Amanda M.

Labrado

Hist. 202

Prof. M. Phipps

7/19/10

The Bush Administration’s Disregard for Eisenhower’s warnings

In 1961, Eisenhower gave a Farewell Address that warned Americans about the influence

of the “Military-Industrial-Complex”; a system that was produced by the newly created

permanent military industry. Eisenhower believed that the Military-Industrial complex might

pose threats to American society and democracyi. In his Address, Eisenhower argued that

although a peacetime military was imperative, it should have only been used to defend America

from aggressors and to keep the peaceii. Even though Eisenhower’s speech was formed and

presented during the Cold War, it’s concerns were still relevant in 2010 because of decisions

made by the American government concerning their military actions in Middle Eastern conflicts;

it is apparent from the War On Terror’s Statement of Principles and The National Security

Strategy of the United States of America that the government of the era had intended to do

exactly as Eisenhower warned against. The government intended to create alliancesiii, meet

threatsiv, and become a global leader by spreading American ideologiesv, and because the Bush

Administration does these things a war is begun with Iraq.

By wanting to establish alliances and partnershipsvi against the terrorists during the War

on Terror, the Bush Administration acted contrary to Eisenhower’s idea of a confederation of

equals that would allow differences in ideology to be made between stronger and weaker

countriesvii. Bush’s America completely discarded the idea of a world in which countries

cooperated to come to decisions and make amends because they desired to create alliances and

partnerships. Alliances and partnerships – similar to cliques in the sense that they create an “us”
 Labrado 2

and “them” –create problems rather than peace. Forming an alliance also shows that a country

may want to gang up on their enemy or does not trust them enough to keep their independence.

Eisenhower wanted to avoid war by creating a global communityviii, but Bush wanted to establish

dominance –and risk war to do soix.

Although Eisenhower said that America’s arms industry must always be ready to fight

impending threatsx, he never said that we should strike firstxi, or use our power against world

peacexii – as President Bush wanted to. According to Eisenhower, whether we are prestigious

leaders or not depends on the way we use our power toward world peace and human

bettermentxiii; however, Bush seems to believe that America should use its power in any way

possible to establish its leadershipxiv rather than using it toward betterment and peace to acquire

leadership and prestige. In The National Security Strategy of the United States of America, Bush

described preemptive strikes. He stated that America must adapt the concept to their situation.

Given the capabilities and objectives of the impending threat, Bush had determined that America

had the right to attack firstxv. So despite international law, in March of 2003, Bush took the

opportunity, and began a war with Iraqxvi. This action reveals how the military-industrial

complex had an influence over the government, just as Eisenhower warnedxvii, because if Bush

had not had control over or access to a peacetime army, he would not have been as likely to

attack.

Eisenhower was correct to say that with the imperative creation of a peacetime army

came the dire need to understand its grave implicationsxviii; without comprehending a system that

could affect America’s toils, resources, and economyxix, America risked getting itself into a war.

About 36 years later, the Bush Administration disregarded the need to understand the military

industrial complex and began asking for a foreign policy that would force American ideologies
 Labrado 3

on countries overseas, and allow America to hold influence over themxx. This they eventually

attained; however, they acquired a foreign policy that opposed Eisenhower’s idea of a global

confederationxxi – an idea which would solve disputes through negotiation instead of conflicts. If

Eisenhower’s warning had been heeded, Bush would have tried to negotiate with the terrorists,

but instead Bush’s administration took a step toward Eisenhower’s global community of dreadful

fear and hate, instead of attempting to foster mutual trust and respect in their world

communityxxii.

Eisenhower’s warnings against the creation of alliances, meeting threats, and the spread

of American ideologies abroad were still relevant in 2010. The conflicts Bush began in the

Middle East, such as Iraq and Afghanistan–because of his failure to regard Eisenhower’s

concerns – were still being fought, and people were still paying for Bush’s disregard with their

lives. Bush’s intention to create alliances went against Eisenhower’s desire for the creation of a

global community, and also brought his alliance’s men and women from abroad into the Iraqi

conflict. Finally, America’s desire to spread it’s ideologies abroad fueled the sentiments held

against us in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Labrado 4
i
i. Dwight D Eisenhower, “Farewell Address” (Speech January, 1961)
ii
Ibid.
iii
The White House, “The National Security Strategy of the United States of America” (Speech, September 2002)
iv
Project for the New American Century, “Statement of Principles,”(Speech June 3, 1997)
v
Ibid.
vi
The White House, “The National Security Strategy of the United States of America” (Speech, September 2002)
vii
Dwight D Eisenhower, “Farewell Address” (Speech January, 1961)
viii
Ibid.
ix
Project for the New American Century, “Statement of Principles,”(Speech June 3, 1997)
x
Dwight D Eisenhower, “Farewell Address” (Speech January, 1961)
xi
The White House, “The National Security Strategy of the United States of America” (Speech, September 2002)
xii
Project for the New American Century, “Statement of Principles,”(Speech June 3, 1997)
xiii
Dwight D Eisenhower, “Farewell Address” (Speech January, 1961)
xiv
Project for the New American Century, “Statement of Principles,”(Speech June 3, 1997)
xv
The White House, “The National Security Strategy of the United States of America” (Speech, September 2002)

xvi
Jesse Singal et al. “Six Years in Iraq: March 2003,” Time, 2007, 1: http://www.time.com/time/2007/iraq/1.html#
xvii
Dwight D Eisenhower, “Farewell Address” (Speech January, 1961)
xviii
Ibid
xix
Op. Cit.
xx
Project for the New American Century, “Statement of Principles,”(Speech June 3, 1997)
xxi
Dwight D Eisenhower, “Farewell Address” (Speech January, 1961)
xxii
Ibid.