Have you ever wondered about the true motives behind war? Is it really about patriotism and national security?
In War Is a Racket, General Smedley D. Butler challenges common beliefs about warfare. He argues that war makes money for a select few while the majority suffer the consequences.
Keep reading to discover Butler’s eye-opening insights from his military career.
War Makes Money
For a considerable time, war has been depicted as a crucial measure for protecting the nation and as a display of patriotism. Scrutinizing the underlying motives reveals a story in which the rallying cry for battle aligns with the quest for monetary profit. Indeed, the harsh reality is that war makes money for various industries and stakeholders, often at the expense of human lives and societal well-being.
Butler depicts conflict as essentially a venture that yields financial gain for a select few beneficiaries. This confronts the common conviction that engaging in warfare is a necessary evil to maintain a country’s security.
Butler challenges the typical depiction of warfare, arguing that, while it’s often presented as vital for national defense, in reality, it primarily benefits wealthy individuals and corporations through financial gain. Their goal isn’t to safeguard the country but instead to accumulate significant profits originating from military conflict.
What General Butler Saw
During his time in the military, Butler started to have doubts and ultimately came to understand that conflicts are frequently orchestrated for the gain of capitalists and imperialists. He compares his function to being an enforcer for major corporations, the banking industry, and financial entities.
During his military career, he noted that the increasing covert activities of the Navy often incited conflicts instead of preventing them. The instances cited, such as the extensive use of aircraft in operations in the vicinity of the central Pacific atolls, indicate a move towards a more assertive maritime tactical approach.
Butler candidly recounts his involvement in various international missions which were designed to expand and solidify American business interests, as opposed to focusing on the nation’s defensive requirements. He demonstrates that his global influence in promoting capitalist goals is akin to the local supremacy of a gangster like Al Capone, covering endeavors from oil operations in Mexico to ventures motivated by profit in the Caribbean, and supporting agricultural initiatives in Honduras.To sum up, the examination of military conflict from the perspective of an ex-military leader exposes it as a strategy that financially benefits a small elite at the expense of the many. Butler reveals the stark disparity between the romanticized image of conflict and the lucrative reality that enriches a small elite.
