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Chapter 1: War is a Racket
“War is a racket. It always has been.
It is possibly the oldest, easily the most profitable, surely the most vicious. 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.
A racket is best described, I believe, as something that is not what it seems to the majority of the people. Only a small "inside" group knows what it is about. It is conducted for the benefit of the very few, at the expense of the very many. Out of war a few people make huge fortunes.” -- Major General Smedley Butler
Even then, during the First and Second World wars, war profiteers, millionaires and billionaires arose, more so after WW2.
This racket took all the profit all the while escaping most of the responsibility of actually conducting war. The physical act of taking another man's life. Of losing the man next to you. Of wounds, both Physical and mental, that many have borne for their gain.
The bill is paid by the people through taxes and through their lives as the rich sit back and dream of wars that the ordinary man will have to meet.
With 37 years experience as a highly decorated US Marine(more than half his life. He died at the age of 59), and having fought in both WW1 and WW2, this account should not be taken lightly.
Chapter 2: Who Makes the Profits?
During war, the coffers fling open and all the suppliers are able to make many folds more than they could have during peacetime.
They manage to get these funds through well dressed speeches about patriotism and love of country.
A lot of profit was made by these industrialists, some of whom produced goods that were not used or that broke before even being of use.
However, no one thought of the ordinary foot soldier, the mitigation of loss of life or their re entry to the country.
Chapter 3: Who Pays the Bills?
Fiscally, the government financed this using war bonds, a special type of credit. (debt) But the greatest bill of all was footed by the soldier who paid with their minds, limbs and ultimately their lives.
They also paid financially for it.
Napoleon once said, “All men are enamored of decorations...they positively hunger for them”
The introduction of the Napoleonic system of medals that replaced prize money. Fight in a war and win a medal for your bravery!
This coupled with the fact that the men had to pay for their own supplies and life insurance, they were left with barely anything, saving the military industrial complex millions, conscripting men who are of age to fight in these pointless wars.
Chapter 4: How to Smash This Racket!
War can not be ended by peace parleys and disarmament conferences.
- You smash the racket by making it compulsory for the rich and wealthy to be conscripted, and that they must also provide half of their wealth to support the war effort.
Give them 30 days to think it over and guarantee, there will be peace negotiated.
- Another way is by conducting a plebiscite on those most likely to get conscripted. A vote to decide whether the war is necessary or if it can be avoided.
- And finally by limiting the military forces to home defense only. No more empire building.
Chapter 5: To Hell With War!
The biggest reason why the US joined the war was because of its threatened financial interests. The Nazi’s were winning and the industrialists and other money men were concerned if the Third Reich won, who would pay when only Germany remained. Definitely not Hitler!
Money and profit.
Disarmaments have never worked. Since no Admiral wants to be without a ship nor General without a command.
Instead, scientists are being put to work to invent even more ghastlier methods of mass annihilation.
A never ending arms race.
And its for that reason that he says
TO HELL WITH WAR!
