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Tag Archives: War
Acknowledgment of the “Military Industrial Complex”
This post is somewhat outside and in between the two assignments at the same time.
In 1961, President Dwight Eisenhower makes a speech where he warns against the military industrial complex.
A vital element in keeping the peace is our military establishment. Our arms must be mighty, ready for instant action, so that no potential aggressor may be tempted to risk his own destruction…
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 statehouse, 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.
Although Eisenhower was a Republican and people rightly protested war in the 1960’s, the governments we as a people have elected in the 50 years since Eisenhower has left office have generally grown the military and embraced war, and to some degree this includes Obama, too.
Regardless of whether or not we think a given war, action or conflict is right or correct, there is the concern and issue that our government and economy needs the industries that serve the military. The fact that people in America benefit financially at various levels from wars they conduct abroad leads to a conflict of interest. (Conflicts of interest can be the appearance of the conflict or a true conflict.)
The Cuban Missile Crisis
The most important event in American history in 1960’s is the Cuban missile crisis, a confrontation between Cuba with the Soviet Union and the United States, in October, 1962. During the Cold War, the Soviet Union built nuclear missiles in Cuba to strike the United States by the request of the Prime Minister of Cuba, Fidel Castro. President John F. Kennedy handled this very dangerous situation which could be turned to “World War III”, a nuclear war. Despite the strong opinions from advisers and members of EXCOMM to invade Cuba to destroy missile bases, President Kennedy chose the naval blockade of Cuba. After the negotiation, the Soviet Union agreed to remove missiles placed in Cuba and the United States accepted to remove the Jupiter missile in Turkey.
This is the one of the few good foreign diplomacy during Kennedy’s presidency. Some other countries did not support the way he handled this situation, but I think he was very brave to decide not attacking Cuba under the fear of nuclear attack to the United States.
Photo: chandrakantha.com/…/ 1962_cuban_missile.gif
Video: You Tube
