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Ike's Warning Of Military Expansion, 50 Years Later


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Prophetic and ignored

 

 

http://www.npr.org/2011/01/17/132942244/ikes-warning-of-military-expansion-50-years-later

 

January 17,2011

 

On Jan. 17, 1961, President Dwight Eisenhower gave the nation a dire warning about what he described as a threat to democratic government. He called it the military-industrial complex, a formidable union of defense contractors and the armed forces.

 

Eisenhower, a retired five-star Army general, the man who led the allies on D-Day, made the remarks in his farewell speech from the White House.

 

As NPR's Tom Bowman tells Morning Edition co-host Renee Montagne, Eisenhower used the speech to warn about "the immense military establishment" that had joined with "a large arms industry."

 

Here's an excerpt:

 

"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."

 

Since then, the phrase has become a rallying cry for opponents of military expansion.

 

Eisenhower gave the address after completing two terms in office; it was just days before the new president, John F. Kennedy, would be sworn in.

 

Eisenhower was worried about the costs of an arms race with the Soviet Union, and the resources it would take from other areas — such as building hospitals and schools.

 

Bowman says that in the speech, Eisenhower also spoke as someone who had seen the horror and lingering sadness of war, saying that "we must learn how to compose differences not with arms, but with intellect and decent purpose."

 

Another concern, Bowman says, was the possibility that as the military and the arms industry gained power, they would be a threat to democracy, with civilians losing control of the military-industrial complex.

 

In his remarks, Eisenhower also explained how the situation had developed:

 

"Until the latest of our world conflicts, the United States had no armaments industry. American makers of plowshares could, with time and as required, make swords as well. But we can no longer risk emergency improvisation of national defense; we have been compelled to create a permanent armaments industry of vast proportions."

 

The difference, Bowman says, is that before the late 1950s, companies such as Ford built everything from jeeps to bombers — then went back to building cars. But that changed after the Korean War.

 

Bowman says that it's important to note that during the Cold War, the U.S. military didn't draw down its troops like it did after World War II.

 

"It kept a large standing army after the Korean War," he says.

 

America's new reliance on sophisticated weapons technology also helped bring about what Bowman calls "a technology race with the Soviets."

 

And that meant that weapons manufacturing became more specialized.

 

"So [for] a company like Ford, going from cars to jeeps is one thing; cars to missiles is quite another," Bowman says.

 

In an effort to control the expansion of the military-industrial complex, Eisenhower consistently sought to cut the Pentagon's budget.

 

The former general wanted a budget the country could afford, Bowman says. He upset all the military services with his budget cuts, especially the Air Force.

 

Citing another quote from Eisenhower — this one from another speech on military spending — Bowman says, "The jet plane that roars overhead costs three quarters of a million dollars. That’s more than a man will make in his lifetime. What world can afford this kind of thing for long?"

 

In today's government, Eisenhower has a fan in his fellow Kansan Secretary of Defense Robert Gates — who keeps a portrait of the former general in his office at the Pentagon, Bowman says.

 

Speaking at the Eisenhower Library last year, Gates talked about America's insatiable appetite for more and more weapons:

 

"Does the number of warships we have, and are building, really put America at risk, when the U.S. battle fleet is larger than the next 13 navies combined — 11 of which are our partners and allies?

 

Is it a dire threat that by 2020, the United States will have only 20 times more advanced stealth fighters than China?

 

These are the kinds of questions Eisenhower asked as commander-in-chief. They are the kinds of questions I believe he would ask today."

 

But, Bowman says, it has only become more difficult to control the size of the nation's military industry.

 

First, "there are only a handful of defense giants," he says, "which means you can't shop around for a better price."

 

And companies such as Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman are also adept at both lobbying and marketing to promote their interests.

 

Bowman says, "they also spread the jobs around the country, to lock in political support."

 

Gates has also discussed the difficulty of cutting military spending:

 

"What it takes is the political will and willingness, as Eisenhower possessed, to make hard choices — choices that will displease powerful people both inside the Pentagon, and out."

 

Bowman says that some industry observers believe that "the one thing that could create that political will is the nation's huge deficit." Only that might force cuts in the overall defense budget.

