Great empires always had and needed big war industries. The Spartans, the Romans, the British Empire, Soviet Union and Nazi Germany - they all had huge war industries and built their societies around it. I am wondering how much military a society can digest before war itself becomes the main purpose of the nation, politics, it citizens and the economy.

Military-Industrial-Complex anyone?

More? Eisenhower’s Speech (text), Speech (audio only) and video excerpt.