Halliburton scores big off Iraq

Halliburton scores big off Iraq

"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 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.

"Down the long lane of history yet to be written, America knows that this world of ours, ever growing smaller, must avoid becoming a community of dreadful fear and hate, and be instead, a proud confederation of mutual trust and respect." End of quotes and, as I wrote previously, none are taken out of context, but I made a mistake.

The person I was quoting was not a liberal Democrat. I just remembered that it was General Dwight D. Eisenhower in his farewell speech to the nation in 1961 as he spent his last day as President of the United States of America.

So here this article is very interesting in that it points to something very wrong in the way the United States is now seemingly conducting wars. It is not that I do not support the troops or for that matter the idea of the war in Iraq. It is rather that I am so inflamed by the very idea of the Bush Administartion throwing aside the advice of the Pentagon and not sending enough troops to do the job. And what of this new twist?

Why exactly are we having private companies conduct our wars? Can anyone think of a problem with the very idea of this? Imagine if you will the possibility of this process resulting in the choosing of particular wars because they are more profitable than others?

Just a thought?