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Ike was a Republican. Hard to believe now.

 

Yes he was. But he was also a general with integrity. He came from a time when everyone participated in the "war effort." The rich were taxed at 95% during WWII to help pay for the war. Companies that made too much money during the war years were considered to be profiteering during a time of war and would get big fines. I'm guessing he saw the industrial military complex the same way profiteers were treated when he was general. Too bad politicians today don't have that kind of integrity.

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This warning from Ike seemed to be ignored by Kennedy, Johnson, and every president since. You would think coming from a former 5 star general his prophetic words would have had more of an impact on society.

 

Your Bias is obvious here as in Your other Post. Eisenhouer himself was responsible for Starting the Vietnam War.

 

His Predecessor H S Truman credited with dropping " Little Boy " and " Fatman" in his over the Top, Power Crazed fascination with Nuclear Energy to Vaporize any remaining hostilities on the Planet, including threatening to use it again in Korea.

 

Kennedy made the Ultimate Sacrifice, else Johnson would have never seen the Presidency.

 

He slipped it to Tricky Dick. Nixon, Ikes' Right Hand man from 1953-1961 took over full control on Jan. 20, 1969 - Aug 9, 1974 handing it off to Good old Boy Gerald R Ford.

 

Gerald had Nelson Rockefellor as VP [who as fate would have it happened to Live two floors above Nixon at their Luxury Residences _ 810 Fifth Ave. Manhattan, New York.

 

Things haven't been Right Since ...the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, Mexico, Columbia, El Salvador, Panama ...

..... Peace Now ................... Screw the War Pigs !

 

ps. Yeah the Rich People really Sacrificed during the War Years ? ? ? makes you wonder .....

 

pss Speaking of Peace.... JFK was responsible for signing into effect the Peace Corps. 50 Years ago.

The Best Program this Country has Ever Concieved of. Has done more Good than All the Combined Military Aggresion this Country has Ever Seen. From Day 1, Jamestown May 14,1607.

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Your Bias is obvious here as in Your other Post. Eisenhouer himself was responsible for Starting the Vietnam War.

 

His Predecessor H S Truman credited with dropping " Little Boy " and " Fatman" in his over the Top, Power Crazed fascination with Nuclear Energy to Vaporize any remaining hostilities on the Planet, including threatening to use it again in Korea.

 

Kennedy made the Ultimate Sacrifice, else Johnson would have never seen the Presidency.

 

He slipped it to Tricky Dick. Nixon, Ikes' Right Hand man from 1953-1961 took over full control on Jan. 20, 1969 - Aug 9, 1974 handing it off to Good old Boy Gerald R Ford.

 

Gerald had Nelson Rockefellor as VP [who as fate would have it happened to Live two floors above Nixon at their Luxury Residences _ 810 Fifth Ave. Manhattan, New York.

 

Things haven't been Right Since ...the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, Mexico, Columbia, El Salvador, Panama ...

..... Peace Now ................... Screw the War Pigs !

 

ps. Yeah the Rich People really Sacrificed during the War Years ? ? ? makes you wonder .....

 

pss Speaking of Peace.... JFK was responsible for signing into effect the Peace Corps. 50 Years ago.

The Best Program this Country has Ever Concieved of. Has done more Good than All the Combined Military Aggresion this Country has Ever Seen. From Day 1, Jamestown May 14,1607.

 

Yep my Dad was part of M.A.A.G. in 1953 and we had already placed advisers in south east Asia by then. He retired from the U.S.A.F. in 1964 as a protest to military build up in Vietnam including the deployment of my oldest brother a Marine into LAOS in 1962 as a small weapons and demolitions adviser / trainer.

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  • 2 months later...

....60 Years Ago Today

 

Just thought this would be an appropriate place to announce the anniversary of another of IKEs projects which happens to occur today the Bay of Pigs April 17, 1961. The day of infamy for our CIA [prior to DEA] as they launched an invasion of the Republic of Cuba(1902). So even though Ike warned US of the Military Industrial Complex he was a firm believer in Military Methods nor was he shy about deploying them. Even though this was totally set up by Ike it didn't actually occur untill the 3rd month of the Kennedy administration.

