1,922 words
When I look back on all of America’s wars, sometimes I wonder how many of them were justified. By entering a certain war, did America’s leaders truly have the welfare of the people in mind? Or were they more concerned about their own power and enrichment? I certainly don’t have the historical chops to exhaustively break down every war the United States has ever fought, but if there is one thing the dissident Right has taught me these past few years, it’s that when the government tells you it’s time for war, hold on to your wallet — because you’re likely to get fleeced.
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12 comments
The American Way of War Profits is the American Way of War.
Bless Smedley Butler.
Smedley Butler is no professional writer…
No, Smedley was a fighter, the most decorated Marine in U.S. history — winner of not just one, but two Medals of Honor.
His writing is remembered to this day and had to include the JQ among the “big money interests” behind Presidents Wilson, FDR and others who involved the U.S. in unnecessary war rackets. I haven’t found mention of that, however. Perhaps someone else can dig up the facts.
I’ve heard that if one wants to learn who is responsible for all wars in the world just give the actor Mel Gibson (who portrayed a fighter on the big screen) a drink and he will tell you the truth.
The US hasn’t fought an actual war that was beneficial to the American people and the White race since the Mexican-American War.
Great kinks song by Dave Davies
It sure is. That’s awesome you recognized it. I’ll take The Kinks over The Beatles anyday. From 65/6′-73/4′ they were absolutely epic. I’ve seen Ray Davies solo twice around 2009 and 2011 and he was great but I would have given my left arm to have seen the Brothers Davies with the original band at their peak. God Save The Kinks!
OK so this is way off topic, gents, but I am a huge Kinks fan too. For CC I’ve reviewed the songs Lola and Black Messiah, and the album Arthur. Check it out
Although it is possible that Smedley Butler would have soon soured on the New Deal and President Roosevelt’s warmongering, I don’t think the 1940 death of the long-retired general, who had been passed up for the office of Marine Corps Commandant, is any great mystery.
If you watch a clip from his speech only a few years earlier about the alleged Fascist conspiracy against Roosevelt and to end freedom of the press, General Butler’s voice is incredibly raspy. Obviously Smedley was a heavy smoker.
And smokers have twice the likelihood of lung, throat, esophageal, and stomach cancer than non-smokers. Butler likely died from cancer of the upper gastro-intestinal tract.
Anyway, FDR’s idea of freedom of the press basically means putting more Jews in control of the mass-media.
An interesting point is the involvement of the McCormack-Dickstein committee in the House of Representatives with this Fascist coup expose. Could General Butler have been manipulated?
Congressman John McCormack (D-MA) was a Boston-born Catholic who was an ardent New Dealer who loved Negroes and strongly opposed Isolationism ─ but he was also anti-Communist. McCormack had apparently passed the Bar exam without either a High School diploma or a college education. Enlisting in the U.S. Army near the end of World War I, he went from Private to Sergeant Major and was undergoing officer training when the Armistice ended the war. When McCormack was Speaker of the House in the 1960s, he staunchly supported the Vietnam War and strongly supported the Civil Rights agenda.
Congressman Samuel Dickstein (D-NY) was a Lithuanian-born Jew who was on the payroll of the NKVD. Congressman Dickstein chaired the Dickstein-McCormack Special Committee from 1934-37, which in 1946 was renamed as the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC). Dickstein had lost the committee chairmanship to Congressman Martin Dies (D-TX) in 1938.
Congressman Dies focused the spotlight on fellow-travelers in Hollywood and Communism instead of finding (probably nonexistent) Nazi spies. Martin Dies was also criticized for not being an ardent New Dealer, and later he even signed the 1956 Southern Manifesto opposing the court-ordered desegregation of public schools.
No one was ever prosecuted for this alleged Fascist coup that General Butler was accused of leading ─ a plot that was probably nonexistent.
Was Smedley Butler manipulated by the same warmongers whom he warned us against?
Today we know from the Venona decrypts that Congressman Samuel Dickstein was a Soviet agent.
While the good General’s star was setting, Congressman Dickstein made himself a lucrative business providing U.S. visas for Soviet spies. Samuel Dickstein later became a justice with the NY State Supreme Court.
🙂
Manipulated in the sense that a bogus “fascist” group contacted Butler about their fictitious plans, and he bought it and then predictably reported it to Congress to justify federal investigation into Nazi activities in the 1930s?
I wonder if Dickstein got bullied as a kid
Not nearly enough I think.
What you won’t find in the book is that he was a proud socialist.
He said that like much of America, he was fooled by yellow journalism. During the Spanish – American war he wrote in Nicaragua that what angered him was that the whole revolution was inspired by Americans who had wildcat investments that they wanted to make good by controlled government and monopoly. In an article to socialist newspaper Common Sense, he said “I spent 33 years plus in active duty as high class muscle for big business, Wall St. and bankers. I was a racketeer for capitalism. I helped make Mexico (Tampico) safe for US oil in 1914, I helped make Cuba and Haiti safe for National City Bank. I helped rape 1/2 dozen central American Republics for the same forces. Nicaragua for the international banking house of Brown Bros. in 1902-12. US sugar interest in Dominican Rep. 1916, and Honduras for American Fruit (Chiquita) 1903. China for Standard oil in 1927.
Looking back I could give Al Capone advice (he had 3 districts, I had 3 continents) In 1932 helped lead WWI veterans for their dues on a march to DC and encampment called Hooverville. Hoover sent George Patton to fire and gas the camps. When the soldiers cried shame and Patton was approached by a vet who saved his life, he claimed not knowing him and forbid him to return. That soldier was Mr. Joseph Angelo who saved his life. Patton later said he was the bravest soldier of the war, unmatched by any other.
He also said ” All war hero culture in US have 1 thing in common, Obediently obey, never question, never threaten the profiteers and their politicians smearing all who speak out.
Favorite Kinks album everyone?
Muswell Hillbillies has my vote
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