Back in January of 1961, President Dwight Eisenhower gave his farewell address to the American people. In it, he famously warned of the “military industrial complex.” He talked of its “total influence–economic, political, even spiritual.” He said it was “felt in every city, every State house, every office of the Federal government.” He underscored that: “We must not fail to comprehend its grave implications.”Arguably, the former general knew of what he spoke.
Fast forward more than half a century. The U.S.–at approximately $600 billion–leads the world in military expenditures. It’s nearly 4 percent of GNP.
Locally, MacDill Air Force Base employs more than 14,000–both contractors and military personnel. Its economic impact on this area is $5 billion annually. It is home to the U.S. Central Command and Special Operations Command. It’s also hosts the 6th Air Mobility Wing and is home to KC-135 aerial refueling tankers.
MacDill is important, especially in the post-911 era, to America, and MacDill is important to the economic viability of Tampa and the Bay Area.
But surely, critical military-economic synergy–as in that between Tampa Bay and MacDill AFB–is not what Eisenhower was warning of. Surely.