--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Pentagon is supposed to be under…" description: "\"The Pentagon is supposed to be under civilian control and it ought to be up to the people of the United States, not the profiteers.\" — David Swanson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c6/david-swanson-29886_civilian_the-pentagon-is-supposed-to-be-under-civ_810767.jpg" --- # The Pentagon is supposed to be under civilian control and… ![“The Pentagon is supposed to be under civilian control and it ought to be up to the people of the United States, not the profiteers.” quote by David Swanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c6/david-swanson-29886_civilian_the-pentagon-is-supposed-to-be-under-civ_810767.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c6/david-swanson-29886_civilian_the-pentagon-is-supposed-to-be-under-civ_810767.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c6/david-swanson-29886_civilian_the-pentagon-is-supposed-to-be-under-civ_810767.jpg) > “The Pentagon is supposed to be under civilian control and it ought to be up to the people of the United States, not the profiteers.” [David Swanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-swanson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Civilian oversight of the military should serve the public, not private profit interests **In simple terms:** Military should be controlled by citizens, not profit seekers Key Takeaway Advocate for transparent civilian control of defense Themes governance accountability military Mood critical concerned Type political analytical When to use this quote - Congressional hearings - public protests - policy debates Key Concepts Democratic theory public policy Questions to Reflect On - How can citizens increase oversight effectiveness? - What safeguards prevent profiteering? A Different Perspective Complexities of defense budgeting can limit civilian influence ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Civilian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilian/) [Civilian Control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilian-control-254023/) [Civilians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilians/) [Ought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ought/) [Pentagon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pentagon/) [Pentagon Supposed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pentagon-supposed-254024/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Supposed Civilian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/supposed-civilian-254025/) [Supposed to be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/supposed-to-be/) [United](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) ## Related quotes > [It's important. One of the principles in the United States is civilian control of the military.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-clark/it-s-important-one-of-the-principles-in-the-united-states-is-civilian/) [Wesley Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-clark/) > [I will uphold the principle of civilian control of the military as intended.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-austin/i-will-uphold-the-principle-of-civilian-control-of-the-military-as/) [Lloyd Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-austin/) > [If there is one basic element in our Constitution, it is civilian control of the military.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/if-there-is-one-basic-element-in-our-constitution-it-is-civilian/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [The safety and security of our democracy demands competent civilian control of our armed forces, the subordination of military power to the civil. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lloyd-austin/the-safety-and-security-of-our-democracy-demands-competent-civilian/) [Lloyd Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lloyd-austin/) > [When cutting staff at the Pentagon, don't eliminate the thin layer that assures civilian control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-rumsfeld/when-cutting-staff-at-the-pentagon-don-t-eliminate-the-thin-layer/) [Donald Rumsfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-rumsfeld/) > [The thing that really struck me was how many firms that we think of as strictly civilian had ties to the Pentagon. Companies like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-turse/the-thing-that-really-struck-me-was-how-many-firms-that-we-think-of/) [Nick Turse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-turse/) > [Spending should be transparent. All spending by the Pentagon should be online. Every check. Exceptions should be made for legitimate national security issues. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-norquist/spending-should-be-transparent-all-spending-by-the-pentagon-should-be/) [Grover Norquist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-norquist/) > [Peace is a condition in which no civilian pays any attention to military casualties which do not achieve a page one lead story unless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/peace-is-a-condition-in-which-no-civilian-pays-any-attention-to/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [Every day, we at the United Nations see the human toll of an absence of regulations or lax controls on the arms trade. