War profiteering is nothing new. Corrupt generals and politicians are nothing new either.
Shitshows like the F-35 are just another symptom of the poisonous political landscape. These big projects get jobbed out to hit every congressional district to make projects tough to kill. They turn into monsters that aren't managed by anyone.
But back then government was at least somewhat independent of the large corps.
Today Washington is the wholly-owned political arm of the mil/ind/fin complex.
The tail isn't just wagging the dog, it's controlling it with direct brain implants.
If you don't accept this, please explain how the F35 was allowed to happen.
The scale of wastage and - let's call it what it is - establishment-sanctioned corruption is almost impossible to comprehend.