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Last post 5 years ago by dstieger. 11 replies replies.
This is not a way of life at all in any true sense.
Buckwheat Offline
#1 Posted:
Joined: 04-15-2004
Posts: 12,251
“Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed. This world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children. This is not a way of life at all in any true sense. Under the clouds of war, it is humanity hanging on a cross of iron.” - Dwight D. Eisenhower
dstieger Offline
#2 Posted:
Joined: 06-22-2007
Posts: 10,889
Ike was smart. And some of his worries about the military industrial complex influence are, IMO, pretty accurate...and scary true, even.

But, as always, context is important. Lifting a couple sentences from the middle of a speech don't offer a very complete expression.....Yes, Ike was suggesting trying to put limits to arms races. However, his speech was largely addressing Soviet Union and how their choices would dictate worldwide arms spending. Eisenhower was not a pacifist as this isolated text seems to imply.


Buckwheat Offline
#3 Posted:
Joined: 04-15-2004
Posts: 12,251
Here it is in it's full full form. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Or9I-qElmCY

Given shortly after Stalin died.
Mr. Jones Offline
#4 Posted:
Joined: 06-12-2005
Posts: 19,359
Ike was a smart guy.


He was a good painter too...

I've seen his originals w/ uncle BILL when he took me to the farm.
frankj1 Offline
#5 Posted:
Joined: 02-08-2007
Posts: 44,211
dstieger wrote:
Ike was smart. And some of his worries about the military industrial complex influence are, IMO, pretty accurate...and scary true, even.

But, as always, context is important. Lifting a couple sentences from the middle of a speech don't offer a very complete expression.....Yes, Ike was suggesting trying to put limits to arms races. However, his speech was largely addressing Soviet Union and how their choices would dictate worldwide arms spending. Eisenhower was not a pacifist as this isolated text seems to imply.



and then Ronnie's military budget spent the Russians into (temporary) oblivion.
dstieger Offline
#6 Posted:
Joined: 06-22-2007
Posts: 10,889
frankj1 wrote:
and then Ronnie's military budget spent the Russians into (temporary) oblivion.


I don't think I've ever really thought about it that way.... kind of interesting....for a limitedtime, I suppose that it is a justifiable strategy....if you are truly ballsy enough to go all in and not flinch. Unfortunately, you also have to be able to pull your chips back sometimes.....made sense with a clear, defined opponent...now, we continue to spend at same rates without so much as a hint of strategy...
Buckwheat Offline
#7 Posted:
Joined: 04-15-2004
Posts: 12,251
dstieger wrote:
I don't think I've ever really thought about it that way.... kind of interesting....for a limitedtime, I suppose that it is a justifiable strategy....if you are truly ballsy enough to go all in and not flinch. Unfortunately, you also have to be able to pull your chips back sometimes.....made sense with a clear, defined opponent...now, we continue to spend at same rates without so much as a hint of strategy...


War without end has been the strategy of the terrorists from day one. horse
delta1 Offline
#8 Posted:
Joined: 11-23-2011
Posts: 28,754
Ike was a warrior who understood and tried to balance the needs of a strong military with those of a vibrant society.
frankj1 Offline
#9 Posted:
Joined: 02-08-2007
Posts: 44,211
dstieger wrote:
I don't think I've ever really thought about it that way.... kind of interesting....for a limitedtime, I suppose that it is a justifiable strategy....if you are truly ballsy enough to go all in and not flinch. Unfortunately, you also have to be able to pull your chips back sometimes.....made sense with a clear, defined opponent...now, we continue to spend at same rates without so much as a hint of strategy...

thought provoking post, per usual.
delta1 Offline
#10 Posted:
Joined: 11-23-2011
Posts: 28,754
Buckwheat wrote:
War without end has been the strategy of the terrorists from day one. horse


and warmly embraced by those who oppose the terrorists...


Seems that war is a natural human condition...we are all capable of killing...
dstieger Offline
#11 Posted:
Joined: 06-22-2007
Posts: 10,889
delta1 wrote:


Seems that war is a natural human condition...we are all capable of killing...


Or, at least capable of profitting from those who are
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