Posted on Nov 29, 2015
War Is A Racket, by Major General Smedley Butler, 1935
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Have you read War is a Racket by Major General Smedley Butler (two time MOH recipient)?
I just read it last night. It's very short and easy to read. Major General Smedley Butler was always an upfront and frank speaker. He would have became the Commandant of the Marine Corps if it wasn't for criticism of Benito Mussolini in the 1930s, prior to WWII. After retirement, he maintained connection with a lot of veterans' organizations and was always their ally against Congressional funding cuts. Here is the link to the book. Five chapters. Very short read. It can also be found on other websites.
I just read it last night. It's very short and easy to read. Major General Smedley Butler was always an upfront and frank speaker. He would have became the Commandant of the Marine Corps if it wasn't for criticism of Benito Mussolini in the 1930s, prior to WWII. After retirement, he maintained connection with a lot of veterans' organizations and was always their ally against Congressional funding cuts. Here is the link to the book. Five chapters. Very short read. It can also be found on other websites.
War Is A Racket, by Major General Smedley Butler, 1935
Posted from ratical.orgPosted in these groups: 
WWII World War Two
Medal of Honor
WWII World War Two Medal of Honor
Posted 9 y ago
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It's a good book. He had a skeptical, highly intelligent and inquisitive mind.
He was also the choice of several titans of industry to be the dictator installed when a coup overthrew the perceived socialist threat Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Until the conspirators told him of the plan, and he promptly reported them. Perhaps they misunderstood his loyalties.
He was also the choice of several titans of industry to be the dictator installed when a coup overthrew the perceived socialist threat Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Until the conspirators told him of the plan, and he promptly reported them. Perhaps they misunderstood his loyalties.
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Pre-cursor to Eisenower and the "military industrial complex". Anyone who can get past the Patriotism can see it's all about money.
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Sgt Nick Marshall
Agreed republicans and democrats are mostly like teeedle dum and teeedle Dee, the problem is they have a monopoly on our political system.
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Sgt Daniel Timmons
Great read and I wish more would wake up to its truth. It explains why the CIA is always behind these terrorist groups.
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Yes, for Smedley Butler so hated the "racket", he spent 34 years promoting it. If thats how he truly felt, he should have resigned his commission. I firmly believe he was pissed that he didnt get the Commandant's chair and wanted to embarrass the Corps and the country as he had become a socialist.
He's just another veteran in a long list of disgruntled veterans. You know the one with Ron Kovic, John Kerry, and Adam Kokesh. All of whom parlayed their disgruntledness into money or positions of power.
And if you think I'm just a flag waving,, believe America does no wrong kind of guy. You'd be dead wrong.
He's just another veteran in a long list of disgruntled veterans. You know the one with Ron Kovic, John Kerry, and Adam Kokesh. All of whom parlayed their disgruntledness into money or positions of power.
And if you think I'm just a flag waving,, believe America does no wrong kind of guy. You'd be dead wrong.
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SSG (Join to see)
LTC Trent Klug , I agree that his political fallout pushed him to the left, but there is still a lot of truth in his book. The military industrial complex is something that other prominent politicians and general officers have warned the US about.
I've never heard of Ron Kovic or Adam Kokesh. I will have to check them out.
I've never heard of Ron Kovic or Adam Kokesh. I will have to check them out.
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Cpl (Join to see)
There is more to that story than just his or your feelings. He was a patriot, but acknowledged the cronyism, becoming rampant within the congress. Since you've read War is a Racket, have you also researched the Business Plot? Since MGen Butler opposed the fascist takeover, I have to disagree with your assessment. I wonder why this was never taught in our history classes, unless those business leaders just didn't want it in the public knowledge so that it could be attempted again at a future date.
The plot collapsed when Butler went public in late 1934 and exposed the conspiracy. The General revealed the details of the coup attempt in sworn testimony before the "McCormack-Dickstein" Committee (the predecessor of the soon to be infamous "House Un-American Affairs Committee"
http://www.npr.org/2012/02/12/145472726/when-the-bankers-plotted-to-overthrow-fdr
The plot collapsed when Butler went public in late 1934 and exposed the conspiracy. The General revealed the details of the coup attempt in sworn testimony before the "McCormack-Dickstein" Committee (the predecessor of the soon to be infamous "House Un-American Affairs Committee"
http://www.npr.org/2012/02/12/145472726/when-the-bankers-plotted-to-overthrow-fdr
When The Bankers Plotted To Overthrow FDR
Franklin Delano Roosevelt was subject to the kind of vitriol we often see directed at Barack Obama today. But some of FDR's opponents didn't stop at talk: a new book details a starting plot to overthrow FDR and replace him with a fascist military government.
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Capt Lance Gallardo
LTC Trent Klug - With respect LTC Klug, I wouldn't compare Smedley Butler and his two Medal of Honors, and a very successful 30 plus year career in the Marine Corps to the people you listed. There really is no comparison to those veteran's brief combat military service. Smedley won both his MOHs in lousy Banana Republic Wars that were mostly fought to directly maintain US Corporate interests in China, Carribean, Mexico, Central and South American Countries, that were little more than US Muscle flexing that had little legitimacy for the use of force in fact or law.
Smedley Butler was a product of his times, and Smedley Butler was under no illusion about what he was doing. I recommend the book "Maverick Marine," for someone interested in reading about Smedley Butler. ""…I helped make Mexico and 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 benefit of Wall Street. The record of racketeering is long. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for American Sugar interests in 1916. I helped make Honduras 'right' for American fruit companies in 1903. In China in 1927 I helped see to it that Standard Oil went on its way unmolested… "http://www.amazon.com/Maverick-Marine-Contradictions-American-Military/dp/ [login to see] /ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid= [login to see] &sr=8-1&keywords=maverick+marine
Smedley Butler was a product of his times, and Smedley Butler was under no illusion about what he was doing. I recommend the book "Maverick Marine," for someone interested in reading about Smedley Butler. ""…I helped make Mexico and 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 benefit of Wall Street. The record of racketeering is long. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for American Sugar interests in 1916. I helped make Honduras 'right' for American fruit companies in 1903. In China in 1927 I helped see to it that Standard Oil went on its way unmolested… "http://www.amazon.com/Maverick-Marine-Contradictions-American-Military/dp/ [login to see] /ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid= [login to see] &sr=8-1&keywords=maverick+marine
Maverick Marine: General Smedley D. Butler and the Contradictions of American Military History:...
Maverick Marine: General Smedley D. Butler and the Contradictions of American Military History [Hans Schmidt] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Smedley Butler's life and career epitomize the contradictory nature of American military policy through the first part of this century. Butler won renown as a Marine battlefield hero
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LTC Trent Klug
With all due respect, Capt Gallardo, you also forgot his Brevet Medal as well.
Of course Smedley Butler was a product of his time. Just as you and I are.
If he truly felt this way, he had the obligation to resign his commission. Instead, he chose to continue with the Corps and retire. A tad bit hypocritical, don't you think.
I know if I was that out-spoken about being used to prop up businesses, I be out in a heartbeat. Maj Gen Butler didnt do that. He waited after collecting that good ol' retirement check.
Of course Smedley Butler was a product of his time. Just as you and I are.
If he truly felt this way, he had the obligation to resign his commission. Instead, he chose to continue with the Corps and retire. A tad bit hypocritical, don't you think.
I know if I was that out-spoken about being used to prop up businesses, I be out in a heartbeat. Maj Gen Butler didnt do that. He waited after collecting that good ol' retirement check.
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