Political Forums  

Go Back   Political Forums > Politicalchat.org discussion boards > History

We appreciate your help

in keeping this site going.
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 03-14-2012, 08:25 PM
BlueStreak's Avatar
BlueStreak BlueStreak is offline
Area Man
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: The Swamp
Posts: 27,407
Our man Smedley............

Quote from Smedley D. Butler, Major General, USMC, Two Time Medal of Honor Winner, from his anti-war classic 'WAR IS A RACKET' :

“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 continents.”

So, when Smedly threw his monkey wrench into the Fascist corporate machines assassination attempt against FDR....To your mind, was this a good thing? Or, since some of you seem to have a hatred for FDR and his policies, should he have stood aside?

I think the man had a guilty conscience and ultimately redeemed himself with an heroic act, preserving to some degree, freedom and democracy for a few more decades. Not that it really changed our foreign policies all that much, unfortunately.

Dave
__________________
"When the lie is so big and the fog so thick, the Republican trick can play out again....."-------Frank Zappa

Last edited by BlueStreak; 03-14-2012 at 08:28 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 03-14-2012, 08:35 PM
bobabode's Avatar
bobabode bobabode is online now
Admin
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Behind the Orange Curtain in California
Posts: 37,188
I'll bet that there are a few current Generals that feel the same way about their service. Wasn't it Ike that warned us about M.I.C.?
__________________
I don't know half of you half as well as I should like, and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.
- Mr. Underhill
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 03-15-2012, 08:19 AM
piece-itpete's Avatar
piece-itpete piece-itpete is offline
Possibly admin. Maybe ;)
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Land of the burning river
Posts: 21,098
Anyone attempting assasination of the Pres is eligible for the death penalty.

I find it interesting that he was appoached at all.

Since WW2 the US military has been largely responsible for world stabilization. Not to say it's perfect but this is Pax Americana and its' place in history is secured.

Pete
__________________
“How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg? Four. Calling a tail a leg doesn't make it a leg.”
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 03-15-2012, 10:20 AM
merrylander's Avatar
merrylander merrylander is offline
Resident octogenarian
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Maryland
Posts: 20,860
Quote:
Originally Posted by piece-itpete View Post
Anyone attempting assasination of the Pres is eligible for the death penalty.

I find it interesting that he was appoached at all.

Since WW2 the US military has been largely responsible for world stabilization. Not to say it's perfect but this is Pax Americana and its' place in history is secured.

Pete
Not to mention the financial contribution we taxpayers have made to several local economies by way of our far flung bases.
__________________
Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds discuss people.
Eleanor Roosevelt
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 03-15-2012, 10:21 AM
BlueStreak's Avatar
BlueStreak BlueStreak is offline
Area Man
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: The Swamp
Posts: 27,407
I think, because of prior services rendered, the people who approached him assumed he would be on their "side". I think, perhaps he decided that it is the common American people, through their Democratically elected representatives, who should be in control. Not the denizens of Mahogany Row.

Semper Fi, Smedley, Semper Fi.

Dave
__________________
"When the lie is so big and the fog so thick, the Republican trick can play out again....."-------Frank Zappa
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 03-15-2012, 11:37 AM
neophyte neophyte is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 192
Quote:
Originally Posted by piece-itpete View Post
Since WW2 the US military has been largely responsible for world stabilization. Not to say it's perfect but this is Pax Americana and its' place in history is secured.

Pete
Cromwell has his niche in history "secured", too.

On the assumption you're not completely ignorant of American Imperialism (including, but not limited to the examples cited in the Smedley quote), might you elaborate on how "the US military has been largely responsible for world stabilization"? Was it a function of the decades long game of nuclear brinksmanship we perpetrated? Was it the invasion of Grenada?

Enlighten us, please.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 03-15-2012, 11:48 AM
piece-itpete's Avatar
piece-itpete piece-itpete is offline
Possibly admin. Maybe ;)
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Land of the burning river
Posts: 21,098
Definately Grenada.



Since WW2 it's been bipartisan US policy to basically enforce borders and police world shipping lanes.

With cursory research you can find the worlds war fatality rate has drasticly decreased while global wealth has soared, which yes has helped the poor as well.

Heck, consider if we did walk away from the obligations we voluntarily assumed. With the rebirth of regional squabbles, large downturn in the global economy, and uncertainty in shipping the food the 1st world ships to the poorest would be one of the first things to go. Guess what that means?

If you'd really like to be concerned for the future, consider that when one large power overtakes another the transition has never happened without war.

Btw Dave, I agree what he did was the right thing, of course. As much as I dislike FDRs policies he was elected President and, unlike the left when Bush was disrespected, would not cheer any slander or threat.

I dispise FDR for ignoring Washingtons example.

Pete
__________________
“How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg? Four. Calling a tail a leg doesn't make it a leg.”
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 03-15-2012, 11:56 AM
piece-itpete's Avatar
piece-itpete piece-itpete is offline
Possibly admin. Maybe ;)
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Land of the burning river
Posts: 21,098
Btw, that foriegn policy was instituted by New Dealers

Pete
__________________
“How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg? Four. Calling a tail a leg doesn't make it a leg.”
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 03-15-2012, 12:10 PM
neophyte neophyte is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 192
Quote:
Originally Posted by piece-itpete View Post
Definately Grenada.



Since WW2 it's been bipartisan US policy to basically enforce borders and police world shipping lanes.

With cursory research you can find the worlds war fatality rate has drasticly decreased while global wealth has soared, which yes has helped the poor as well.

Heck, consider if we did walk away from the obligations we voluntarily assumed. With the rebirth of regional squabbles, large downturn in the global economy, and uncertainty in shipping the food the 1st world ships to the poorest would be one of the first things to go. Guess what that means?

If you'd really like to be concerned for the future, consider that when one large power overtakes another the transition has never happened without war.

Btw Dave, I agree what he did was the right thing, of course. As much as I dislike FDRs policies he was elected President and, unlike the left when Bush was disrespected, would not cheer any slander or threat.

I dispise FDR for ignoring Washingtons example.

Pete
I'm sorry, perhaps I've not consumed enough coffee or something, but this post doesn't make shit for sense to me.

Let's strike a deal. I'll brew up more coffee, and you take a shot at rephrasing whatever the hell it was you were trying to say, ok?
(do feel free to cite historical examples)
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 03-15-2012, 12:19 PM
piece-itpete's Avatar
piece-itpete piece-itpete is offline
Possibly admin. Maybe ;)
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Land of the burning river
Posts: 21,098
At the close of WW2, the US, not wanting to be involved in another world war, decides to enforce borders and police world shipping lanes.

Since then, peace and prosperity have soared worldwide.

Better?

Previous to WW2, where Smedleys issues come from, we did indeed act isolationist except for our sorties to enforce US hedgemony largely over business issues but also security issues. We continue to protect our interests as we see them.

Pete
__________________
“How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg? Four. Calling a tail a leg doesn't make it a leg.”
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:02 PM.



Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.6
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.