I HAVE been noticing it since the US global war on terror. Just three days after September 11 2001, Congress took up a short Bill, the 2001 Authorisation for Use of Military Force, which gave the president the power to use all “necessary and appropriate force” against virtually anyone, anywhere, at any time; and its initial intended use was to launch the invasion of Afghanistan.

The Democrats supported this Bill, with the one exception of Congresswoman Barbara Lee from Oakland, California, who faced death threats as the only lawmaker voting against military conflict.

More recently, the Democrats have lent unanimous support for what was to be a $33 billion war package ostensibly with an eye toward funding Ukraine, but what in reality are funds that will go into the coffers of weapons manufacturers such as Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, Boeing and the usual suspects and the CIA.