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'''Smedley Butler''' was a Major General in the United States Marines who became well known for his 1935 speech "''War is a racket''", recognized by some as a precursor in its recognition of the [[Military-industrial complex]].
'''Smedley Butler''' was a Major General in the [[United States Marines]] who became well known for his 1935 speech "''War is a racket''", recognized by some as a precursor in its recognition of the [[Military-industrial complex]]. Butler wrote,
{{quotebox-float|"I spent 33 years and four months in active military service and during that period I spent most of my time as a high class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street and the bankers. In short, I was a racketeer, a [[gangster]] for [[capitalism]].
I helped make [[Mexico]] and especially Tampico safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make [[Haiti]] and [[Cuba]] a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in. I helped in the raping of half a dozen [[Central American]] republics for the benefit of [[Wall Street]]. I helped purify [[Nicaragua]] for the International Banking House of Brown Brothers in 1902- 1912. I brought light to the [[Dominican Republic]] for the [[American]] sugar interests in 1916. I helped make [[Honduras]] right for the American fruit companies in 1903. In [[China]], in 1927, I helped see to it that [[Standard Oil]] went on its way unmolested. Looking back on it, I might have given [[Al Capone]] a few hints. The best he could do was to operate his racket in three districts. I operated on three [[continent]]s.”}}
[[Category:New Deal]]
[[Category:New Deal]]
[[Category:Great Depression]]
[[Category:Great Depression]]