Unwarranted Influence: Dwight D. Eisenhower and the Military-Industrial Complex by James Ledbetter

Unwarranted Influence: Dwight D. Eisenhower and the Military-Industrial Complex

By James Ledbetter

Published by: Yale University Press 2011

            This book addresses the topic of the military industrial complex, made famous by President Eisenhower during his farewell speech in 1961. It explains that prior to the delivery of the speech, the ones who suggested shedding light on this subject were actually his advisers. The idea revealed in the speech was of the connection between wartime spending and companies contracted by the government. It was understood that after wars were resolved, under normal circumstances, countries would usually demilitarize their armies. However, the book explains that the United States accomplished the exact opposite and has generally increased defense budgets all together since World War II. According to Ledbetter, “we can approximately define the military industrial complex as a network of public and private forces that combine a profit motive with the planning and implementation of strategic policy”(6). He describes the overlap between private military contractors and the federal government includes Department of Defense contracts and appointments of military contractors to government positions. Also, to strengthen this network, lobbying by the military contractors, campaign contributors, and the desire of Congress members to protect and expand military spending which would benefit their district. Ledbetter breaks down the threats of the military industrial complex and why Eisenhower warned against its unwarranted influence. He suggests the military industrial complex creates wasteful military spending, takes away from social budgets and changes the American economy. Support for these arguments could be found in elaborate military projects developing expensive technologies designed for war. Also, the truth is that the military does consume the most of the US budget, stripping away funding towards education and other social services. The economy is affected by accruing mass amounts of national debt, types and locations of manufacturing jobs available and the civilian market for technologies like aircraft, satellite and other hand-me down military tech. Ledbetter also brings to the table theories detailing this networks drive for profit, including the merchants of death thesis, the war economy thesis, the garrison state thesis and technocratic elite thesis. Each of these theses more or less explains how conflicts are created to maximize profits and hinder society’s liberties. Along with explaining the military industrial complex’s network, he goes as far as elaborating on Eisenhower’s positions during and after his presidency. He makes it clear that Eisenhower knew America’s position as a world superpower had to be defended and upheld, but he was weary of throwing huge appropriations of money to a wartime economy.

            Military interventions since World War II have all allotted funds to the defense budget. These brought forth wonderful technologies to civilians such as cell phones, GPS, and computers but at what cost? The United States needed a huge military to fight the Nazi’s, then they needed a stronger military to fight the Soviet’s and the spread of Communism, and now they need to spend more than the next ten countries militaries combined to protect us against terrorism. This book forces one to ask questions like how safe does a big expensive military really make us? And how much influence do profit seeking contractors have in decisions made by our “trusted” elected officials?

Adrian Fernandez