I've been reading this new book called "In Search of Monsters.." and it discusses at length, the militarization of American society since WW2.
One way I think that has become increasingly obvious is how government responds to unusual situations. For example, COVID. During the COVID pandemic, both government and media embraced wartime language, equating the pandemic to a "war against the virus."
The vast military power of the US was deployed domestically, from nursing ships, to border enforcement (even domestically in the case of RI), and even into goods production (the Defense Production Act being employed for such issues as PPE and baby formula). Some in the media even called those who opposed government actions "traitors". Even typically anti-war individuals like Trevor Noah embraced the militarization and used the "traitor" name for those who dared question the government.
Of course, this militarization failed miserably. It had no more chance of succeeding than Caligula's war on Neptune. Further, like military failures, the search for blame began and all sorts of internal enemies and saboteurs were named traitors: Republicans, Orthodox Jews, Chinese (multiple times), illegal immigrants, legal immigrants, tourists, parents, school teachers, protestors, you-name-it.
The author's title "In Search of Monsters" applies domestically as well as internationally. The military does not aim to find and crush foreign monsters, but domestic as well.