One would think that any Republican candidate worthy of the name would rush to embrace Eisenhower's biography and accomplishments. Here we have a General of the Army (the rank of 5 stars awarded only in war time) who coordinated the combined efforts of the U.S. and her allies in defeating the Germans in WWII. He then went on to become the thirty-fourth president of the United States. During his two terms in office, he brought America back to a peace time status and oversaw one of the largest economic booms in U.S. history while at the same time maintaining a fragile peace in the world in spite of the constant threat of Soviet expansion.
In addition, he managed to help enact the federal bill which brought about the creation of the interstate highway system in America. He vigorously supported and executed the decision of the Supreme Court in 1954 in Brown v Board of Education of Topeka which effectively began the dismantling of the policy of segregation in education. And he established the eponymous Eisenhower Doctrine which defined the role of the U.S in protecting its interests in the Middle East. The consequences of which we see writ large in today's world.
With all that under his belt, why isn't he lionized by Republican presidential candidates? To use a sports analogy, Eisenhower dropped the ball at the one yard line. In the last speech of his presidency on January 17, 1961, he took the opportunity to worn the country of a threat from within to its economic and national security. He saw this threat the result of what he termed the "military-industrial complex" His exact words were: "We must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex... 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." And with those words, Eisenhower committed the unpardonable sin. He told the truth.
Unfortunately, Eisenhower's words were too little and too late. That "complex" by 1961 was firmly established and embedded in America. The huge machine of war time production of materiel and services which was created during World War II not only established America's preeminence in the field but also made many men very very rich. And these men were determined not to let the end of the war and the hopes for peace stand in their way. Think of it as the world's largest corporation something like War, Inc. And the Republican party quickly became its wholly-owned subsidiary. Which is why Eisenhower is shunned.
Which brings us now to Senator John McCain, the very embodiment of the modern "military-industrial complex". Bolstered and underwritten by a highly efficient and well-organized political machine which draws most of its financial support from that complex, McCain has made war and the threats of war the centerpiece of his campaign. Why when all the polls say that Americans are sick of the war in Iraq and want us out? How can that plan possibly succeed?
Because the use of fear still works along with the terrorism card. If you doubt it, just look at the polls. Ever since the little set-to between Russia and Georgia, McCain has seen his numbers rise while Obama's have dropped. It's a rather brilliant strategy actually. The complex has made all that it can out of Iraq so they need to find a new market for their goods and services. And the Russians handed it to them on a silver platter. And just to make sure that the heightened level of tension between the U.S. and Russia doesn't diminish, we have Condi Rice arming Poland with our missiles.
It's tailor-made for the old war hero, John McCain, to come charging in on his white horse to save the day. After all, we can't rely upon someone so untested and inexperienced as Barack Obama to protect us. The Democrats have become the modern embodiment of the "myth of Sisyphus". Every four years, we push that same boulder up the mountain only to have it roll back down just before we reach the top. And if, as I fear, that when I turn on the TV on Wednesday morning, November 5 only to see John McCain's face grinning back at me, I will be out of the boulder pushing biz for good.
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