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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smedley_Butler

In 1933, Butler claimed to have been approached to become involved in a controversy, the Business Plot, telling a United States congressional committee a group of wealthy American industrialists were planning a coup d'état to overthrow President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Butler also claimed the plotters of the alleged coup intended to use him, at the head of a group of veterans, to place the federal government under arrest. The individuals alleged to be involved in the coup all denied the existence of such a plot and the media ridiculed Butler's allegations, but a final report following an investigation by a special House of Representatives committee confirmed at least some of his testimony.

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[-] tacosanonymous@mander.xyz 31 points 2 weeks ago

Eisenhower specifically called out the military-industrial complex in his final speech as president.

No one listened to him either (well, they might have used his warning as a road map) and meow the country, and perhaps the world, are in a very dark place.

[-] giantripdrop@piefed.social 15 points 2 weeks ago

Twenty years ago, when I was in high school, was the first time I listened to Ike's military industrial complex speech. I was a smart kid but the speech didn't have the weight it has now, in my adult life.

I think about that a lot. Same with the Robert Mueller warning. It's almost like, in both instances, these men felt they had no power to do anything beyond some ominous warnings. And unfortunately, like when I was a teenager, I feel it goes over most people and they are indifferent.

[-] TranscendentalEmpire@lemmy.today 3 points 2 weeks ago

Eisenhower was also a politician and thus often talked the talk without walking the walk. It's hard to pat him on the back when he also participated in creating the conflict that feeds the military industrial complex.

[-] teslekova@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 weeks ago

... Did you say meow?

this post was submitted on 04 Aug 2026
282 points (100.0% liked)

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