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Smedley D. Butler: A Maverick Marine and Critic of War Profiteering
Smedley Darlington Butler (1881–1940) was one of the most decorated officers in U.S. Marine Corps history, earning two Medals of Honor and rising to the rank of major general before his retirement in 1931.9d3daf Born into a prominent Quaker family in Pennsylvania, Butler defied his pacifist upbringing to pursue a military career, enlisting at age 16 during the Spanish-American War.5690e8 Over his 34-year service, he participated in numerous conflicts, including the Philippine-American War, the Boxer Rebellion in China, World War I, and the so-called "Banana Wars"—U.S. interventions in Latin America and the Caribbean to protect American corporate interests, such as those of fruit companies and banks.ae59fb At the time of his death, Butler was the most highly decorated Marine in U.S. history, known for his bravery and leadership in combat.53f386 However, in his later years, he became a outspoken anti-war activist, criticizing U.S. militarism and imperialism. He famously exposed an alleged 1934 plot by business elites to overthrow President Franklin D. Roosevelt, testifying before Congress about the "Business Plot."ae3a19 Butler's transformation from warrior to whistleblower cemented his legacy as a principled critic of the military-industrial complex long before the term was coined.
War Is a Racket: Exposing the Profiteers of Conflict
Published in 1935 as a short book based on a series of speeches, War Is a Racket is Butler's scathing indictment of war as a profit-driven enterprise that enriches a select few while sacrificing the lives of soldiers and civilians.e11304 Drawing from his firsthand experiences, Butler argues that wars are orchestrated not for noble causes like democracy or defense, but to serve corporate greed—describing the U.S. military as "high-class muscle men" for big business.e03340 He details how American interventions in countries like Mexico, Nicaragua, and Haiti during the early 20th century primarily benefited companies in industries such as oil, sugar, and banking, creating "new millionaires and billionaires" from World War I alone.78c307 The book proposes radical solutions, including limiting military forces to defensive purposes, nationalizing war industries to eliminate profiteering, and requiring a public referendum before declaring war.deab99 Concise and fiery, War Is a Racket remains a seminal anti-war text, influencing generations of activists and thinkers by highlighting the economic underpinnings of conflict.dab439
This article was generated by Grok, an AI model developed by xAI, based on user queries about Smedley Butler and his book War Is a Racket. Generated on September 13, 2025.
Smedley Darlington Butler (1881–1940) was one of the most decorated officers in U.S. Marine Corps history, earning two Medals of Honor and rising to the rank of major general before his retirement in 1931.9d3daf Born into a prominent Quaker family in Pennsylvania, Butler defied his pacifist upbringing to pursue a military career, enlisting at age 16 during the Spanish-American War.5690e8 Over his 34-year service, he participated in numerous conflicts, including the Philippine-American War, the Boxer Rebellion in China, World War I, and the so-called "Banana Wars"—U.S. interventions in Latin America and the Caribbean to protect American corporate interests, such as those of fruit companies and banks.ae59fb At the time of his death, Butler was the most highly decorated Marine in U.S. history, known for his bravery and leadership in combat.53f386 However, in his later years, he became a outspoken anti-war activist, criticizing U.S. militarism and imperialism. He famously exposed an alleged 1934 plot by business elites to overthrow President Franklin D. Roosevelt, testifying before Congress about the "Business Plot."ae3a19 Butler's transformation from warrior to whistleblower cemented his legacy as a principled critic of the military-industrial complex long before the term was coined.
War Is a Racket: Exposing the Profiteers of Conflict
Published in 1935 as a short book based on a series of speeches, War Is a Racket is Butler's scathing indictment of war as a profit-driven enterprise that enriches a select few while sacrificing the lives of soldiers and civilians.e11304 Drawing from his firsthand experiences, Butler argues that wars are orchestrated not for noble causes like democracy or defense, but to serve corporate greed—describing the U.S. military as "high-class muscle men" for big business.e03340 He details how American interventions in countries like Mexico, Nicaragua, and Haiti during the early 20th century primarily benefited companies in industries such as oil, sugar, and banking, creating "new millionaires and billionaires" from World War I alone.78c307 The book proposes radical solutions, including limiting military forces to defensive purposes, nationalizing war industries to eliminate profiteering, and requiring a public referendum before declaring war.deab99 Concise and fiery, War Is a Racket remains a seminal anti-war text, influencing generations of activists and thinkers by highlighting the economic underpinnings of conflict.dab439
This article was generated by Grok, an AI model developed by xAI, based on user queries about Smedley Butler and his book War Is a Racket. Generated on September 13, 2025.