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ban-ki-moon/every-day-we-at-the-united-nations-see-the-human-toll-of-an-absence/) [Ban Ki-moon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ban-ki-moon/) > [In America, we're getting too comfortable with our ability to take kinetic strikes around the world without having enough process to avoid consistently the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/in-america-we-re-getting-too-comfortable-with-our-ability-to-take/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Reparations - not just aid - should be provided by those responsible for devastating Iraqi civilian society by cruel sanctions and military actions, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/reparations-not-just-aid-should-be-provided-by-those-responsible-for/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [I'm a fully trained cosmonaut and have completed 800 hours training, which has made me the No. 1 civilian reserve ready to visit the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-blessed/i-m-a-fully-trained-cosmonaut-and-have-completed-800-hours-training/) [Brian Blessed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-blessed/) > [By citing the UN Charter I indicate that the defensive party to the conflict should use only proportionate force, try to avoid civilian casualties,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhikkhu-bodhi/by-citing-the-un-charter-i-indicate-that-the-defensive-party-to-the/) [Bhikkhu Bodhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhikkhu-bodhi/) > [Let the soldier yield to the civilian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/let-the-soldier-yield-to-the-civilian/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [“Civilians enjoy their time because soldiers sacrifice their time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/civilians-enjoy-their-time-because-soldiers-sacrifice-their-time/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) ## More by David Swanson > [Many militarists would like to see California's votes vanish from the national electoral system, which would then become more Republican.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-swanson/many-militarists-would-like-to-see-california-s-votes-vanish-from-the/) [David Swanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-swanson/) > [California as a nation or part of a larger West Coast nation, should other states join with California, would be a good influence on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-swanson/california-as-a-nation-or-part-of-a-larger-west-coast-nation-should/) [David Swanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-swanson/) > [I think almost everything important that's ever happened was unimaginable shortly before it happened. Good things and bad things: ending slavery, ending child labor,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-swanson/i-think-almost-everything-important-that-s-ever-happened-was/) [David Swanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-swanson/) > [I can't say with certainty that slavery would have ended more quickly and more completely if the South had been allowed to leave and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-swanson/i-can-t-say-with-certainty-that-slavery-would-have-ended-more-quickly/) [David Swanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-swanson/) > [I think it's more likely that we can make positive changes happen on environment and military issues if states begin to secede. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-swanson/i-think-it-s-more-likely-that-we-can-make-positive-changes-happen-on/) [David Swanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-swanson/) > [No other nation killed people the way the United States did to end slavery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-swanson/no-other-nation-killed-people-the-way-the-united-states-did-to-end/) [David Swanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-swanson/) > [I'm not convinced that the people of Arizona as a nation couldn't do better to protect equal rights for all than the people of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-swanson/i-m-not-convinced-that-the-people-of-arizona-as-a-nation-couldn-t-do/) [David Swanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-swanson/) > [The United States has been becoming worse year after year after year for decades, and it's guaranteed to continue down that path if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-swanson/the-united-states-has-been-becoming-worse-year-after-year-after-year/) [David Swanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-swanson/) > [Breaking the United States up into a number of pieces could be very good for the integration of those new nations with the rest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-swanson/breaking-the-united-states-up-into-a-number-of-pieces-could-be-very/) [David Swanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-swanson/) > [California, like anywhere else on Earth, should have the right to secede whether the United States likes it or not. The preferences of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-swanson/california-like-anywhere-else-on-earth-should-have-the-right-to/) [David Swanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-swanson/) > [I think the election of Donald Trump, if you want to call it an election, was unimaginable to most people, which is part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-swanson/i-think-the-election-of-donald-trump-if-you-want-to-call-it-an/) [David Swanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-swanson/) > [Imagine Jon Stewart if he gave a damn. He's like Howard Zinn after 12 beers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-swanson/imagine-jon-stewart-if-he-gave-a-damn-he-s-like-howard-zinn-after-12/) [David Swanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-swanson/) > [If we think that we can somehow gain control of the US government, bring it under popular, enlightened progressive control, preserve a habitable climate,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-swanson/if-we-think-that-we-can-somehow-gain-control-of-the-us-government/) [David Swanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-swanson/) > [Slavery remained in the Deep South by other names - in prison programs with charges over nothing and eternal debt that threatened every African-American…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-swanson/slavery-remained-in-the-deep-south-by-other-names-in-prison-programs/) [David Swanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-swanson/) > [Climate change is so unimaginable that most Americans deny it's happening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-swanson/climate-change-is-so-unimaginable-that-most-americans-deny-it-s/) [David Swanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-swanson/) [Explore all 18 David Swanson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-swanson/) ## More Civilian quotes > [Civilian law around aviation is much looser than those governing military. Civilian planes can basically fly wherever they want in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-paglen/civilian-law-around-aviation-is-much-looser-than-those-governing/) [Trevor Paglen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-paglen/) > [After I was discharged from the military, it was difficult trying to become a civilian,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kyle/after-i-was-discharged-from-the-military-it-was-difficult-trying-to/) [Chris Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kyle/) > [Spending should be transparent. All spending by the Pentagon should be online. Every check. Exceptions should be made for legitimate national security issues. