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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMUST SEE MEMORIAL DAY VIDEO: "War is a Racket" by Marine Corp Major General Smedley Butler
Smedley Darlington Butler (July 30, 1881 June 21, 1940) was a United States Marine Corps major general, the highest rank authorized at that time, and at the time of his death the most decorated Marine in U.S. history.
During his 34-year career as a Marine, he participated in military actions in the Philippines, China, in Central America and the Caribbean during the Banana Wars, and France in World War I. Butler is well known for having later become an outspoken critic of U.S. wars and their consequences, as well as exposing the Business Plot, an alleged plan to overthrow the U.S. government.
By the end of his career, Butler had received 16 medals, five for heroism. He is one of 19 men to receive the Medal of Honor twice, one of three to be awarded both the Marine Corps Brevet Medal and the Medal of Honor, and the only Marine to be awarded the Brevet Medal and two Medals of Honor, all for separate actions.
In 1935, Butler wrote a book entitled War Is a Racket
This is a dramatic reading of his powerful "War is a Racket" speech given before the Veterans of Foreign Wars in 1935.
Major General Smedley Butler
immoderate
(20,885 posts)--imm
brush
(53,949 posts)Last edited Mon May 30, 2016, 05:12 PM - Edit history (1)
by the American Liberty League in the 1930s.
Prescott Bush, the Dupont brothers and Alfred Sloan are just a few of the wealthy involved in the plot.
99th_Monkey
(19,326 posts)I imagine the fact that Prescott Bush, Dupont, et.al. were among the conspirators explains that.
brush
(53,949 posts)what it was plotting to take up arms against the US if they didn't back off of opposing his New Deal programs.
They did, as they could have been publicly shamed, and possibly executed.
99th_Monkey
(19,326 posts)or maybe I'm not surprised.
... that would cut pretty close to the bone with the Bush Crime Family.
brush
(53,949 posts)sorefeet
(1,241 posts)right now, because I think there are people in this election trying to pull a coup. Like Trump and the wing nuts.
gordianot
(15,249 posts)Our potential leaders are not inspiring Butler did not like the rackets.
FairWinds
(1,717 posts)Our great Boston Chapter is called
The Smedley Butler Brigade
BTW, the Vets For Peace "Full Disclosure" has a great
new issue out now that corrects many of the outrageous lies
being re-written into the history of the Vietnam War.
http://www.veteransforpeace.org/our-work/vfp-national-projects/vietnam-full-disclosure-campaign/
PAX
imagine2015
(2,054 posts)Response to imagine2015 (Original post)
Mosby This message was self-deleted by its author.
imagine2015
(2,054 posts)gordianot
(15,249 posts)For those who claim to be a patriot this man was a patriot.
annabanana
(52,791 posts)It is missing from the textbooks, but it needs to be in the narrative. So I copy, email, tweet and facebook it whenever and wherever it surfaces.
Monk06
(7,675 posts)Romania and the Ukraine I repeated Maj Gen Butler's sentaments in this speach
I was called anti Military and and American hater, troll, disruptor you name it
If I hadn't checked my address bar I would have swore I was being piled on at FreeRepublic
I love Butler Probably the only truly honest man in the English speaking world
He was also famously approached by the Duponts and several other rich industrialists to head a coup against Roosevelt in 1933
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_Plot
Among some on DU, I suspect Freeper Trolls, repeating the history of US imperialism in the nineteenth century and during the cold war makes you and American Hater
LiberalElite
(14,691 posts)when he had a program on Pacifica station WBAI in NYC. Funny what doesn't get taught in school...
polly7
(20,582 posts)imagine2015
(2,054 posts)sorefeet
(1,241 posts)I still think we need another Smedley or two before the election.