War is a Racket

Quite by accident yesterday, I discovered something about a name that I've seen since I was a kid, but I knew nothing about the person. On Route 420 in Delaware County, I 'm not sure what little town it's on -- it might by Holmes -- there's the General Smedley D. Butler US Marine Corps training center. I remember driving past there in 1973, when the Watergate hearings were on. I remember being somehow scared by the presence of a military installation -- this was but months after the formal "end" of the Vietnam war, and the country was tumbling into chaos over Watergate. At any rate, the other day I looked at my WinMX client, and one of the user names was Smedley Butler. I immediately googled him and the first link was this interesting piece. I don't think I ever expected a Marine General to write so candidly about his perceptions. He affirms the lesson that all may know, but so few seem to really take to heart -- war is about profit. It is about how the few manipulate the many to believe their cause is just so that the few can make enormous profits. Period. End of story.
Quite a character. Brings to mind Wesley Clark today. Somebody who knows the real deal. Although the times are different, it's time somebody steps forward and tells the truth.