Car Sales and Congress
"Never trust a car salesman," the old saying goes. I would expand that golden rule to the military-industrial complex as well. What's the military-industrial complex you ask? The phrase came in vogue after the 1961 farewell speech of the departing President Dwight D. Eisenhower in which he levelled two grave warnings to the American population about the "unwarranted influence" and "potential for misplaced power" of the military-industrial complex and it's lapdog, the "scientific-technological elite."
The military-industrial complex is basically the beneficiary relationship of what Eisenhower called the "permanent arms industry" and the "defense establishment." After World War II these two entities became permanant fixtures in the American way of life. Those who are more senior to me will recall how manufacturers during the 1940s converted their factories into weapons production centers and women left the home to work in the ad hoc arms industry.
At the time there was no massive standing army, sizable defense department, or Pentagon. All of that was established after WWII. In addition, the Boeings, Lockheeds, Northrop Grumman, and other defense contractors rose to prominence as permanent manufacturers of defense products. It's easy to see how the relationship between the military establishment and the arms manufacturers could easily become a marriage made in hell.
This recent news item highlights the ongoing efforts of the military-industrial complex to push their agenda on the U.S. population. The U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is "hosting war games in Congress to help them better understand the missile shield as the February 6 unveiling of President George W. Bush's budget plan approaches."
In other words, Congress is taking the new missile defense shield for a "test drive."
That's the way car salesman lure you into a purchase. They want you to take a test drive. Why? Because getting behind the wheel creates a false sense of ownership in your mind. You start to mentally take possession of the vehicle. This is the objective for the Congress as well.
The same defense contractors of 1961 are the same manufacturers behind this new $9 billion a year missile defense shield. Reuters mentions them by name:
Of course, all of the above mentioned manufacturers have pulled record profits since the War on Terror began. It's an uncanny streak of luck that these companies have done surprisingly well since Eisenhower's speech.
The military-industrial complex is basically the beneficiary relationship of what Eisenhower called the "permanent arms industry" and the "defense establishment." After World War II these two entities became permanant fixtures in the American way of life. Those who are more senior to me will recall how manufacturers during the 1940s converted their factories into weapons production centers and women left the home to work in the ad hoc arms industry.
At the time there was no massive standing army, sizable defense department, or Pentagon. All of that was established after WWII. In addition, the Boeings, Lockheeds, Northrop Grumman, and other defense contractors rose to prominence as permanent manufacturers of defense products. It's easy to see how the relationship between the military establishment and the arms manufacturers could easily become a marriage made in hell.
This recent news item highlights the ongoing efforts of the military-industrial complex to push their agenda on the U.S. population. The U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is "hosting war games in Congress to help them better understand the missile shield as the February 6 unveiling of President George W. Bush's budget plan approaches."
In other words, Congress is taking the new missile defense shield for a "test drive."
That's the way car salesman lure you into a purchase. They want you to take a test drive. Why? Because getting behind the wheel creates a false sense of ownership in your mind. You start to mentally take possession of the vehicle. This is the objective for the Congress as well.
The same defense contractors of 1961 are the same manufacturers behind this new $9 billion a year missile defense shield. Reuters mentions them by name:
Boeing Co. is prime contractor for the Ground-based Midcourse Defense System, and Lockheed Martin Corp. is leading development of the battle management control system.
Raytheon Co., General Dynamics Corp. and Northrop Grumman Corp. also have key roles.
Of course, all of the above mentioned manufacturers have pulled record profits since the War on Terror began. It's an uncanny streak of luck that these companies have done surprisingly well since Eisenhower's speech.
