What does President Eisenhowers farewell address mean to you? do you think he warned us about Iraq?

Question

I strongly urge you to read his full address before answering, as i am only going to quote couple lines. (http://www.classbrain.com/artteenst/publish/article_103.shtml)

Eisenhower built the Military-Industrial Complex to fight WW2. and he warned us that they have too much power in this world and must be controlled.

"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."

This power has hijacked our government and used to to increase its own budget though unneeded and unwanted war.

We are becoming a source of terror in this world and creating instability in the world ware millions of people are now suffering and dieing. To make profits for America's military-industrial complex. AND WE DO NOTHING!?

Answer 1

If you've never REALLY studied Ike, yes, I'm pretty sure you would draw the same conclusions. But look first at what Ike did while in office. Ike sent the CIA into Iran and over threw that government just to see if we could. They were shocked at how quickly and easily it all took place. Ike also was behind the Bay of Pigs Invasion. Kennedy inhereted it, got cold feet after Powers was shot down over Russia and instead of cancelling the op., cancelled the support for said op.. In effect, Kennedy's decision was to allow 2,510 men to attack Cuba and die there on the beach. -- No witnesses.
Ike DID NOT build the military -- industrial complex WW II. He merely utilized it as he'd been directed. If any one man should be given that credit, I would venture to say it was FDR who took a nation down and out economically, and turned it around by employing millions.
And as for your commentary regarding this country's creating instability. Again, you have not studied well the facts of the situation. Iraq was solidifying nicely into a new found government with the promise of "Free" elections. And then, Iran began to meddle by sending in suicide bombing terrorists. Iran sits atop the world's third largest oil deposit and has so completely mismanaged it that over the last three years has found it necessary to actually IMPORT (to keep up with its own supply and demand issues) rather than export. In setting off bombs prior to that election, the hope was that the people would be too afraid to cast a ballot and support this new government. Destabilize the government, demoralize the U.S. and they will go home with their tail between their legs as they did in Vietnam. Iran has openly stated that they are ready to step in and fill the "Vacuum of leadership" in Iraq when the U.S. pulls out.
Children need stability. They need to know what they can count on. The world is the same. The U.S. has not changed. It offers stability and has the ability to project, support and defend worldwide. The only trouble is, there are too many people in this country who have no patience, want everything yesterday and are too myopic to understand what is truly at stake.
The cut and run strategy of a certain political party here, resulted in literally millions of people being tortured and executed in Vietnam after we executed that "strategy." How many do you suppose will die if we were to do it again? And Iran? The world's economy runs on oil. With all of the anti-western rhetoric and their willingness to export terrorism. What do you suppose will happen?
Ike's warning was simply made looking at California. It was to not put too many eggs in one basket. California was almost exclusively the sole weapons manufacturer for this nation (and any other that could make the price). At that time, had the government pulled the plug on materiel manufacturing, California's economy would have tanked out.

Answer 2

I think the late President Eisenhower probably knew what he was talking about when it came to the military industrial complex and what it could wrought.

Probably gave Cheney, Wolfowitz and Rumsfeld ideas when they eventually formed the new American Plan for a new century.

Eisenhower is probably turning over in his grave somewhere in the last 25 years.

Answer 3

It was a warning that should been taken seriously by all. We now have a military budget that is equal to all of the rest of the countries put together. Does that mean our military can defeat all the military of the world combined. No way. There is rampant corruption here and people need to question it. As taxpayers that are paying for this massive corruption, we need to get answers.

Answer 4

He quite clearly warned us about the rise of situations like Halliburton, Blackwater, and the revolving door between the defense contractors and Congress.

He called it the military industrial complex.

He was completely right as it turned out, and us usual, Republicans completely ignore the warning about the perils of corporate control over government, even when those warnings are issued by their own leaders.

You really have to wonder about Republicans. Do they ever even pay attention to the people they claim to be unquestioningly faithful to?

Answer 5

Eisenhower did not build the military-industrial comples to fight WWII. It was built by Americal capitalists in response to our nation's need to fight the axis powers. Eisenhower had absolutely nothing to do with this. He was the General of the Armies in the European theater of war. He used the equipment, weapons, etc. manufactured by the industries that flourished during that war, but ggain had nothing to do with that manufacture.

The rest of your rant is as inaccurate and ridiculous as your initial premise! Learn your facts before you attempt push your lying and contrive liberal tripe on the rest of us.

Answer 6

Your link didn't work for me but I certainly think General Eisenhower would know what he is talking about. Yes, he did warn us about the military industrial complex and now we are seeing exactly what he warned in the speech.

Answer 7

Bush>Eisenhower

Answer 8

beware the military-industrial establishment. so true.

but in this case the military generals have turned against the neocons.

Answer 9

The first step we need to do is try Bush & Cheney for treason for ignoring national security until we were attacked!

Answer 10

politics always has been and always will be run by crooks. The whole idea of politics is screwed up. Until we don't need government mommy and daddy as a society we are screwed.