The Military Industrial Complex at 50

  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 States 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   Statehouse, 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.

  The collection that follows will persuade most readers that the "total   influence" of the military industrial complex (MIC) has become far more   total, that the disastrous rise of misplaced power is no longer merely a   potential event, that our liberties and democratic processes are in a state of   collapse, and that Ike himself was disastrously misinforming the citizenry   when he claimed that the very monster he warned of had been "compelled"   by the need for "defense."

  The MIC at 50 conference, held September 16th to 18th, 2011, was the most   universally praised and appreciated conference I've been a part of. As is   evident in the chapters that follow, the speakers learned from, synthesized,   and inspired each other in the course of the three days. We could do worse   than to schedule many more such gatherings.

  But, truth be told, although I helped to organize, spoke at, and fully   participated in the conference, I got more out of the speakers' remarks   by reading through them while editing this book. You may be better off   possessing this book than having attended. Many attendees requested that   this book be produced, and my hope is that the book you are now holding in   your hands or electronically scrolling through will meet their expectations.

  This is a book that can be read straight through as the argument builds   from analysis to action. I've kept the remarks for the most part in the order   in which they were delivered. This is also a book that can be read perfectly   well by jumping to the sections that interest you first. This was the agenda   for the conference:

  Friday, September 16, 2011, at the Haven, 112 W Market Street, Charlottesville, Va.

  6:00 Authentic Afghan Dinner

  Welcome by Charlottesville Mayor Dave Norris

  6:30 MIC in Cville and VA -- David Swanson

  7:00 Dramatic Dialogue with Eisenhower, Jefferson, and Martin

  Luther King Jr.

  7:45 Voices of Conscience -- Ann Wright

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