Since World War II America’s wars have never stopped. Why? We have become the policemen of the world with over 800 military bases world wide. Right now we have warships patrolling the Strait of Hormuz to prevent Iran from sinking more oil vessels. President Trump opposes world government and campaigned against “nation building” and “regime change.” He wants to bring our troops home.
In a recent interview with FOX’s Steve Hilton, Trump gave a remarkably clear and honest answer to the above question. “Don’t kid yourself,” he said, “You do have a Military-Industrial Complex. They do like war!” And he expressed his dilemma with this “complex” in Syria. “So I wipe out a hundred percent of the caliphate. I say I want to bring my troops back home. The place went crazy!! You have people here, in Washington, they never want to leave.”
Although Trump is not a globalist, he is unduly influenced by them. Colonel Douglas Macgregor, author of Margin of Victory, essentially said as much when interviewed on Tucker Carlson Tonight, May 20, 2019. “The president by now understands that he is surrounded inside the White House and within the administration by people who are part of this bi-partisan globalist elite. In other words, the inner circle of advisors whether it is John Bolton or Mr. Pompeo from the State Department or any number of other people. Along with the general officers, the four stars and the senior intelligence operatives and officers, all of whom have risen to great rank over the last 20 years as a result of their participation in these strategic failures… are absolutely committed to stopping any change.” “They like war,” as Trump said.
So Trump wipes out the caliphate in the Middle East, the reason for our military presence there, and the “military industrial complex” goes nuts when he wants to bring home his troops. So we remain.
But fear of the “military-industrial complex” (a marriage between globalist politicians, the military and the industry making war materials—each profiting from war) is not new. President Dwight D. Eisenhower warned of its danger in his farewell address, January 17, 1961. “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.”
How powerful was it in 1961? Eisenhower continued, “We annually spend on military security alone more than the net income of all United States cooperations -- corporations …. The total influence -- economic, political, even spiritual -- is felt in every city, every Statehouse, every office of the Federal government. … we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications” (https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/dwightdeisenhowerfarewell.html).
Do “grave implications” mean that once in a region like Europe, Japan, South Korea, or the Middle East our military never leaves. That is what Trump learned, “You have people here, in Washington, they never want to leave.”
Today Wikipedia documents US troops in “more than 150 countries” (The New York Times says 172—we have “troops in nearly every country”) around the world with thousands of military personnel still in many of the above named regions/countries 74 years later. Approximately a third of our troops serve outside the US in places most Americans have never heard of such as Aruba, Bahrain, Kenya, and Qatar. As noted, we have over 800 military bases encircling the globe all in the name of “our” national security.
Who are these people who never want to leave? No special interest group has had more impact over foreign policy the last 100 years than the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), leading many to question if we have but one political party in the United States with two arms. This is why, until Trump, there has been little difference in foreign policy between Democrat and Republican presidents.
They obtained their advisers, especially Secretaries of State, from the same globalist special interest group, the CFR. They all supported extensive foreign aid, policing the world, and continual wars without declaration or pre-established end. All supported international trade agreements that enhanced the power of the United Nations over the U.S. and exported jobs formerly held by Americans. All supported the bank bailouts and their management of the money supply through the bankers private Federal Reserve Bank and opposed its being audited. All supported problem solving on the federal or international level rather than the state or county levels. Presidential candidates Elizabeth Warren and Joe Biden are CFR supported so these policies are not likely to change should they win the presidency.
So why do America’s wars never really stop, even when the enemy has been totally decimated as in the ISIS caliphate in the Middle East, even when President Trump wants them to stop? Because the military industrial complex (consisting of the military, war industries, and globalist politicians) profit or benefit from war as they have for nearly a century. Despite Eisenhower's advice they remain a powerful secret combination in our government.
Dr. Harold Pease is a syndicated columnist and an expert on the United States Constitution. He has dedicated his career to studying the writings of the Founding Fathers and applying that knowledge to current events. He taught history and political science from this perspective for over 30 years at Taft College. Newspapers have permission to publish this column. To read more of his weekly articles, please visit www.LibertyUnderFire.org.
