A Veteran's Warning | Smedley Butler

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  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 ก.ย. 2024

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  • @SmedleyDButlerIV
    @SmedleyDButlerIV 2 ปีที่แล้ว +935

    Maj General Smedley Darlington Butler was my great grandfather! The man knew what he was talking about! RIP

    • @ritamariekelley4077
      @ritamariekelley4077 ปีที่แล้ว +61

      He has my highest admiration. He's been one of my heroes for years. If only we'd have listened to him. His words are so true today.

    • @cory8837
      @cory8837 ปีที่แล้ว +64

      Dude! Your great grandpa was such an OG they named all 8 Marine bases in Okinawa after him. MCB Butler.

    • @miapdx503
      @miapdx503 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      Awesome 😏

    • @San_Vito
      @San_Vito ปีที่แล้ว +35

      @@cory8837 Isn't that a little weird? I don't know... naming Marine bases in an occupied territory after a veteran than campaigned against imperialism is a little odd (even though I know the occupation of Okinawa wasn't exactly an imperialist action per se).

    • @ciacutout
      @ciacutout ปีที่แล้ว +9

      Here is what I posted above...we are connected in the cosmos
      This site is SO TRUE... My family was associated with General Butler in Philadelphia. I have photos taken in the White House Rose Garden in 1934. We stopped the FIRST FASCIST PUTCH, in which FDR was to be REMOVED from the White House in his wheel chair. Later, most of my family was hired on to the CIA (me too unfortunately) . In addition, even though they just about everyone who did JFK, few know what they did to FDR. When they said FDR died of a cerebral hemorrage .....they forgot to tell you the REST of the story, that the hemorage was caused by a 38 caliber slug in Warm Springs Georgia...

  • @Toleich
    @Toleich 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2233

    "So it's all just about money?"
    "Always has been."

    • @55Quirll
      @55Quirll 3 ปีที่แล้ว +35

      Yep
      The winners
      1. Suppliers of Munitions - Dupont for example - and those in Congress and the Pentagon - more so now than when he was in military, the Generals that is .
      2. Most of the Generals of today are just armchair Generals seeing as very few have seen active combat.
      The Losers
      1. The soldiers who were Maimed - physically and mentally -, wives, children and parents. They are the ones who paid the ultimate price.
      A good video and enjoy reading his book 'War is a Racket' which you can download as a PDF document free.
      Another good thing to read 'War Prayer' by Mark Twain also can be found on the internet and here on youtube.

    • @liteney
      @liteney 3 ปีที่แล้ว +15

      It's not about money, it's about power and control, and always has been. To deny that people were conquered, oppressed and enslaved by other people prior to Spain becoming a country, is pure racial hatred of Europeans.

    •  3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Of course. The mighty dollar.

    • @LeonardoWilhelm
      @LeonardoWilhelm 3 ปีที่แล้ว +17

      @@liteney Racial hatred of Europeans? Please show me the Transatlantic Slave Trade of other nations, I'm very curious to see what ghastly policies other nations have done to rival that scale. It's not about First Nations or other civilizations being more ethical, it's about enduring consequences of those special interests groups to this day. Europe (and Americans for that matter) have never paid reparations nor returned the stolen wealth of those countries.

    • @liteney
      @liteney 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      @@LeonardoWilhelm When are the blacks and browns going to pay reparations and return the stolen wealth they took from Europe, not to mention all the people they took for over 1,400 years, colonizer.

  • @Warmaker01
    @Warmaker01 ปีที่แล้ว +468

    I'm a retired US Marine. All recruits in Boot Camp go through a period of learning the Marine Corps' history. Along with it many of its key figures. Smedley Butler is one of them. We're taught a lot about his military service and combat experience. We even learned about the Banana Wars that Butler was in the thick of.
    But we never knew WHY Butler and the Marine Corps were there to begin with. We knew about the Boxer Rebellion, how it was a big multinational effort against China. Dude, we were even side by side with the British, Germans, and Imperial Japan, as well as a host of others. But we never learned WHY there was even a Boxer Rebellion to begin with.
    "Rebellion?" you wonder to yourself. How can we have a "Rebellion" against America, Germany, Britain in a friggin' foreign country?
    We don't know about this. This isn't taught about in our schools in the USA.
    The Marine Corps didn't even mention in teaching about Butler, how he viewed war, as well as his other actions for veterans, the average American, and his protection of our democracy. I didn't even know about Butler's "War is a Racket" booklet until over a decade after I was in the Marines, and it was purely by accident. I was surprised as hell. I did not how Butler turned once he realized he and the Marine Corps were acting as thugs for big business and the banks.
    Butler is already a legendary figure in the Marine Corps' history. We don't even talk about the rest of his life that also made him a fantastic American.

