Standing Army

This is a film made around 2011 about the military bases America has stationed around the world. They were originally established as a result of wars and have now become permanent institutions in countries as diverse as japan, Italy, Diego Garcia and Iraq.

The film looks at how the very idea of standing armies was anathema to the founding fathers, and was indeed one of the reasons they declared independence from the British Crown, but are seen as normalised and necessary from an American strategic point of view.

The film looks at how these bases grew into one of the largest outposts of empire ever seen, at the impact the bases have on local culture, and how local citizens have been fighting for the return of their land.

Just this week the American President, not satisfied with having bases all over the world, now has established a Space Force also, so that dominance will be total. The costs however are enormous and growing, meanwhile the US' economy is overstretched and heading for breaking point.