Stars & Stripes letter: Eisenhower warned us

[lebkuchen]

Eisenhower warned us

I know I am bucking the trend when I support the activities of Cindy Sheehan; but then I thought Jane Fonda’s actions assisted in helping end the Vietnam War.

It is so easy for all of you who have not experienced her loss to say to Sheehan that her son knew what he was doing when he joined and later re-enlisted. I am sure he did, but under the belief that his commander in chief would call on him to protect the nation or fight a just war. Vietnam, much like this war, is one the military industrial complex in conjunction with its political allies whipped up. We can thank Gen., later President, Eisenhower who warned of this political union. He knew that this alliance would not serve the nation or the world but, as in the cases of Vietnam and Iraq, purely its own interest. Not listening to Eisenhower’s warnings has resulted in the loss of so many U.S. and allied lives.

Many of the letter contributors acknowledge that we are there because of lies and deceit, yet they continue to say we need to support the men and women deployed there — absolutely. However, the best support of our soldiers is to get them out of there before the future Iraq memorial runs circles around the memorial for the U.S. casualties in Vietnam.

Air Force Maj. Klaus-D. Paul (retired)
Kaiserslautern, Germany

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=125&article=35567

[stellanoir]

1. one of Eisenhower's most prophetic statements

if not his most prophetic.

We're in deep deep dukey here. And need more creative and less linear solutions.

PM me for further into as to some suggestions.

Who is this dude and what is he doing retired in Germany?

[lebkuchen]

2. He's not comfortable living in the US?

That's how I feel.

He's not alone. Here are more letters like his:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/12/18/45138/421

[MS Liberal]

5. This retired dude is living in America

The retired "dude" is living in the largest American community outside of the USA. Kaiserlautern Germany military community includes Ramstein Air Base and a large group of Army units at Vogelweh. The retired "dude" can be a spouse of an active duty soldier or a federal civil servants just doing his job and trying to make a living like everyone else.

[rman]

3. Highly recommended BBC docu on the topic: "Why We Fight"

It points out that there's a new element to the military-industrial complex: think-tanks.
It also points out how Congress is involved in it.


"Why We Fight"
BBC, 2005
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/documentaries/storyville/why-we-fight.shtml
http://chomskytorrents.org/TorrentDetails.php?TorrentID=689

featuring among others:
Eisenhouwer
Richard Perle
William Kristol
Mc Cain
Gore Vidal
Charles Lewis
Karen Kwiatkowski
the two F17 pilots who did the opening strikes of Operation Iraqi Freedom

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

4. Support Our Troops! Invest in bodybags and prosthetics.

I always hated saluting..but, I'd give this Major a snappy one.