    • @michelestidhamwhitmore8313
      @michelestidhamwhitmore8313 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +15

      When my husband left for Afghanistan in Dec. Of 01, I began reading the history of Afghanistan. I knew the u.s. had trained Osama bin laden, I knew we had trained Saddam Hussein, but didn't realize the depth and breadth of our funding and training of the mujahedeen. We the u.s. have laid the path for our destruction. Howard zinns people's history of America, is a great book on our b.s.

    • @fillosof66689
      @fillosof66689 11 หลายเดือนก่อน +7

      The Boxer Rebellion was technically aimed at overthrowing the ruling Empress, and the rebels were extreme in enforcing their nationalistic ideals to say the least, brutally killing all Westerners they could get their hands on, as well as any Chinese people they saw as collaborators or ones that had converted to Christianity and refused to convert back despite the threats.
      So yes, the colonial powers absolutely put China over a barrel with the trade deals, and most got territorial concessions after the Rebellion as payment for their involvement. But the whole affair wasn't just big bad imperialists suppressing the will of the poor natives.

    • @jolanderphilip
      @jolanderphilip 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +6

      My god
      The crayons eater
      Found a box of ball point pens
      Jesus Christ they’re evolving

    • @wukanimation
      @wukanimation 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +8

      I am in the same boat, and I agree with everything you’ve said. I am only recently discovering Smedley Butlers writings, and I’m shocked.
      I’m a former active 0311 in IRR, now attached to a reserve infantry unit by choice. Next time I go to the base for drill, I’m detaching myself from it.

    • @esterwyman
      @esterwyman 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

      WE ARE NOTA DEMOCRACY .
      WE ARE A CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC 🇺🇸❗️

  • @Osric24
    @Osric24 2 ปีที่แล้ว +524

    I'm convinced Butler was a man ahead of his time. Incredible fella, stood up for the right thing as much as he could as loudly as he could. A true voice of justice we should listen to.
    But sadly, justice doesn't turn a profit.

    • @matthewshelby4579
      @matthewshelby4579 2 ปีที่แล้ว +28

      The fruit of justice is serenity.
      Most important thing to remember. Butler's work bore bitter fruit. But the tree he grew still stands tall and strong. All we can do is water it over and over again.

    • @chriskopp1361
      @chriskopp1361 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      He's a mouth piece for fictional quotes and foreign spooks.

    • @krono5el
      @krono5el ปีที่แล้ว +14

      the Native Americans were singing the same story for 400 years before him.

    • @BillyTheKidder
      @BillyTheKidder ปีที่แล้ว +10

      @@chriskopp1361 Please explain that?

    • @BillyTheKidder
      @BillyTheKidder ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@krono5el The apache..

  • @iammrbeat
    @iammrbeat 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3983

    Thank you so much for making a video about Smedley. So many people don't know about him!

    • @DudesWithACamera
      @DudesWithACamera 3 ปีที่แล้ว +17

      Of course you like this you lefty Marxist haha

    • @criticalcharge8172
      @criticalcharge8172 3 ปีที่แล้ว +53

      mr beast please give me money

    • @oracle8192
      @oracle8192 3 ปีที่แล้ว +88

      @@DudesWithACamera I highly doubt that Mr beat is a marxist. And why would a marxist have a particular liking to smedley butler?
      Am I missing something here

    • @icenutsproductions9682
      @icenutsproductions9682 3 ปีที่แล้ว +23

      Mr breast give me money

    • @Junebug0369
      @Junebug0369 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Mr beat!

  • @briangarrow448
    @briangarrow448 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2866

    My father, a WW2 veteran, had a saying about the country he loved.
    America would support Al Capone as a dictator as long as he said he was anti-communist.
    My old man was right. Somehow I think he read Smedley Butler.

    • @currentriver4951
      @currentriver4951 3 ปีที่แล้ว +17

      so afraid of shadows!!!!!! THE SHEEP R

    • @legoworksstudios1
      @legoworksstudios1 3 ปีที่แล้ว +79

      I'd believe it. I'd probably also believe he'd be supported by Sen. McCarthy, our favorite anti-communist.

    • @harryheller4476
      @harryheller4476 3 ปีที่แล้ว +31

      I mean, we forced Nixon to resign right? He was anti communist. I don’t think it’s as bad as your dad says

    • @BIONICLECLAYPOKEMON
      @BIONICLECLAYPOKEMON 3 ปีที่แล้ว +171

      @@harryheller4476 Yeah but a.) The issue is that this mentality is reserved for foreign nations, and b.) We _did_ let him basically pardon himself for his crimes and c.) We wanted to impeach him, it's less so we "forced" him to resign, he ran away from scrutiny and a likely trial, and we just let him.

