By Franklin D. López- former United Press International and The Associated Press Newswriter and political prisoner.

He was a soldier, disciplined, patriot, and totally honest. He was responsible for the allied invasion o to liberate France, Europe and the World from the dictatorship of Nazism and Facism for the greatest democracy of the World recognized his extraordinary contribution with his effigy in a .50 cent coin that circle;ated for a period of four years. Why? The same tribute given to John F. Kennedy who submerged the Nation in the terrible and unjustifiable Vietnam war?

The Deep State that controls the United State Government through the Military Industrial Complex (MIC) has never forgiven President Eisenhower for his “farewell speech after the end of his mandate on January17, 1961.” John Kennedy replaced him at noon on January20,1961. Soon after swearing the office of the presidency.

Eisenhower warned the Nation and its’ people of the absolute powers and perils of the Military Industrial complex. Wikipedia defines the military industrial Complex in the following manner:

“The expression military–industrial complex (MIC) describes the relationship between a country’s military and the defense industry that supplies it, seen together as a vested interest which influences public policy.^[1][2][3][4] A driving factor behind the relationship between the military and the defense-minded corporations is that both sides benefit—one side from obtaining war weapons, and the other from being paid to supply them.^[5] The term is most often used in reference to the system behind the armed forces of the United States, where the relationship is most prevalent due to close links among defense contractors, the Pentagon, and politicians.^[6][7] The expression gained popularity after a warning of the relationship’s detrimental effects, in the farewell address of President Dwight D. Eisenhower on January 17, 1961.^[8][9] Soon after President John F. Kennedy increased the limited US military presence to 16,000 advisors and established the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV) and sending thousands of US advisers to assist and train the South Vietnamese armed forces, his administration began to increase the number of troops in that war. While MACV continued to report progress in the war against the Communists, disturbing signals about the effectiveness of Saigon’s military, as well as the health of South Vietnamese civil society, began to appear in the American media. The downing of five US helicopters and the death of three US servicemen at the Battle of Ap Bac in early January 1963 captured Washington’s attention and spurred Kennedy’s increasing interest in finding out what was really happening in South Vietnam.

Establishing the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV) and sending thousands of US advisers to assist and train the South Vietnamese armed forces. While MACV continued to report progress in the war against the Communists, disturbing signals about the effectiveness of Saigon’s military, as well as the health of South Vietnamese civil society, began to appear in the American media. The downing of five US helicopters and the death of three US servicemen at the Battle of Ap Bac in early January 1963 captured Washington’s attention and spurred Kennedy’s increasing interest in finding out what was really happening in South Vietnam.

After Lyndon Johnson assumed the presidency after Kennedy’s assassination in Dallas the number of USA troops in Vietnam skyrocketed to more than 500,000 troops.

The human costs of the long conflict were harsh for all involved. Not until 1995 did Vietnam release its official estimate of war dead: as many as 2 million civilians on both sides and some 1.1 million North Vietnamese and Viet Cong fighters. The U.S. military has estimated that between 200,000 and 250,000 South Vietnamese soldiers died in the war. In 1982 the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was dedicated in Washington, D.C., inscribed with the names of 57,939 members of U.S. armed forces who had died or were missing as a result of the war. Over the following years, additions to the list have brought the total past 58,200. (At least 100 names on the memorial are those of servicemen who were actually Canadian citizens.) Among other countries that fought for South Vietnam on a smaller scale, South Korea suffered more than 4,000 dead, Thailand about 350, Australia more than 500, and New Zealand some three dozen.

The Vietnam War cost $168 billion, or $1 trillion in today’s dollars. That included $111 billion in military operations and $28.5 billion in aid to South Vietnam. Compensation benefits for Vietnam veterans and families still cost $22 billion per year. Veterans’ children receive benefits until age 18. If the children are disabled, they receive lifetime benefits. Since 1970, the post-war benefits for veterans and families have cost $270 billion

Eisenhower was right. He was a responsible and honest,a visionary man! Just look at the material cost to USA taxpayers of all wars: Trillions of dollars. Benefitting defense contractors who donates billions to National politicians in campaign contributions, specially members of Congressional Committees with direct jurisdiction of funding the Defense Department. The Afghanistan war for example that ended after 20 years in 2022 cost the USA tax payers 2.313 Trillion dollar according to a study of Brown University.

The Military Industrial Complex with its unlimited finances open it pows wallet and not only influence foreign policy but also domestic policy in Congress and the Executive Branch. It is a national disgrace that this formidable sphere of influence has such an extraordinary powers to be able to maintain the face of Andrew Jackson in the twenty dollar who was responsible for the most abussive and inhumane policies against the Native Americans. Donald J. Trump replaced a portrait of Benjamin Franklin with a painting of Andrew Jackson.

Jackson as a General and as President, believed in the segregation of whites and Native Americans, according to NPR’s Steve Inskeep, author of Jacksonland: President Andrew Jackson, Cherokee Chief John Ross, and a Great American Land Grab. He was ruthless, “opening Southern land for white real estate development, including his own personal real estate investments, whatever the human cost.” His Indian Removal Act resulted in the “Trail of Tears,” so called for the deadly journey that the Cherokee nation traveled after the law required them to give up their lands east of the Mississippi River and to relocate to what’s now known as Oklahoma.”

The point of the Jackson portrait is the absence of sensitivity Of not recognizing the gigantic contributions to the preservation of freedom and democracy by President Eisenhower. He has being ignored dismal for exposing the dangers to the Nation’s financial health of the uncontrollable expenditures of the Military fmIndustrial Complex bringing the Nation at the brink of insolvency and bankruptcy. “if you don’t get it…you don’t get it.” This error of judgement by the Washington’s power establishment must be corrected because Eisenhower deserves an extraordinary monument in the Nations’ capital as an expression of gratitude of “We the People.”…..