Tuesday, August 30, 2005

Military-Industrial Complex

In his farewell address in 1961, President and General Eisenhower warned against the "potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power" in the military-industrial complex. The wisdom of his words will permeate the ages, but the immediacy of them will ebb and flow with the times. For the lefties, this comment (from a General and Republican, no less) from over 40 years ago shrieks at us and forms part of the foundation of their anti-American, anti-military hysteria. Halliburton, anyone? I'm curious--how many people can tell me exactly what Halliburton actually does? I'd assert very few, yet people use the name and expect its mere mention to prove their point and stifle any debate.

In a speech sure to be remembered, at least by lefties, for far less time than Eisenhower's, Czech President Vaclav Klaus has issued a new warning for our time. The Brussels Journal carries an in-depth article here, while I provide Instapundit's snippets of the "good parts":

President Klaus spoke last Monday, warning for the new “substitute ideologies of socialism” such as “Europeanism” and “NGOism.” These “isms” are currently threatening Europe. “In the first decade of the 21st century we should not concentrate exclusively on socialism,” he said. . . .

As substitutes of socialism, Václav Klaus cited “environmentalism (with its Earth First, not Freedom First principle), radical humanrightism (based – as de Jasay precisely argues – on not distinguishing rights and rightism), the ideology of ‘civic society’ (or communitarism), which is nothing less than one version of post-Marxist collectivism which wants privileges for organized groups, and in consequence, a refeudalization of society […], multiculturalism, feminism, apolitical technocratism (based on the resentment against politics and politicians), internationalism (and especially its European variant called Europeanism) and a rapidly growing phenomenon I call NGOism.”. . .

He also opposed “excessive government regulation” and “huge subsidies to privileged or protected industries and firms.” He warned that Europe’s social system “must not be wrecked by all imaginable kinds of disincentives, by more than generous welfare payments, by large scale redistribution, by many forms of government paternalism.” Instead, Europe has to “be based on freedom, personal responsibility, individualism, natural caring for others and genuine moral conduct of life.”

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

"anti-American"

The right to run your mouth is a sacred American instituation, I'm a patriot, and bite me.

That about covers it.

Anonymous said...

Ahem, that'd be institution. Damn my wandering fingers.

Anonymous said...

"I'd assert very few, yet people use the name and expect its mere mention to prove their point and stifle any debate."

What do you know about it?

Do your self a favor and google "Bunnatine Greenhouse."

Darren said...

I see I hit a soft spot for the lefties. Good.

Anonymous said...

Actually, I'm mildly amused that you would say something like this:

"I'm curious--how many people can tell me exactly what Halliburton actually does? I'd assert very few, yet people use the name and expect its mere mention to prove their point and stifle any debate"

This is a topic that is NOT a strong suit of yours. Granted most people do not know what Halliburton does. Most people do not know what they are talking about most of the time.

That seems to include you too, Darren.

I, unlike most flaming Bush-Haters you'll run into, have been to Crystal City and the Pentagon. I have walked comfortably into their midst.

If you feel that these people have loyalty to the military, you are dangerously naïve. Then again, there are plenty of people within the military bureaucracy whose own laxness, ignorance, and ineptitude costs billions of dollars and thousands of lives.



You can call me a "Lefty" if it makes you feel better. However, you need to recognize that this issue transcends politics.

Democrats? Republicans? It doesn't matter. The large no-bid contract will still go to KBR.




The problem with people like you, Darren, is that you blame and will blame the powerless for military failures in Iraq, rather than the powerful. Like Jane Fonda and Vietnam, you will cite Cindy Sheehan as the cause for the military's eventual defeat and withdrawal from Iraq long before even considering the stupidity of the Bush Administration.

And you'll blame me too, I imagine. Fair enough. I did more to win this fight than you did, but I didn't support Bush and you did.

In years to come, if you will remember me for one thing I would like it to be this:

"I TOLD YOU SO!"

Darren said...

I posted two comments that blasted Leeroy and just now deleted them. They didn't represent the caliber of discourse that I like to maintain on this blog. I apologize for posting them in the first place.

Leeroy, you've added no value with your comments--because they don't relate at all to the subject of the post. If you have something to say about President Klaus' comments, please do so. This post isn't a place to *rant* about Halliburton or similar topics.

Darren said...

I brought up the "military-industrial complex" speech as a lead-in to President Klaus' speech, which is the true topic of this posting. This post isn't here to debate the merits or demerits of Halliburton, who incidentally staffs the Burger King trailers in Baghdad, among other things :-)

Anonymous said...

Hey Mr.Miller-

Just thought I'd drop you a line to say hi and see how the new year is going...although it can't possibly be as good as last year. About my college experience thus far let me just say....I think I was just preached the merits of communism today. There are certainly no Mr.Millers here at Chico State.

-Laura

Darren said...

Then Laura, you should be right at home!

Hope things are going well for you. Drop by if you make it back to Sactown some time.

Anonymous said...

Oh please! You gloss over the real meaning from the Eisenhower speech only to glorify some right-wing nut that you happen to agree with. The idea that you think yourself qualified to make this assessment floors me. This is nothing short of slander to the Eisenhower estate. They should SUE!

Darren said...

The meaning of Eisenhower's speech wasn't the topic of this post, it was merely a seque to the Czech President's speech.

I have no idea what you're saying here, except "I don't like you and don't agree with you and you're yucky." Honestly, that's all I got out of your comment. That doesn't add anything to this discussion--please go away.

When you consider that I wrote this post in August 2005 and you comment in February 2007, what are you trolling for, anyway?

Darren said...

It's now February 2008--yet I find via StatCounter that someone stumbled upon this post today. Not remembering exactly what it was about, I read it again, and came upon Leeroy Jenkins' prediction of failure and "I told you so".

Way to go, Leeroy. Any stocks you'd recommend, so I can avoid them? The troop surge and change of strategy seem to be working just fine. And while I'd have preferred this progress sooner, I'm glad to have it now.

Betting against America in war is a sucker bet.