What would Eisenhower now say about the Military Industrial Complex?

Perhaps it is just me, but it seems that the military is robbing our nation of everything. I realize it is not politically correct to criticize the military, but it seems like everytime you turn around they need another $90 billion for war in Iraq or for updated equipment to "protect" us. I don't feel they are protecting us as much as they are destroying us. They are destroying us because they are breaking us. We cannot afford this much longer.

On top of money requested in the budget every year, there seems to be a whole battalion of "generals". Why do we need so many generals? Sometimes it seems like we have more general officers than we do enlisted personnel?

Also, I believe that the military should be under strict civilian control. They should not be involved with either political Party. I find the Republican play to the military very disturbing. The military should independent as much as possible from political discussions. Their job is to follow the orders of their civilian commanders.

Our nation is sacrificing tremendously to keep up this present military. The argument is that they are protecting us from the terrorists so we do not have to fight them over here in the suburbs. Why is it that I don't exactly believe that line? It rings hollow.

as are the so-called Intelligence Agencies (Covert Operations Agencies) and Congress. Not just for robbing us by means of all kinds of (often questionable) military contracts, but also for robbing the people of other nations by means of overt and/or covert interventions of various kinds.

That's why some call it the Military Industrial Intelligence Complex, and some call it the Military Industrial Congressional Complex. These days certain other institutions also play prominent roles: Think Tanks, PR firms and last but not least the mainstream media.

I'm pretty sure Ike would say it has gotten much worse than he ever imagined.


What I've Learned About US Foreign Policy
http://www.chomskytorrents.org/TorrentDetails.php?TorrentID=1220
The basic message being that the CIA, the military-industrial-complex, the Pentagon, the multinational corporations, the media and the Government of the United States are responsible for the deaths of millions of people in the third world, not to mention the poverty and oppression of millions more. We support, arm, and train dictators and militaries that do these evil actions to their own people. All of this is to insure that we control the natural resources of these countries and their market place, use the people for cheap labor and keep the business of war (which is our biggest business) ongoing.

Trials Of Henry Kissinger
http://www.chomskytorrents.org/TorrentDetails.php?TorrentID=1222
Featuring previously unseen footage, newly declassified US government documents, and revealing interviews with key insiders to the events in question, The Trials of Henry Kissinger examines the charges facing him, shedding light on a career long shrouded in secrecy. In part, it explores how a young boy who fled Nazi Germany grew up to become one of the most powerful men in US history and now, in the autumn of his life, one of its most disputed figures.

Overthrow - America's Century of Regime Change from Hawaii to Iraq
Democracy Now
part 1
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/04/21/132247&mode=thread&tid=25
part 2
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/05/08/1353206
(video, audio, transcript)
Interview with former New York Times foreign correspondent, Steve Kinzer. Kinzer's new book is titled, "Overthrow: America"s Century of Regime Change from Hawaii to Iraq." In it, he examines how the United States has thwarted independence movements in Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Philippines and Nicaragua; staged covert actions and coups d'etat in Iran, Guatemala, South Vietnam and Chile; and invaded Grenada, Panama and Afghanistan and Iraq.
Kinzer argues that over 110 years, the United States has deployed its power to gain access to natural resources, stifle dissent and control the nationalism of newly independent states or political movements.

to make America pay and pay the contractors he warned us about.

The army used to do their own logistical support. They did not wait and hope that private contractors got food and water to people on the field. The generals and staffs had that job too. They understood that armies travel on their bellies.

Halliburton doesn't give a shit about the troops. Dick Cheney doesn't give a shit about the troops. Donald Rumsfeld doesn't give a shit about the troops. Any general who goes along with them don't care about the troops. All people in uniform mean to the above is a means to an end, the end being cashing checks drawn on the American Treasury.