pandemic of Pentagon spending. (Photo: Master Sgt. Ken Hammond / U.S. Air Force / Wikimedia Commons)

The Pandemic of Pentagon Spending

Will the Biden administration dare cut military spending?

William Hartung · Nov 30, 2020

Unless you’re Raytheon or Lockheed Martin, selling arms is one area where no one should want to keep America "great." (Photo Credit: U.S. Air Force/Brad Fallin)

The U.S. of A(rms)

The art of the weapons deal in the age of Trump.

William Hartung · Oct 13, 2020

It’s time to defund our wars, both at home and abroad. (Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Police, Prisons, and the Pentagon

Defunding America's wars at home and abroad.

William Hartung · Jul 7, 2020

Donald Trump isn’t the first president to try to parlay Pentagon funding into political support, but he’s been more aggressive and systematic in his efforts than any president in memory. (Photo: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images)

Will Trump Ride Pentagon Spending to Reelection?

The president bets on arms sales big time.

William Hartung · Feb 11, 2020

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