Was President Eisenhower right to be concerned about the military industrial complex?

In a speech he gave just prior to handing his office to John F. Kennedy, President Eisenhower gave a speech warning about the need to keep the power of the military industrial complex in check. A two minute portion of that speech is recorded here, but the most important part that raises questions about America’s more recent foreign policy are the following remarks by President Eisenhower: “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 our democratic process. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and a 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.”

As a first grader early in President Eisenhower’s first administration I have some vague memories of his Presidency which ended in January 1960. Since then we have engaged in endless wars, even after the threat of communism under the Soviet Union. Since then America has become engaged either directly or through proxies in endless wars. After you listen to President Eisenhower’s speech, I’d like to know what you think. Specifically, what are your thoughts about the following?

Q1. Is the world safer since the fall of the Soviet union as a result of the CIA’s involvement in changing many foreign governments through either clandestine means or wars?

Q2. Has liberty and democracy in the U.S. been well preserved as a result of the CIA’s involvement in changing governments overseas since the decline of the Soviet Union?

Q3. Do you think Russia is as much of a threat to our democratic republic, our Constitution and our liberties as it was prior to the fall of the Soviet Union.

Q4. Do you think America can remain the world’s super power if its debt continues to rise exponentially? It is now increasing by $1 trillion every three months!

Best regards,

Jay Taylor