Wartime spending is a wildly misleading economic indicator

The conventional economic wisdom about waging war misunderstands what GDP measures.

Whenever a war or military buildup arrives, it is accompanied by a curious reassurance from commentators and officials: Military spending is good for the economy because as defense contracts are awarded, factories hum, unemployment ticks down and gross domestic product climbs.

But this assumption rests on a misunderstanding of what GDP measures and what it doesn’t.

https://archive.ph/5sDw0#selection-313.0-327.89

The gist of the article is that military spending diverts production away from goods and services that maintains or raises the standard of living. It may increase GDP but that in itself doesn't necessarily translate improving the standard of living. The author isn't arguing against military spending. Just pointing out a common misconception.