Ike was right all along: The danger of the military-industrial complex

[marmar]

from the Independent UK:



Ike was right all along: The danger of the military-industrial complex
Fifty years ago, President Eisenhower warned of the danger of the 'military-industrial complex'. The huge budget and reach of America's modern defence industry has proved him correct, says Rupert Cornwell

Monday, 17 January 2011


If you doubt, half a century on, that Dwight Eisenhower had it right, then consider the advertisements on WTOP, the Washington region's all-news radio station. Every big metro area in the US has one, where car dealerships tout their bargains, and fast food chains promote a new special offer.

WTOP has all that. But it boasts other advertisers too, with names such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics.

Of course, the average listener can't remotely afford a brand new military aircraft, or a state-of-the-art battlefield management system. But that's not the point. These almost otherworldly ads, with patriotic music playing softly in the background, are aimed at a very restricted audience: the government that is their only customer for such wares. For the rest of us, they are proof that in the capital of the world's richest democracy, the defence industry is a very big player indeed.

Exactly 50 years ago, on January 17 1961, Eisenhower delivered one of the most celebrated farewell speeches in American history, whose fame has only increased over the decades, eclipsed not even by JFK's inspirational inaugural that followed three days later. Kennedy might have projected the dynamism of youth. But the old soldier won the prize for prescience. ..........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/ike-was-right-all-along-the-danger-of-the-militaryindustrial-complex-2186133.html

[dixiegrrrrl]

1. This history page link has the mp3 audio and the text of the speech.

The oft quoted passage:Ike's Farewell Address:


"In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together."

[msongs]

2. Obama and congress squandering America's wealth on endless wars to benefit corporations nt

[elleng]

3. Of course he was; did anyone doubt it?

[James48]

4. Watch Ike on youtube

Ike's full farewell address here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8y06NSBBRtY

[Matilda]

5. He was right, although he didn't do much to thwart them.

A DUer mentioned in a post some time back that what Ike actually wanted to warn against was the "military-industrial-intelligence complex", but was prevailed on by advisers to take out the last of these references.

That would have been very pertinent, given the role of the CIA in the assassinations of the 1960s— I wonder if Ike knew already just how subversive the CIA had become?

[Festivito]

6. He was going to add Congressional to the complex, today he'd add media.

Intelligence is a good addin if not for it being a force for defense and thus lumped with military.

I don't think Ike could have conceived our media going awry -- as it has.

[LawnKorn]

7. Public airwaves sold to the highest bidder

Lockheed Martin has the bucks to buy advertisements for a narrow minority of listeners, the Congress. Money talks.

Now if we only had a some form of Fairness Doctrine that allowed opposing views to be aired in contrast to the steam roller tactics of the well funded ...

[pottersvilleusa]

8. Thanks for posting this

Ike deserves credit for warning us. But he's also to blame for letting the MIC grow out of control for eight years. Then he handed the beast off to brand new President Kennedy...