    • @kevinvan4310
      @kevinvan4310 3 ปีที่แล้ว +173

      @@harryheller4476 If people can be convinced that a moderate democrat like Biden is communist, than the problem is just as bad as it always was. We still stage coups to this day when countries even go towards socialism, under the guise of fear of communism, when really, companies need the resources from those nations to thrive. Having fear of something like socialism and communism is the best way for the U.S justify expansion of industry, through subjugation of other countries

  • @AlternateHistoryHub
    @AlternateHistoryHub 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4515

    Fantastic video. Im glad I got to contribute a bit to it!

    • @RyGuyMaster
      @RyGuyMaster 3 ปีที่แล้ว +95

      It's always fun spotting the different content creator littered in KB's videos. I was especially excited when I recognized your voice!

    • @danielm5324
      @danielm5324 3 ปีที่แล้ว +20

      Except Smedley Butler only became anti war profiteering after he bankrupted himself after years of trying to become a war profiteer himself. 🤷‍♂️

    • @stevegruber4724
      @stevegruber4724 3 ปีที่แล้ว +19

      That's why that voice sounded familiar!

    • @devilspalm16
      @devilspalm16 3 ปีที่แล้ว +16

      I recognized your voice immediately and went to check the comments to see if you posted. Very nice!

    • @TheBrickMasterB
      @TheBrickMasterB 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Same as devilspalm. Always excited to hear you narrate.

  • @joschafinger126
    @joschafinger126 2 ปีที่แล้ว +450

    Here in Spain, that "splendid little war" had a very different impact. In the public and literary imagination, it put an end to Spain's empire and colonial ambitions; the " '98 Generation" is the most pessimistic, and pretty much most-studied, literary and generally artistic movement here. That war marks the beginning of a national identity rooted in past greatness lost, an image later to be used by Franco and, these days, his ideological heirs, as well as more reputable politicians. It has a great part to play in Spaniards' reaction to Gibraltar's being British, to Catalans and Basques wanting to go their own ways.

    • @staringgasmask
      @staringgasmask ปีที่แล้ว

      Tampoco exageres. El '98 fue usado sobre todo por Miguel Primo de Rivera en su dictadura, anterior a la República. La propaganda franquista se puede separar entre una llamada al orden, para apelar a los militares y a las clases medias, cierto carácter monárquico y tradicionalista, principalmente por parte de los carlistas, que terminó quedando diluido en la apelación al catolicismo. El último pilar propagandístico fue Falange, inspirada por la propaganda del NSDAP. Terminó siendo la principal hasta el fin de la guerra.
      Luego, la independencia basco/catalana lleva tratándose de la misma manera desde hace siglos, de hecho este es el primero donde aún no han llevado artillería a bombardear Barcelona por movimientos separatistas. Pero en el siglo XVII ya hubo una guerra de secesión. El nacionalismo vasco es algo totalmente distinto y no tiene que ver con lo del '98, eso te lo has sacado de donde has querido.
      Por último, Gibraltar lleva siendo reclamado desde práticamente después de que acabase la guerra de sucesión. También se cedieron territorios en Baleares en el mismo acuerdo que entregó Gibraltar, y sin embargo, esos territorios fueron invadidos poco después. Lo que pasa es que se fracasó en la toma de Gibraltar y se quedó como una espina, pero, otra vez, eso se remonta siglos atrás.
      Sí tienes razón en que después del suceso se empezó a apelar a "recuperar la grandeza imperial", pero enlazar eso al separatismo y a Gibraltar es pasarse tres pueblos.
      Y si con "herederos" de Franco te refieres a VOX, revisa la historia, porque Franco no fue ni falangista. Mandó España como mandó el Ejército, y hoy no hay ningún partido que lo defienda. Si insinuabas que eran fascistas o falangistas, pues tampoco, que quieres que te diga, leete a José Antonio, su léxico y visión es bastante distinto del de VOX.

    • @krono5el
      @krono5el ปีที่แล้ว

      without all the riches, incredible creations, and agriculture of the Indigenous American people europeans would still be living like its 1400ce. Cant Imagine a more important people to europeans yet they are the people europeans hate the most : P

    • @Butter_Warrior99
      @Butter_Warrior99 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Huh, well. Thanks for the info. Hope things are well for you.

    • @wildfire9280
      @wildfire9280 ปีที่แล้ว +40

      American imperialism creating the perfect conditions for fascism to thrive in???? That totally wasn’t on my bingo card!

    • @MikeJones-ye6li
      @MikeJones-ye6li ปีที่แล้ว +3

      ​@LDS Yeah, but it was surefire Americans pushing Spain out of Cuba that created the conditions for Spain's fascism.

