“A vital element in keeping the peace is our military establishment. Our arms must be mighty, ready for instant action, so that no potential aggressor may be tempted to risk his own destruction.
“Our military organization today bears little relation to that known by any of my predecessors in peace time, or indeed by the fighting men of World War II or Korea.
“Until the latest of our world conflicts, the United States had no armaments industry. American makers of plowshares could, with time and as required, make swords as well. But now we can no longer risk emergency improvisation of national defense; we have been compelled to create a permanent armaments industry of vast proportions. Added to this, three and a half million men and women are directly engaged in the defense establishment. We annually spend on military security more than the net income of all United State corporations.
“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 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. 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."
On Friday, December 5, the Trump administration released its National Security Plan. Below is the summary. I juxtapose the two statements – one from a President upholding the alliance with NATO allies and the principles beneath that enduring plan to protect democratic governments against the rise of autocratic governments. It is clear that Trump’s plans are the later and in fact seek to destroy democracy as a form of governance in favor of autocratic rule and a transactional relationship with other governments based on financial advantages to the industrial/technology complex over liberty and rule of law.
This will not be accepted by the American public. This is NOT who we are. We are not perfect, but we have always held the values of freedom and rule of law as the basis for our governance and relationships across the world. I also cringe as the language which is clearly racist to its core. Very dangerous words.
WE MUST REJECT THESE IDEAS AND PLANS WHOLE CLOTH.
Susan Feathers 