War as a way of life, war as a way of governance, war as a misguided principal of power.
The "military industrial complex", the term first coined and warned against by President Dwight Eisenhower in his farewell address to the nation in 1960. The military industrial complex which now exercises enormous influence in the corridors of power of the U.S. government, from the Lobbyists creating talking point agendas, to the Congressmen who must answer to the economic realities of their constituents every two short years.
The "military industrial complex," which has so neatly and clearly manifested itself with the current war in Iraq, with an added corporatized component pouring gasoline on the fires of war.
Eisenhower:
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 militaryindustrial 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.