  • @pfcaraujo
    @pfcaraujo 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1679

    Read “War is a Racket” by Smedley Butler. Given to me when I was a young Marine. Thank you for such a great history lesson.

    • @gregrourke4182
      @gregrourke4182 3 ปีที่แล้ว +42

      Thank you. So few have heard of this book. (Thank you for your service. Mean it.)

    • @questworldmatrix
      @questworldmatrix 3 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      Did you leave right after?

    • @pfcaraujo
      @pfcaraujo 3 ปีที่แล้ว +69

      @@questworldmatrix doesn’t work like that.

    • @durianjaykin3576
      @durianjaykin3576 3 ปีที่แล้ว +19

      @@questworldmatrix somebody still has to make a living

    • @kilburn1313
      @kilburn1313 3 ปีที่แล้ว +16

      It has taken me nearly 2 years to get it from our local library & G'Day from rural South Australia

  • @eo7097
    @eo7097 3 ปีที่แล้ว +351

    Man, your comment about how the Philippine-American War is a D-list war reminded me of the time that an American-educated friend of my brother insisted that no such war happened and that the Filipinos welcomed the Americans with open arms.
    Clearly, clearly, the guy who didn't grow up in the Philippines knew the country's history better than those who lived there.
    Antonio Luna and Gregorio del Pilar would like to say hi to that guy.

    • @redmeat4vegans62
      @redmeat4vegans62 3 ปีที่แล้ว +25

      Well obviously this is true! They were grateful of the freedom we brought them, and how we made their country so much better. Just like we did in Iraq after the Iraqis welcomed us in Gulf War II ....... OH! Nevermind!

    • @feastguy101
      @feastguy101 3 ปีที่แล้ว +29

      Well, they DID welcome the Americans with open arms at first... just up until the point when they realized the Americans had no intention of leaving.

    • @redmeat4vegans62
      @redmeat4vegans62 3 ปีที่แล้ว +28

      @@feastguy101 Isn't that always the case? "Thank you for helping us get out rid of those jerks. 5 years later: When are you jerks leaving?"
      Puerto Rico, Cuba, the Philippines, Iraq, Afghanistan, ..
      Yes. America has a history of that. To be fair - we are far from the only ones. But we tell ourselves we are different - we need to stop lying to ourselves or actually live up to what we tell ourselves we are.

    • @feastguy101
      @feastguy101 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@redmeat4vegans62 yup, pretty much

    • @leonardwei3914
      @leonardwei3914 3 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      The Philippines greeted U.S. Troops favorable at first, thinking they would be liberated immediately from Spanish rule. Unfortunately, it devolved into the Philippine-American war and subsequent counter-insurgency and occupation. It was a hotly debated issue in the U.S. that divided public opinion much like the Iraq War after initial public support.
      Despite this, the U.S. did it's best to ready the island for eventual self rule, although the process was painfully slow. Despite this, U.S. and Philippine ties were strong enough to work side by side, especially in light of the (at times brutal) Japanese occupation during WWII. U.S. granted full sovereignty shortly afterwards.

  • @yokogoph
    @yokogoph 3 ปีที่แล้ว +668

    How forgotten the Philippine-American War is, and more so what caused it.
    It hurts legitimately since there is so much to go through.

    • @peebay3515
      @peebay3515 3 ปีที่แล้ว +33

      And we dusted off that practice in Nam and made free fire zones. And people wonder why a good chunk of the world hates us.

    • @ThePremiumChicken
      @ThePremiumChicken 3 ปีที่แล้ว +13

      The atrocities of the Japanese made sure the Filipinos forgot about it 😆

    • @MrAnonymous825
      @MrAnonymous825 3 ปีที่แล้ว +30

      @@ThePremiumChicken no, we were just forced to love america since the US propped up president's that were very pro capitalist and made the philippines essentially a trading post where the profits don't even go to the islands

    • @jonhanson8925
      @jonhanson8925 3 ปีที่แล้ว +27

      It's depressing going to the Philippines and being surrounded by tens of millions of people whose past, present, and future is in a large part defined by the actions of your country, and then having to explain that basically no one back in America even knows jack shit about them or our history with them.

    • @Leitis_Fella
      @Leitis_Fella 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      My history teacher in sophomore year made mention of the Filipino-American war, that it was a brutal conflict that was our fault, but didn't go into detail about it other than an anecdote of a US officer who made necklaces from the ears of Filipino combatants.

  • @michaelriley2
    @michaelriley2 3 ปีที่แล้ว +166

    Gen. Butler was rough around the edges, but he was committed to America and it's veterans. He was a good man, we should have listened to him.