 

The thing I wanted to point out is that the same techniques that were employed then are actually being used today in Libya it is the same thing, Mexico, Iraq and Afghanistan, it is the same and con-currently. This is completley false diplomacy. Back then it was the spread of Communism. Today its Drugs in Mexico, Oil in Libya, Drugs in Afghanistan, Iraq Oil and WMD? We are supposed to represent Capitalism ? This is flat out gang wars.

The American People deserve better than this

 

There are numerous sources available throughout the internet. I challenge you to learn your history. Please find something relevant to post here. An even really bigger challenge is to try and find anything on American News sources today, the anniversary, regarding this incident. Dont waste to much time , I doubt you will find anything, .............................................peace

 

btw another great post EG!

 

Bay of Pigs

 

History of Cooba

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The 'Machine' marches onward.

 

And we continue to pay the bill... in more ways than one.

oh yea we get taxed when we make the money, we get taxed when we spend the money! we get taxed for owning property, special tax for our phones, gas, and who the heck know what else,,Im to broke to pay attention!

 

This warning from Ike seemed to be ignored by Kennedy, Johnson, and every president since. You would think coming from a former 5 star general his prophetic words would have had more of an impact on society.

 

You would think,,but we have a split society, one likes this group and the other likes that group, and it dont matter who is rite or who is wrong ,,people vote for their group, ie. dems, repubs!

Ike was a Republican. Hard to believe now.

 

nah IMO all the partys have blended together! they no longer stand for the people, they stand for special interest and kickbacks! every one is in debt accept the politicians!

 

Peace

FTW

Jim

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This warning from Ike seemed to be ignored by Kennedy, Johnson, and every president since. You would think coming from a former 5 star general his prophetic words would have had more of an impact on society.

 

Care to make a wager on the Kennedy, Johnson claim. Ike was a firm believer in Military Action. Ike started sending advisers to Vietnam on Nov 1, 1955. He also planned the Bay of Pigs fiasco, even though it wasn't initiated untill the 3rd month of Kennedys' administration. Guess whos VP during Ikes administration ? The Joker himself Tricky Dick Nixon .

 

On March 17, 1960, US President Dwight D. Eisenhower approved a document prepared by the 5412 Committee (also known as the 'Special Group'), at a meeting of the US National Security Council (NSC). The stated first objective of the plan began as follows:[5]

 

A PROGRAM OF COVERT ACTION AGAINST THE CASTRO REGIME

1. Objective: The purpose of the program outlined herein is to bring about the replacement of the Castro regime with one more devoted to the true interests of the Cuban people and more acceptable to the U.S. in such a manner to avoid any appearance of U.S. intervention.

more

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This warning from Ike seemed to be ignored by Kennedy, Johnson, and every president since. You would think coming from a former 5 star general his prophetic words would have had more of an impact on society.

 

Depends where you get your info from, I guess. Kennedy was quite aware of it his Father had been appointed to head the SEC when it was founded in 1934. Kennedy was the wealthiest President ever. He tried to do something about it and you see what it got him. He was about to pull the plug on Vietnam, after discovering his intelligence had been compromised.

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Depends where you get your info from, I guess. Kennedy was quite aware of it his Father had been appointed to head the SEC when it was founded in 1934. Kennedy was the wealthiest President ever. He tried to do something about it and you see what it got him. He was about to pull the plug on Vietnam, after discovering his intelligence had been compromised.

 

I do agree with most of the points you make in this thread. Trueman was responsible for both Korea and Vietnam. The imagined enemy at that time was the godless communist taking over the world. Now we have the terrorist and war on drugs that are demonized to scare the masses into continuing to fuel the largest part of our discretionary spending budget. In the end the results of these actions are making us less secure than more so.

 

Libya is interesting in that I only see two differences between Libya and Darfur. One is the Libya people are lighter in color and two that Libya is oil rich. My bet is the second one is the driving reason. At this point it is becoming obvious with our involvement in the countries that have large oil reserves. My hope is these high oil prices will drive innovation and we will end up with alternatives that are both sustainable and cost effective.

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