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Some need war
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Ambassador Dan Simpson's June 27 column ("Why Can't We Just Get Along With the Iranians?") is absolutely right in identifying three barriers to peace with Iran. The U.S. foreign policy establishment has problems due to the Iranian diaspora, pressure from Israel and the Sunni-Shia conflict. However, he ignores the biggest barrier to peace with Iran: the desire of the U.S. military officer corps to continue to prosecute a war somewhere in the world.
Generals and admirals need a war in order to continue to command large numbers of men and women and preserve their exalted status. In fact, they are afraid that the absence of continuing conflict would put them out of work. Certainly, it would mean a reduction in rank. We have seen this scenario played out since the beginning of the Vietnam war.
Wars most benefit the higher ranks of the military and the corporations that do business with the military, that is, people like Alexander Haig and Dick Cheney.
President Eisenhower warned us about the military industrial complex in 1960 but we didn't take him seriously, much to our misfortune.
JAMES BUKES
Mt. Lebanon
First Published July 8, 2012 12:00 am