    • @JohnBrown722so
      @JohnBrown722so 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      Stop talking

    • @salamantics
      @salamantics 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@JohnBrown722soup yours

    • @jeffslote9671
      @jeffslote9671 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

      No he wasn’t. At best he was a Soviet stooge. At worst he was actively working with them to topple America. The congressman holding the hearing on the plot was a Soviet spy. He actively participated in under mining America

    • @alexwisniewski2309
      @alexwisniewski2309 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@JohnBrown722sowhat?

    • @billybob1723
      @billybob1723 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @michaelriley2 - Butler was listened to. Nothing was done because the crooks were were industry executives. The world was preparing for war and FDR knew he could not imprison those that we ultimately depended on to arm our military.

  • @ScienceAsylum
    @ScienceAsylum 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2168

    "Then you have your B-List wars. These are the ones that most Americans a least know the name of and have a vague idea of when they happened, but the details are fuzzy and the reasons why are even more so."
    "This is what I would classify as a D-List war... because most Americans today have no idea we ever tried to take over the Philippines."
    *I feel called out.*

    • @douglasdea637
      @douglasdea637 3 ปีที่แล้ว +60

      I knew about the Philippines, but then I've read Zinn.
      And I'm currently reading Doris Kearns Goodwin's "Bully Pulpit" which has chapters on Taft running things in the Philippines.

    • @JeanLucCaptain
      @JeanLucCaptain 3 ปีที่แล้ว +46

      Lest we forget: Russia 1916.

    • @leeroberts4850
      @leeroberts4850 3 ปีที่แล้ว +20

      There was also the barber wars

    • @douglasdea637
      @douglasdea637 3 ปีที่แล้ว +29

      @@leeroberts4850
      Indeed, the Barbary pirates. Shows that America has been screwing around with the Mideast and Islam for a long time.

    • @charlemagnethegreat2916
      @charlemagnethegreat2916 3 ปีที่แล้ว +54

      Dont worry, even Filipino are taught half assedly about American atrocities during the war and the reason why we speak English and brought up "USA Numba wan"

  • @johnsmith3085
    @johnsmith3085 3 ปีที่แล้ว +250

    Haven't clicked on anything so fast ever. I saw Smedley Butler and got after it. I recently read "War is a Racket" and it was refreshing. We were taught in the Marines that Ol' Gimlet Eye was a god of war. Turns out, he was more multifaceted than he got credit for.
    Happy Veteran's day!

    • @barquerojuancarlos7253
      @barquerojuancarlos7253 3 ปีที่แล้ว +15

      He was just the opposite of the "god of war". He advocated for its abolition

    • @lmao2302
      @lmao2302 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@barquerojuancarlos7253 God of war but he's Kratos.

    • @bogmanhimself4656
      @bogmanhimself4656 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      the fact that they turned smedley into an advocate for the current state of the military is scary as hell. no offense :(

  • @alloomis1635
    @alloomis1635 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1604

    we had american history for two years in high schools and learned about, roughly, none of this.

    • @celticman1909
      @celticman1909 3 ปีที่แล้ว +88

      There is history, then there is real history. This is real history. In High school I read alot of too real stuff. Books like "Serpico", and up dates about the real situation in the Vietnam War. I was branded as a "Bad Apple" because I dared to question their bullshit curriculum, and wouldn't let them off the hook when they lied.

    • @rhayat10
      @rhayat10 3 ปีที่แล้ว +14

      Don't they focus mainly on black American history these days?

    • @jlb9609
      @jlb9609 3 ปีที่แล้ว +99

      @@rhayat10 No they do not.

    • @jacksonsutrick1361
      @jacksonsutrick1361 3 ปีที่แล้ว +70

      Don't you love it when a nation censors its own history because it doesn't look good?
      I'm in high school now an I never got an inkling of any of this.

    • @robertcomtois2168
      @robertcomtois2168 3 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      @@celticman1909 me to {free thinkers are dangerous}

  • @garypowell4565
    @garypowell4565 3 ปีที่แล้ว +700

    “You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time.”
    ― Abraham Lincoln

    • @rajkobjelica4905
      @rajkobjelica4905 3 ปีที่แล้ว +28

      Unless you are american. Blame your poor educational system.

    • @laniejuanitawhitehurst1624
      @laniejuanitawhitehurst1624 3 ปีที่แล้ว +28

      Dear Abraham Lincoln you don’t need to fool everyone just enough to carry out your objectives. As some people are in favor of your objectives so less than half of the people need to be fooled. This should be required for all students several years as most are clueless as to the real military involvement at the behest of big business and bankers around the world

    • @orvileknox3130
      @orvileknox3130 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Ripley

    • @chrismunoz4936
      @chrismunoz4936 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I thought Bob Dylan said that

    • @OspreyKnight
      @OspreyKnight 2 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Except you can. It simply takes time, patience, and someone to blame.
      Note the guy who thinks republican presidents are to blame for highly complex issues like the electoral collage. PS, democracy sucks if you're not part of the majority... whatever that majority is.

