A blast from the past on this day in 1961, Eisenhower warns of the MIC

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January 17th, 1961, Eisenhower makes a farewell address to the nation.

More of an address of his departure, he offers a warning to the trending policies implemented in regard to foreign policy. In a rare occurrence, we see a president attempt to atone for their mistakes and offer at the very least an honest message to the reasons behind our military projection.

Short version


Longer version


For those who do not wish, or cannot watch either video, I'll include experts from the transcript below.

Intro

Three days from now, after half a century in the service of our country, I shall lay down the responsibilities of office as, in traditional and solemn ceremony, the authority of the Presidency is vested in my successor.

This evening I come to you with a message of leave-taking and farewell, and to share a few final thoughts with you, my countrymen.

Snippets

We now stand ten years past the midpoint of a century that has witnessed four major wars among great nations. Three of these involved our own country. Despite these holocausts America is today the strongest, the most influential and most productive nation in the world. Understandably proud of this pre-eminence, we yet realize that America's leadership and prestige depend, not merely upon our unmatched material progress, riches and military strength, but on how we use our power in the interests of world peace and human betterment.

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 State 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.

Ourdocuments.gov

Many of us have watched, listened, or read this historical speech, but on this day I felt it was relevant to revist.

We live in a time that arms manufacturers have the unprecedented ability to use lobbyists and unlimited funds for the campaigns of candidates from both sides of the aisle.

The standard of how we conduct war no longer exists as intended by the writers of the constitution. The power exploited by those who sit in the executive chair of our government. The checks and balances of congress to declare war circumvented with little protest of the people. Nationalism and patriotism hijacked in order to have the support of a majority of our citizens.

May we reflect on where we are, and how we got here.

This speech, and JFK's about secret societies have always resonated with me.

These guys were presidents of the United States, they have been there/done that. And they are telling you in no uncertain terms what is going on.

Gee those silly presidents are such tin foil hat conspiracy theorists I guess eh? They must not have a clue!

And this was in the 60's...one can only imagine the "advances" made in the last 60 years.

a reply to: SuicideKing33


Here is a really well done video that goes over the history of the Federal Reserve Bank and how criminal it is and the POWER it wields on this planet. As the old saying goes, "Follow the Money".

As all of these politicians bark about the evil 1%, how many of them actually are truthful in their words when they all for the most part refuse to even mention auditing the Fed or ENDING it altogether?

As much as I hate the MIC, I would say the one pulling and manipulating it's string and power is the Banks.

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Considering that Eisenhower happened to be the one who to the greatest degree allowed it to happen, and flourish, it was at least a mature response and semi-atonement.

This is EXACTLY what gets me about all the armchair and, ahem, "professional" pundits we suffer daily: Until you understand THIS you really have no business spouting off about much else.

Yes, Virginia, there is a deep state.

a reply to: The GUT

Considering that Eisenhower happened to be the one who to the greatest degree allowed it to happen, and flourish, it was at least a mature response and semi-atonement.

Hence why I said attempt atonement, it was also pointed out in OP that many of the mistakes were his and his to bare.

The fact that he was guilty of getting the cogs in motion gives more validity in the message in my opinion. Sure we've had many people vocal about this progression of military projection, but I think when a 5 star general and president who was a shot caller tells us, it's to be taken with more gravity.

All that being said, I understand your sentiment. I don't think anyone here is trying to glorify him.

Ike should know since he was a central part of putting it together. Everyone should know he was guilty in the deaths of over a million German POWs who were intentionally starved, denied medical care and left exposed to the elements in open air barbed wire enclosures as part of the Morgenthau plan. Civilians who tried to throw food to the prisoners were shot and the Red Cross was not allowed to visit or deliver packages. Yet this man is held up as a hero? We've been part of the problem for a long time. Did he have a change of heart in his sunset years?

a reply to: CriticalStinker

Yeah, I knew you did and was just basically agreeing and letting off my own long-lingering steam. And I agree his words do carry more weight because of his own complicity through either naivety or failure to pay enough attention.

Eisenhower tried to tell us and did take some responsibility in trying to reverse a tragic course and for that I do give him respect.

Didn't take long after for them to have enough power to kill a great president and start bombing folk all around the world, not to mention almost full-control of the narrative.

Great and pertinent post and I appreciate the importance of this topic.

originally posted by: Asktheanimals
...Yet this man is held up as a hero? We've been part of the problem for a long time. Did he have a change of heart in his sunset years?

Except those Project Paperclip folk. They got a pretty sweet deal. It's almost like certain factions absorbed the evil...except they were already tainted.

I read where someone said we should dig up Allen Dulles and throw his body in the dump. I'm not exactly proud to say that I pretty much agree with the sentiment. Make it very public and address where we went wrong head on.

a reply to: The GUT

No harm no foul bud, nothing wrong with adding clarification or nuance to a thread.

As per it getting worse, I don't think it helped that his successor called out the CIA only to be dispatched early from the earth.

The presidency since has (mostly) turned into a figure head position.

Then thank God for Donald trump. He will save us....with his brilliant strategy


Kelly and Mattis were just in the way of the peace process.

a reply to: olaru12

You have a problem with commonsense, Olaru? Maybe you think Imperialism is a good thing?

a reply to: Asktheanimals

Unfortunately our campaign in the far east had just as many skeletons in the closet as what you just spoke of.

Our bombing of Tokyo using fire bombs killed an estimated 100,000. That number is comparable if not surpassing of either of the two estimated casualties of the atomic bombs.

While I wasn't there, and we all know this is a complicated subject, I think it is important to at least reflect on our endeavors. History forgotten is history repeated.

originally posted by: The GUT
a reply to: olaru12

You have a problem with commonsense, Olaru? Maybe you think Imperialism is a good thing?

No, I just think military and foreign policy determined by the Zionist is a bad thing. Common sense indeed...

www.haaretz.com...

www.bbc.com...

a reply to: olaru12

Then thank God for Donald trump. He will save us....with his brilliant strategy

I understand sentiment against Trump, though as you've seen, on this subject I tend to agree with him in many ways.

Criticism is always important, and I always offer it on topics I honestly disagree with someone.

Though in this instance, those who truly do criticize him only empower him (IMO), rather than those who oppose him focusing attention and energy on another option with a better platform, it seems as though they channel it towards invalidating or lambasting him (in many cases rightfully so).

Such is our problem with our polarized environment. We focus more energy on our perceived enemies than we do on being productive in providing a viable alternative.

Why does everyone just skip right over how Ike also warns us about the same kind of problem between government and science? He warns about it right before he talks about the military industrial complex and today we have that problem.