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grover-norquist/spending-should-be-transparent-all-spending-by-the-pentagon-should-be/) [Grover Norquist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grover-norquist/) > [Some 70% to 80% of all who join the military will return to the civilian workforce. They'll return to communities, and one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/some-70-to-80-of-all-who-join-the-military-will-return-to-the/) [Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) > [I think it's a common misconception in the civilian community that the military community is filled with just drills and discipline and pain. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-driver/i-think-it-s-a-common-misconception-in-the-civilian-community-that/) [Adam Driver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-driver/) > [Let the soldier yield to the civilian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/let-the-soldier-yield-to-the-civilian/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [I'm a civilian, a citizen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-remnick/i-m-a-civilian-a-citizen/) [David Remnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-remnick/) > [WikiLeaks exposed corruption, war crimes, torture and cover-ups. It showed that we were lied to about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan; that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jemima-khan/wikileaks-exposed-corruption-war-crimes-torture-and-cover-ups-it/) [Jemima Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jemima-khan/) > [During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Latin America moved decisively away from military rule and toward civilian democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/during-the-late-1970s-and-early-1980s-latin-america-moved-decisively/) [Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/) > [By citing the UN Charter I indicate that the defensive party to the conflict should use only proportionate force, try to avoid civilian casualties,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhikkhu-bodhi/by-citing-the-un-charter-i-indicate-that-the-defensive-party-to-the/) [Bhikkhu Bodhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhikkhu-bodhi/) > [During my administration, our desire has been to strengthen the civilian spirit of our people. Thus, we have eliminated military ranks and salutes from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scar-arias/during-my-administration-our-desire-has-been-to-strengthen-the/) [Óscar Arias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scar-arias/) > [I'm a fully trained cosmonaut and have completed 800 hours training, which has made me the No. 1 civilian reserve ready to visit the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-blessed/i-m-a-fully-trained-cosmonaut-and-have-completed-800-hours-training/) [Brian Blessed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-blessed/) > [“I’ve never shot a civilian except when under orders.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-t-vollmann/i-ve-never-shot-a-civilian-except-when-under-orders/) [William T. Vollmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-t-vollmann/) > [It's important. One of the principles in the United States is civilian control of the military.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-clark/it-s-important-one-of-the-principles-in-the-united-states-is-civilian/) [Wesley Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-clark/) > [Nonetheless, Article 5 makes clear that if an Iraqi civilian who is not a member of the armed forces, has engaged in attacks on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yoo/nonetheless-article-5-makes-clear-that-if-an-iraqi-civilian-who-is/) [John Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yoo/) [Browse all 108 Civilian quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilian/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The Pentagon is supposed to be under civilian control and it ought to be up to the people of the United States, not the profiteers.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Swanson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-swanson/the-pentagon-is-supposed-to-be-under-civilian-control-and-it-ought-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Civilian" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-swanson/the-pentagon-is-supposed-to-be-under-civilian-control-and-it-ought-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c6/david-swanson-29886_civilian_the-pentagon-is-supposed-to-be-under-civ_810767.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c6/david-swanson-29886_civilian_the-pentagon-is-supposed-to-be-under-civ_810767.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c6/david-swanson-29886_civilian_the-pentagon-is-supposed-to-be-under-civ_810767.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The Pentagon is supposed to be under civilian control and it ought to be up to the people of the United…” — David Swanson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "David Swanson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-swanson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The Pentagon is supposed to be...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-swanson/the-pentagon-is-supposed-to-be-under-civilian-control-and-it-ought-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-swanson/the-pentagon-is-supposed-to-be-under-civilian-control-and-it-ought-to/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```