War preparations in themselves cost lives

Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and not clothed. This world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children. This is not a way of life at all in any true sense. Under the cloud of threatening war, it is humanity hanging from a cross of iron.

Dwight D. Eisenhower, From a speech before the American Society of Newspaper Editors, April 16, 1953
34th president of US 1953-1961 (1890 - 1969)

Swheatie of the KUWG writes:

President Dwight D Eisenhower — former WW2 Commander of American armed forces that he was — became cynical toward 'the Defence industry' during his Presidency of the United States. He referred to the dangers posed to society by a "militaryindustrial complex."

Now in the UK with a Cabinet of millionaires, there is a reactionary drive toward war while poor people are being blamed for their/our own poverty, and American left-wing luminary Noam Chomsky has referred to what Eisenhower called the 'militaryindustrial complex' as welfare for the rich.

Lobbying of government by megabucks corporations is one thing; public protest another. My knowledgeable friend Noel Lynch has told me that at the height of the Vietnam War, President Johnson admitted to the value of protest when he told his generals who wanted to 'nuke Hanoi', that demonstrators would respond to such a ploy by going from demonstrating outside the White House to climbing the walls.

The following comes from People's Assembly Against Austerity:

No to NATO protests

60 world leaders, including Barack Obama, meet in the UK for the NATO Summit on 4-5 September to plan their war on the world.


At this year's summit the US will be pressuring Western powers to increase their already huge military budgets at a time when poverty and inequality are soaring. The world's 85 richest people have as much as poorest 3.5 billion. Money into war is money out of our communities.

In the UK, 500,000 people had to resort to food banks last year. None of the cuts would be necessary if the sums Britain spends on its military and armaments were invested in social need instead of the war machine.

From 30 August protesters will flock to South Wales for international actions including a national demonstration, counter summit, and week-long peace camp. Transport is being arranged from across the country. Full details...