  • @lylecosmopolite
    @lylecosmopolite 3 ปีที่แล้ว +390

    General Smedley Butler is one of the most interesting career officers in American history. Even though I came of age during the Vietnam conflict, I was over 60 when I first read about him. I explain him by assuming that in some sense, he returned to his Quaker roots.

    • @danawilkes6174
      @danawilkes6174 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      Same here. I am 71 now, and it was quite a few years ago that I heard about him...

    • @robertl5076
      @robertl5076 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Ümü

    • @stephenwright8824
      @stephenwright8824 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      I consider, at 53 and as a son of an Army vet (but the grandson of a WW II Pacific Theater Marine veteran), Smedley Butler one of my two favourite Marines in history; the second being General L.B. "Chesty" Puller.

    • @55Quirll
      @55Quirll 2 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      I'm 66 and learned about him several years ago. When you become a Marine you should be handed a copy of this book, told to read it from cover to cover and then write a detailed book report with citations from the book. 👍

    • @KapiteinKrentebol
      @KapiteinKrentebol 2 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      Religion is a racket too.

  • @unclearsector4266
    @unclearsector4266 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2162

    "Something something, let's blame the Maine on Spain."
    -Bill Wurtz, kinda

    • @bennpenn5105
      @bennpenn5105 3 ปีที่แล้ว +146

      The US has run out of Destiny to Manifest so they're looking for more. Hwaii! Cuba! wait, Spain controls Cuba. Well, blame something on them and go to war. *explosion* I know, lets blame the Maine on Spain! So they blamed the Maine on Spain.

    • @pearllamb7232
      @pearllamb7232 3 ปีที่แล้ว +37

      Wait Spain controls Cuba.
      Well blame something on them and go to war.
      Let's blame the Maine on Spain!

    • @b1g_m00n
      @b1g_m00n 3 ปีที่แล้ว +25

      lol same. Wurtz also says "america's run out of destiny to manifest"

    • @thejaymanofficial102
      @thejaymanofficial102 3 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      "This one can be Bangladesh later"

    • @Randy-lr1rj
      @Randy-lr1rj 3 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      @@thejaymanofficial102 " South Africa might need another minute to think about " - apparently they're still thinking

  • @jaybee9269
    @jaybee9269 3 ปีที่แล้ว +355

    I NEVER knew the meaning of the word “Boxer” in “Boxer Rebellion”! Thanks.

    • @tomfrazier1103
      @tomfrazier1103 3 ปีที่แล้ว +30

      They called themselves "Harmonious, righteous fists" or some such, implying mano a mano combat, suggesting "We'd win in a fair fight". This is important for righteous branding. Someone else said "The line between good & evil is crossed in every human heart".

    • @monophthalmus3254
      @monophthalmus3254 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      I thought it was an Amazon worker's strike.

    • @Yora21
      @Yora21 3 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      Kung Fu War would sound much cooler.

    • @ddieter02
      @ddieter02 2 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      @@Yora21 Kung Fu War: Death by Industrialized Nations with Machine Guns

    • @YOSSARIAN313
      @YOSSARIAN313 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@tomfrazier1103 they were trying to save their homeland from foreign domination when their cowardly backwards government wouldn't and got massacred. The imperial court learned nothing from the opium war and preferred decadence to political reform. Kings have no place in the modern world.

  • @OlOleander
    @OlOleander 3 ปีที่แล้ว +150

    I was tasked, during my too-short time in the Navy, to do a writeup of some decorated prior servicemen. It was nothing more than homework, busy work, designed to fill up our time since there wasn't any manual labor to waste our hours left during that month of the year.
    By chance, I chose - or was assigned, I don't remember - Smedley Butler.
    I remember feeling like the wool had been pulled away, that by pure chance I had learned things they wouldn't have wanted me to learn.
    But gee, I wonder why Butler isn't taught in schools? Hm.

  • @oracle8192
    @oracle8192 3 ปีที่แล้ว +648

    The only reason I even know who smedley butler is, is because he is a choosable field marshal in kiasseriech.
    I should really get out of the house more often haha

    • @togamid
      @togamid 3 ปีที่แล้ว +59

      Well, i learned that the US controlled the Philipines in Hearts of Iron IV, so I guess war history games have their reason for existing.

    • @randommodnar7141
      @randommodnar7141 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Is that a metro reference

    • @theforeigner5821
      @theforeigner5821 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Which of the factions get him?

    • @Vesperitis
      @Vesperitis 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Good one. 'Get out of the house more'. That's funny.

