Misplaced Power and Unwarranted Influence
In January 1961, at the f*g-end of his presidency and just before he passed the much touted torch to the much touted new generation personified by his soon-to-be successor John F Kennedy (JFK), the 34th president of the United States Dwight D (aka Ike) Eisenhower delivered his last address and arguably his most defining, memorable public utterance. In this much cited 'farewell to arms' speech, Ike famously warned us of the dangers of the growing "military-industrial complex" (MIC).
Now although Ike stopped short of acknowledging his own administration's contribution to its emergence, he
nonetheless admitted he'd become very concerned about the growing power of the bourgeoning but already Byzantine matrix of relationships
between the US Military, the private sector military,
security and defense industry apparatus, Wall Street, and Congress. Ike's words
are well known to be sure and have become part of both popular and political vernacular, but a
brief precis is apposite for context and perspective:
"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, [and should] take nothing for granted....Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals so that security and liberty may prosper together." [My Emphasis].
Yet even well before Eisenhower uttered his immortal words, the "unwarranted influence" and "misplaced power" had already infiltrated and infected Washington's collective psychopathology. And although it was the "military-industrial complex" bit that took up residence in most folk's minds, for others the "alert and knowledgeable" bit resonated also.
Unfortunately though for the "alert and knowledgeable" citizenry Ike suggested was the only bulwark against the continued growth, power and influence of this monster within, most of said "citizenry" remained completely oblivious to it all. They either fell asleep at the democratic wheel or chose to ignore the already disturbing implications of its encroaching reach into every aspect of the American economic, social, cultural, legislative, legal, democratic and political edifice. With the 'good life' beckoning, few wanted to rock the boat. And successive generations -- the elevated political consciousness of the sixties aside -- failed to grasp the full significance of Eisenhower's warning despite increasing evidence in support of it. Not even JFK's assassination or the Vietnam War was enough to shake them from their complacency.
Interestingly, in an early draft, Ike's address included the word "congressional" as well, which presumably for some folks today will have additional resonance. Yet this third
'pillar' of the matrix of power he was describing was removed in the
final iteration for reasons less related to its relevance -- apparently Ike didn't want to 'scare
the horses' on The Hill too much. In any event, he still had little idea of how
powerful the MIC would become (with or without the help of Congress), to say nothing of what it would mean for his successors, and what long-term implications it would have for
the country he helped lead to victory in 1945. To say nothing of the rest of the planet!
As earlier noted, the exponential growth of the MIC -- especially so since the end of the Cold War and the events of 9/11 -- now exceeds anything previous generations might have imagined no matter how hard they tried. It should though not be difficult to imagine the outcome from this continued mutation and the implications for democracy and freedom (or whatever is actually left of either), and at this point we have more proof than we've ever had. In this one of Henry David Thoreau's more obscure, enigmatic maxims springs to mind:
"Some circumstantial evidence does exist, such as when you find a trout in the milk".
To reiterate then, that the Power Elite -- embedded within the MIC -- throughout its evolution from 1945 onwards and up to its current incarnation went on to become even more powerful than Ike could have ever dreamed possible, is a given of course. And they haven't just endangered the liberties and democratic freedoms -- not to mention the lives -- of Americans citizens, but as noted, those of millions of others throughout the Western Hemisphere and way beyond. The events taking place in the Ukraine as we speak along with the economic and political standoff with Russia are compelling evidence of this. And to the extent additional corroboration might be required, it is difficult to see how the 2015 National Military Strategy of the United States of America recently 'dropped' by the Pentagon is not designed for any other purpose than to aggressively provoke a global military conflict involving two other nuclear powers, China and Russia.
In reality then, this hegemonic mindset has frequently subverted, maliciously thwarted, blithely undermined and routinely destroyed said "liberties and democratic freedoms" along with the economic and social well-being of all concerned if and when it saw it was in its own collective (as distinct from America's or anyone else's for that matter) interests to do so. Which for most of the time, it was. That the rise and rise then of the monolithic, omnipotent Power Elite came at their expense -- the very ones whom the edifice was purportedly if not ostensibly constructed to both benefit, serve, protect and preserve -- is something that if it isn't obvious by now, then the aforementioned citizens (or even their kids and/or grandkids), are unlikely to get it before it is too late. Which brings to mind Benjamin Franklin's indelible aphorism: "they who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
From the Grassy Knoll (Not by a Long Shot)
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