This talk from 1933 aged poorly. America's initial lack of intervention in WW2 resulted in Pearl Harbor and German conquest of most of Europe. Smedley Butler can stay forgotten as a footnote in the dusty annals of history.
War Is a Racket (1933)
11–20 of 235 posts
Re: War Is a Racket (1933)
#12Earlier quoted context omitted.
Where is major media in the US commonly arguing in favor of a US war with Russia? They're certainly talking about Russia re Ukraine frequently. I've seen a lot of the headlines spilling out of NY Times, WaPo, Fox, MSNBC, et al. and they're not arguing in favor of the US going to war with Russia. That's a very rare argument. Almost exclusively the arguments are about how to respond after Russia invades Ukraine, in ter…
It's all about making the war seem unavoidable. Building a common frame of reference that will then be played by media and politics to position the US on the "right side". Do the US media talk about how the US (via NATO) is, and has been for years, provoking Russia? If you find the above outrageous, then the media has done a fine job, and the country is ready to go to war. No need to explicitly argue in favour of it.
I would like to see the Ukrainians be able to determine their own fate: without war. All the numbers say the Ukrainians, by vast majority want their country for themselves, unmolested.
What I hear from Western media is deep worry for the fates of these people who have become friends of the EU bloc. I work with Ukrainians daily. I am deeply worried they will be crushed beneath the tank treads of an authoritarian dictatorship. No one should have to suffer that fate. May they be free, happy and peaceful.
Re: War Is a Racket (1933)
#13Past related threads:
War Is a Racket (1933) - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22012255 - Jan 2020 (181 comments)
War Is a Racket (1935) - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=19772136 - April 2019 (1 comment)
War Is a Racket by General Smedley D. Butler (1933) - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13068641 - Nov 2016 (152 comments)
War Is a Racket (1935) - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11236553 - March 2016 (167 comments)
War Is A Racket, Major General Smedley Butler (1935) - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1897856 - Nov 2010 (3 comments)
Re: War Is a Racket (1933)
#14This talk from 1933 aged poorly. America's initial lack of intervention in WW2 resulted in Pearl Harbor and German conquest of most of Europe. Smedley Butler can stay forgotten as a footnote in the dusty annals of history.
Except that this description of war seems to paint every US military intervention post WWII extremely well.
There's also no point in positing counter-factual scenarios regarding WWII. If you want to imagine a world where the US rushed in and "saved" Europe early and prevents Pearl Harbor, you also have to imagine a world where US domestic support for Germany ultimately wins out and we end up supporting them.
Re: War Is a Racket (1933)
#15Earlier quoted context omitted.
It's all about making the war seem unavoidable. Building a common frame of reference that will then be played by media and politics to position the US on the "right side". Do the US media talk about how the US (via NATO) is, and has been for years, provoking Russia? If you find the above outrageous, then the media has done a fine job, and the country is ready to go to war. No need to explicitly argue in favour of it.
I would like to see the Ukrainians be able to determine their own fate: without war. All the numbers say the Ukrainians, by vast majority want their country for themselves, unmolested. What I hear from Western media is deep worry for the fates of these people who have become friends of the EU bloc. I work with Ukrainians daily. I am deeply worried they will be crushed beneath the tank treads of an authoritarian dicta…
It would be unfortunate for Ukraina to become next Afghanistan or Iraq too.
Re: War Is a Racket (1933)
#16This talk from 1933 aged poorly. America's initial lack of intervention in WW2 resulted in Pearl Harbor and German conquest of most of Europe. Smedley Butler can stay forgotten as a footnote in the dusty annals of history.
America's initial lack of intervention in WW2 resulted in Pearl Harbor and German conquest of most of Europe
Europe's refusal to follow Wilson's Fourteen Points plan and instead punish Germany as hard as possible is what created WW2 in the first place. Exactly how many of Europe's messes was the US supposed to help clean up before saying "No more"?
Smedley Butler can stay forgotten as a footnote in the dusty annals of history.
The legacy of the most decorated marine in history will live on longer than yours or mine.
Re: War Is a Racket (1933)
#17Succinct and timely as we watch the US media and political class breathlessly try to rally us all to go to war with Russia. Even the Ukrainians aren't as eager and worked-up; NATO, in fact, has not stood up any forces so far. It's insane.
Where is major media in the US commonly arguing in favor of a US war with Russia? They're certainly talking about Russia re Ukraine frequently. I've seen a lot of the headlines spilling out of NY Times, WaPo, Fox, MSNBC, et al. and they're not arguing in favor of the US going to war with Russia. That's a very rare argument. Almost exclusively the arguments are about how to respond after Russia invades Ukraine, in ter…
It's hard to sort it out. I've read stories in American media that describe a Russian troop build-up and make an invasion seem inevitable ("they wouldn't expend these resources to mobilize this many soldiers without plans to invade"). I've also read stories that claim the Russians only have ~10,000 troops at the border, not nearly enough for an invasion, and that the amount hasn't actually changed.
The Ukranians seem to be downplaying the risk of invasion. Whether or not the US media wants a war, it may be the case that they've overestimated the likelihood of an invasion.
Re: War Is a Racket (1933)
#18Jocko Podcast with the author is a great listen. https://jockopodcast.com/2021/09/22/300-war-is-a-racket/
The author died in 1940, is this podcast an old recording or is it about a different author?
Re: War Is a Racket (1933)
#19No post body was provided.
Re: War Is a Racket (1933)
#20Jocko Podcast with the author is a great listen. https://jockopodcast.com/2021/09/22/300-war-is-a-racket/
The author died in 1940, is this podcast an old recording or is it about a different author?
It's not with the author. They might have been confused because the co-host was a Marine officer as well.