    • @katrinaquijano7184
      @katrinaquijano7184 3 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      @@theforeigner5821 Combined Syndicates of America

  • @mothman9713
    @mothman9713 3 ปีที่แล้ว +118

    As a Quaker, Smedley 'the fighting Quaker' Butler was a living oxymoron.

    • @koanikal
      @koanikal 3 ปีที่แล้ว +16

      It was a tongue in cheek nickname. So yeah, that was the point.

    • @pychohobo1832
      @pychohobo1832 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Lol. Well that is very true.
      And from his picture with a moustache. It shows it.
      For I believe the reason the Quakers do not have Moustaches is becuase they are anti military. Military have always tended to have Moustaches and sometime beards with moustaches.
      This is true for most of history post Roman.
      And why it appears true the Quakers say this.
      For those that don't see it. Look for a Quaker that has a beard. They have no moustache.
      Im also believe that Quakers are not allowed to grow a beard until they are married. Excusing the time they go on thier pilgrimage at coming of age. ( I know it starts with an R, but don't remember the name) During that time. They do lots that they are not allowed.

  • @paulharies
    @paulharies 3 ปีที่แล้ว +635

    "Why do foreigners always care so much about our elections lol"
    Me and so many people halfway around the world throughout history:

    • @fuzzybuzzy3159
      @fuzzybuzzy3159 3 ปีที่แล้ว +81

      @Iron Prefect Cope harder.

    • @thebigksmoosey
      @thebigksmoosey 3 ปีที่แล้ว +62

      @Iron Prefect Probably eluding to the fact 76 million or so Americans voted for Biden/Harris?
      You basically said anyone who is American didn't support the winning candidate. Which is dumb, partisan, and wrong.
      Your attempt to discount half the voting population to support your narrative is in poor taste at least, and possibly even reckless. You ken?

    • @thebigksmoosey
      @thebigksmoosey 3 ปีที่แล้ว +71

      @Iron Prefect My bad. I'm just a regular guy from Kansas, didn't realize my English was so hard for you to understand.
      Your whole line of argument is drivel. Americans are Americans, much as you hate to admit it. Democrats, Republicans, hell we even have a few Communists, Anarcho-Capitalists, Nazis, and even (shock and horror) Labor party members.
      One of the great parts of being an American, is that I can have any political view I want, including none at all.
      Not picking YOUR preferred political racket, doesn't make me not an American.
      A political party you disagree with and despise doesn't make them not American.
      I was born here, I vote. If I voted with you I'm no more or less American than if I voted differently.
      SOME of you folks get a real victim complex when you lose. It's weird, and honestly disturbing.
      I sincerely hope my English was up to your high standards.

    • @fuzzybuzzy3159
      @fuzzybuzzy3159 3 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      @Iron Prefect I'm a dude. :/

    • @fuzzybuzzy3159
      @fuzzybuzzy3159 3 ปีที่แล้ว +42

      @Iron Prefect Also, if you looked into anything Donald Trump has done that wasn't obfuscated by conservative outlets or pundits you'd understand that Trump ain't the sweetest peach in the orchid, let alone the Republican party. His spiritual advisor literally wants a theocracy, and most of Republican politicians are a part of her Evangelical branch of Christianity.
      Hate to break it to you, pal, but the only thing here that's anti-American is the very party you equate to the very country itself. Typical TH-cam comment intelligence and introspection, so I'm not surprised just disappointed.

  • @jsloc89
    @jsloc89 2 ปีที่แล้ว +305

    I see I'm pretty late to the party, but I can't tell you enough how much I enjoy your videos.
    As a Panamanian who's grown up in the aftermath of over 90 years of American military occupation, and grew up being fed half truths about our great independence movement with just a bit of help from our US "friends", while also hearing bloodied stories of a still too recent invasion we were told was a "just cause", it's both refreshing and saddening to see that there was people, even back then, who saw the side of war that leaves broken people and ruined countries, all for the profit of a few.
    Please continue with all of your amazing work, as a fan of history, culture, psychology and economics, each of your videos is amazing in and out of itself :D

    • @ritamariekelley4077
      @ritamariekelley4077 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      I hate the imperialism of America, so many lies.

  • @johnbrown2163
    @johnbrown2163 3 ปีที่แล้ว +198

    My Veteran friends died for nothing. Many of us broken mentally when we got home. I'm broken.

    • @McHobotheBobo
      @McHobotheBobo 3 ปีที่แล้ว +18

      Look up Mike Prysner, you can help stop war forever! It's a long, hard road but we must end capitalism - must advance beyond it - if we want to end these imperialist meatgrinders

    • @breakingthemasks
      @breakingthemasks 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      In what way are you broken brother? If you don't mind my asking.

