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Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Quote of the day -- What War Really Is


From a General in the US Marine Corps--General Smedley Butler, born this day, 1881:

A male in his military uniform; military ribbons are visible.

"I spent 33 years and four months in active military service and during that period I spent most of my time as a high class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street and the bankers. In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism. 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. I helped purify Nicaragua for the International Banking House of Brown Brothers in 1902–1912. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for the American sugar interests in 1916. I helped make Honduras right for the American fruit companies in 1903. In China in 1927 I helped see to it that Standard Oil went on its way unmolested. Looking back on it, I might 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." 

-- Born Smedley Butler (July 30, 1881 – June 21, 1940), a highly decorated Major General in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Links:  Smedley Butler - Wikipedia

War Is a Racket



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