Vonnegut is the Mark Twain of our times.

"The soldier, above all others, prays for peace, for he must bear the heaviest burdens and deepest scars of war." - Gen. Douglas MacArthur, 1963.

Even President Eisenhower, who had a distinguished military career, seemed a little remorseful and cynical in his "Military-Industrial Complex" speech of 1961. A few excerpts follow: "...we yet realize that America's leadership and prestige depend, not merely upon our unmatched material progress, riches and military strength, but on how we use our power in the interests of world peace and human betterment.

"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 the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together.

"As we peer into society's future, we -- you and I, and our government -- must avoid the impulse to live only for today, plundering, for our own ease and convenience, the precious resources of tomorrow.

"Disarmament, with mutual honor and confidence, is a continuing imperative. Together we must learn how to compose differences, not with arms, but with intellect and decent purpose. Because this need is so sharp and apparent I confess that I lay down my official responsibilities in this field with a definite sense of disappointment."

In order to avoid the perception that the above quotes may have been taken out of context, here's a link to the complete text of Eisenhower's speech: Eisenhower's military-industrial complex speech

http://coursesa.matrix.msu.edu/~hst306/documents/indust.html