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Just a regular American
A half a century ago an aging outgoing 2 term President and the leader of the Ameircan Allied forces (Europe) in WWII, warned in his final address of the threat that the permanent creation of an industrial base whose sole purpose was to create weapons of war could pose to our liberty.
Have we as citizens been alert? Has this Military Industrial Complex (MIC) emerged into an uncontrollable monster that is bleeding the resources of this country dry? As Ike said and it is true today, we cannot demobilize our armaments industry because of circumstances of the world. Yet do we need or can we support the current size of our Armed Forces! Do we still need the capability to fight 2 and a half major wars at the same time?
The MIC has obtained unwarranted power in the halls of our government and it is this power that keeps bases open that should be closed and makes the Pentagon buy unwanted or un-needed equipement. Why do we need new manned jets when we already have the best and will be be the best for 20 years. The future is not in manned aircraft but unmanned aircraft. But I trangress, I think Ike's warning of the MIC have been glossed over and what he feared has come to life.
Excerpt of speech:
Have we as citizens been alert? Has this Military Industrial Complex (MIC) emerged into an uncontrollable monster that is bleeding the resources of this country dry? As Ike said and it is true today, we cannot demobilize our armaments industry because of circumstances of the world. Yet do we need or can we support the current size of our Armed Forces! Do we still need the capability to fight 2 and a half major wars at the same time?
The MIC has obtained unwarranted power in the halls of our government and it is this power that keeps bases open that should be closed and makes the Pentagon buy unwanted or un-needed equipement. Why do we need new manned jets when we already have the best and will be be the best for 20 years. The future is not in manned aircraft but unmanned aircraft. But I trangress, I think Ike's warning of the MIC have been glossed over and what he feared has come to life.
Excerpt of speech:
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 now we can no longer risk emergency improvisation of national defense; we have been compelled to create a permanent armaments industry of vast proportions. Added to this, three and a half million men and women are directly engaged in the defense establishment. We annually spend on military security more than the net income of all United States corporations.
This conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience. The total influence -- economic, political, even spiritual -- is felt in every city, every state house, every office of the Federal government.
We recognize the imperative need for this development. Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications. Our toil, resources and livelihood are all involved; so is the very structure of our society.
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.
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