War Is a Racket pamphlet

[Selatius]

War is just a racket. A racket is best described, I believe, as something that is not what it seems to the majority of people. Only a small inside group knows what it is about. It is conducted for the benefit of the very few at the expense of the masses.

I believe in adequate defense at the coastline and nothing else. If a nation comes over here to fight, then we'll fight. The trouble with America is that when the dollar only earns 6 percent over here, then it gets restless and goes overseas to get 100 percent. Then the flag follows the dollar and the soldiers follow the flag.

I wouldn't go to war again as I have done to protect some lousy investment of the bankers. There are only two things we should fight for. One is the defense of our homes and the other is the Bill of Rights. War for any other reason is simply a racket.

There isn't a trick in the racketeering bag that the military gang is blind to. It has its "finger men" to point out enemies, its "muscle men" to destroy enemies, its "brain men" to plan war preparations, and a "Big Boss" Super-Nationalistic-Capitalism.

It may seem odd for me, a military man to adopt such a comparison. Truthfulness compels me to. I spent thirty- three years and four months in active military service as a member of this country's most agile military force, the Marine Corps. I served in all commissioned ranks from Second Lieutenant to Major-General. And during that period, I spent most of my time being a high class muscle- man for Big Business, for Wall Street and for the Bankers. In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism.

I suspected I was just part of a racket at the time. Now I am sure of it. Like all the members of the military profession, I never had a thought of my own until I left the service. My mental faculties remained in suspended animation while I obeyed the orders of higher-ups. This is typical with everyone in the military service.

I helped make Mexico, especially Tampico, safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in. I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefits of Wall Street. The record of racketeering is long. I helped purify Nicaragua for the international banking house of Brown Brothers in 1909-1912. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for American sugar interests in 1916. In China I helped to see to it that Standard Oil went its way unmolested.

During those years, I had, as the boys in the back room would say, a swell racket. Looking back on it, I feel that I could have given Al Capone a few hints. The best he could do was to operate his racket in three districts. I operated on three continents.

-- Maj. Gen. Smedley D. Butler, USMC; War Is a Racket, 1935

[havocmom]

1. Smedley had it right on the nose

[Cha]

2. War IS a RACKET! And anyone

who doesn't know that must be brainwashed by fauxnoise and Toyko rush.

[Kurovski]

3. K&R. (nt)

[lonestarnot]

4. K & R

[slipslidingaway]

5. K&R n/t

[EVDebs]

6. The Bonus Army March on Wash DC in 1932 is what got FDR elected

"They were led by Walter W. Waters, a former Army sergeant, and encouraged by an appearance from retired Marine Corps Major General Smedley Butler, one of the most popular military figures of the time."

http://www.answers.com/topic/bonus-army

Butler appeared at the Anacostia encampment -- Hooverville -- and the fun began with the attack by MacArthur, Eisenhower, and Patton.

It is said that FDR knew he was going to be the next president after media reported on this attack, America's "Tienanmen Square".

[Decruiter]

7. If only what General Butler had to say was well known. If only it had

been required reading in high school civics, what a difference it could have made.

His words can still make a difference.

Go to Vets for Peace, IVAW or any other number of organizations, give a few dollars to help to pay for the cost of this small book, to help distribute it to everyone. General Butler was a true patriot, speaking truth and he spoke volumes.

He is a true "AMERICAN HERO"! Let the men who have to fight, vote first to decide to fight.