Blog#31

Eisenhower and Bush

Dwight D. Eisenhower's farewell address is still relevant in modern day society because his speech is the result in American society. Eisenhower discusses how "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." Dwight's also discussed how "The prospect of domination of the nation's scholars by Federal employment, project allocations, and the power of money is ever present – and is gravely to be regarded." America as a nation did not implement actions from Eisenhower's farewell address and there for landed us into the Iraq war because of conflicts within our government, the dominance of corporations, and contrasting views of Eisenhower's ideas of the government and the bush administration.

Conflicts within our government is an issues that still continues in todays society. The two sides are considered "Hawks and Doves" as put by Randy Scherer in a book called "The Antiwar Movement". Hawks are in favor of military actions to solve their problems. Doves resort to peaceful actions to solve their problems. In 2001, two planes hit the twin towers in New York. This sparked a animosity towards Iraq. This was also the year that the Hawks (Bush and his administration) came into power. With the doves having no say in what actions the government can take. George Bush invaded Iraq in mid 2003.

Haliburton is an oil shed corporation with international operations. Before Dick Cheney was in office, he was the CEO of Haliburton. During the war with Cheney in office, he had a say in any involvement Haliburton had with the government. A year before the war in 2002, KBR construction and engineering company (a subsiduary of Haliburton) was sent to Iraq to plan oil well fire fighting. The contract wasn't issued until February of 2003. The concern was that KBR could pump oil out of Iraq to its hearts content which they could. The contract was already intended for KBR.

During Bushes term, his views were exactly opposite of Eisenhower. Everything that Dwight Eisenhower discussed in his farewell address warning us not to do, Bush did. The Iraq war is one of those situations. Eisenhower himself said "Together we must learn how to compose differences, not with arms, but with intellect and decent purpose." George Bush did just the opposite. Him and fellow politicians had been planning to invade Iraq even before the 9/11 attack. Dwight also brought up a very good point that "Crises there will continue to be. In meeting them, whether foreign or domestic, great or small, there is a recurring temptation to feel that some spectacular and costly action could become the miraculous solution to all current difficulties." Bush and his administrations operations in Iraq have been very costly indeed. In 2008 alone, over 4000 soldiers died on the front lines of Iraq. The spending on the war is an immense amount as well. In 2008 the reported cost of the war per month was 12 billion dollars; a majority of it is taxpayers money as well.

By failing to take into consideration thoughts and ideas from past presidents, the country has suffered. We as a country have landed ourselves in a financial crisis, and we are losing thousands of soldiers in Iraq ever year. We must really listen to the words of past leaders for within them are words of insight, and ideas that we can use in today's society.

Sources:

1."Iraq War Results & Statistics as of January 4, 2009." Google. 26 Jan. 2009 .

2."Iraq War - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 26 Jan. 2009 .

3."Halliburton - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 26 Jan. 2009 .

4.Scherer, Randy . American Social Movements - The Antiwar Movement (hardcover edition). Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press, 2004.

5."Eisenhower's Farewell Address to the Nation." Kennedy Assassination Home Page Index. 26 Jan. 2009 .