War is a racket. It is the only one international in scope. It is the only one in which the profits are reckoned in dollars and the losses in lives. Smedley Butler More Quotes by Smedley Butler More Quotes From Smedley Butler War is just a racket... I believe in adequate defense at the coastline and nothing else. Smedley Butler war peace believe War is a racket. It always has been. It is possibly the oldest, easily the most profitable, surely the most vicious. Smedley Butler racket war peace Out of war nations acquire additional territory, if they are victorious. They just take it. This newly acquired territory promptly is exploited by the few - the selfsame few who wrung dollars out of blood in the war. The general public shoulders the bill. Smedley Butler territory war blood My mental faculties remained in suspended animation while I obeyed the orders of the higher-ups. This is typical with everyone in the military service. Smedley Butler military war peace 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. Smedley Butler marine military country For a great many years, as a soldier, I had a suspicion that war was a racket; not until I retired to civil life did I fully realize it. Smedley Butler soldier war years It is dressed into speeches about patriotism, love of country...but the profits...skyrocket. Smedley Butler age dark country ...The war (WWI) cost your Uncle Sam $52 billion. $39 billion was expended in the actual war period. This expenditure yielded $16 billion in profits. Smedley Butler uncles dark war I had a swell racket. I was rewarded with honors, medals, promotions. l might have given Al Capone a few hints. The best he could do was to operate a racket in three city districts. The Marines operated on three continents. Smedley Butler marine cities honor One hundred and twenty Marines were detailed to officer a force of twenty-six hundred Haitians. Smedley Butler marine six twenties 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. Smedley Butler oil light brother 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. Smedley Butler oil cities boys War is a racket. It always has been... A few profit - and the many pay. But there is a way to stop it. You can't end it by disarmament conferences. You can't eliminate it by peace parleys at Geneva. Well-meaning but impractical groups can't wipe it out by resolutions. It can be smashed effectively only by taking the profit out of war. Smedley Butler you war peace way We must permit the youth of the land who would bear arms to decide whether or not there should be war. Smedley Butler decide youth land war I served in all commissioned ranks from a second Lieutenant to a Major General. And during that time, 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 for capitalism. Smedley Butler street man business time
