Eisenhower's farewell address

Just watched Why We Fight, which was first screened at Sundance on Jan 17, 2005, 44 years to the day after Eisenhower's farewell address. (It received the "Grand Jury Prize: Documentary.") Here's my review: go watch it.

The film gives special attention to that famous farewell address, which is perhaps most well-known for this part:

In the councils of government, 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 democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together.

But it's worth reading the whole thing, especially during election season.