Text 9166, 42 rader
Skriven 2005-02-17 07:50:18 av LESLIE BLITZER (1:275/311)
Ärende: Gen. Butler
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Original web page: www.doublestandards.org/butler2.html I was a Gangster
for Capitalism
by Major General Smedley Butler
November 1935

I spent thirty-three years and four months in active service in the
country's most agile military force, the Marines. I served in all ranks
from second lieutenant to major general. And during that period I spent
most of my time being 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 suspected I was just part of a racket at the time. Now I am sure of it.
Like all members of the military profession I never had an original
thought until I left the service. My mental faculties remained in
suspended animation while I obeyed the orders of the higher-ups. This is
typical with everyone in the military service.

Thus 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 revenue in. I helped in the raping of
half-a-dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street.
The record of racketeering is long. I helped purify Nicaragua for the
international banking house of Brown Brothers and Co. in 1909-1912. I
brought light to the Dominican Republic for the sugar interests in 1916. I
helped make Honduras "right" for American fruit companies in 1903. In
China in 1927 I helped see to it that Standard Oil went its way
unmolested.

During those years, I had, as the boys in the back room would say, a swell
racket. I was rewarded with honors, medals, and promotion. Looking back on
it, I feel that I might have given Al Capone a few hints. The best he
could do was to operate a racket in three city districts. The Marines
operated on three continents.

Major General Smedley Darlington Butler (July 30, 1881 - June 21, 1940)
was at the time of his death the most decorated U.S. Marine in history. He
was twice the recipient of the Medal of Honor, one of only nineteen to be
so honored.

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