Smedley D Butler

War Is a Racket Smedley D Butler

A classic anti-war pamphlet, and a quick but fascinating read. The retired United States Marines major general, one of the most distinguished American soldiers of his era, came to see war as little more than a sinister money-making enterprise: that is, a racket: "Only a small 'inside' group knows what it is about. It is conducted for the benefit of the very few, at the expense of the very many. Out of war a few people make huge fortunes."