    • @emmanuelhtrevino
      @emmanuelhtrevino 3 ปีที่แล้ว +22

      @Irish Jester it is capitalism because capitalism supports cronyism and corruption. Anything for a profit regardless of the atrocities. An individual owner can be moral but when a corporation get big you are legally obligated to make the most profits. Regardless if that is pro war,pro child labor, pro environmental destruction. That is capitalism and one of many fundamental flaws of capitalism. No socialist or communist government has existed yet where a few elite people didn't control the masses. Some people call those governments state capitalist. The problem is always the few controlling the many. It is possible to have a different system. Just hasn't happened yet besides small communes. That are generally destroyed by capitalist

    • @ertegin
      @ertegin 3 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      @Irish Jester the problem is capitalism

    • @johnbrown2163
      @johnbrown2163 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      @@breakingthemasks I lost everything and I have been standing here or years. I'm broken in many ways. I have the Right to the pursuit of happiness and the Right to self defense completely denied. That started the breaking of parts. I'm broken. Nothing I can do about it and that is being positive.

  • @aishbalev
    @aishbalev 3 ปีที่แล้ว +243

    And here's sound footage of someone who served under the first roosevelt to remind you just how young your country really is

    • @deanc9453
      @deanc9453 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      +

    • @JollyJuiice
      @JollyJuiice 3 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      Pretty remarkable what we've done in such little time, innit?

    • @LKRaider
      @LKRaider 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      It took us a few wars, but we got it done

    • @panachevitz
      @panachevitz 3 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      And yet it's still 100 years-ish older than a united (and reunited) Germany and Italy, which didn't take their present forms until after our Civil War. I guess that's what happens when you don't have the imperial authority to force through those last couple of reforms in the HRE. ;)

    • @ResortDog
      @ResortDog 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      The entire world you mean, everybody most everything last 100 years or maybe few thousands more with any records we have found? The bud is the last and the best reason of the flowers life.

  • @rachel_sj
    @rachel_sj 3 ปีที่แล้ว +213

    I think “How to Hide an Empire” by Daniel Immerwahr needs to be required reading in High Schools. It’s a very compelling read that also looks into the culture of what everyday people were taught to think about newly expanding territory grabbing, including the popularity of the Pledge of Allegiance and John P Sousa music.
    At the turn of the Century, the US was seen as much as an Empire as Great Britain. But we’ve seemed to have swept up all these land grabs an atrocities under the rug and somehow think we’re better than everyone else during that time period.

    • @samclukey9802
      @samclukey9802 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      Haha, America's Empire never came anywhere close to Great Britain's. The British Empire directly controlled 25% of the world's land area at its peak. So while America's imperialist activities were bad, they weren't nearly as damaging to the world as those of the European Empires.

    • @katherinemorelle7115
      @katherinemorelle7115 3 ปีที่แล้ว +36

      @@samclukey9802 but only because the age of land based imperialism was already coming to an end when America got into the game. Otherwise I’m sure they’d have had a land-based empire to rival that of Britain.
      As it is, America moved to cultural hegemony, financial imperialism and putting military bases every-fucking-where. So it’s still very much an imperial nation, it’s just that the tactics have changed slightly.

    • @samclukey9802
      @samclukey9802 3 ปีที่แล้ว +13

      @@katherinemorelle7115 modern “imperialism” is not comparable to how it used to be, with imperial nations genociding everyone they felt like getting rid of. Saying things are still that way is dishonest, just like comparing US internment camps to Nazi concentration camps. Just because something is bad doesn’t mean it’s the worst thing ever

    • @samclukey9802
      @samclukey9802 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@katherinemorelle7115 and America didn’t fail to build as big an empire because they were “late to the game,” they were simply less powerful than European nations at the time

    • @katherinemorelle7115
      @katherinemorelle7115 3 ปีที่แล้ว +24

      @@samclukey9802 I didn’t say that imperialism is the exact same- I said that the tactics have changed. And they have. Financialisation as a neo colonialist tactic works much better than straight up invasion, as per the old colonialist model.
      And America was late to the “old imperialism/colonialism” game. Had it gone on for another 100 years, I have no doubt that the US would have amassed many overseas territories and colonies. But it didn’t. As we can see by the reaction the natives of the Philippines had- they expected independence.
      No, America was not as powerful as Europe at the time of peak colonialism. That’s not really an argument against anything I said. It took time for America to amass power, and during that time, colonialism as it had existed was fading away, to be replaced by a new method of imperialism. And in that new method of imperialism, America reigns as King. It is absolutely an imperial nation, it’s just that they way imperialism is done is changed.

  • @KimchiFarts
    @KimchiFarts 2 ปีที่แล้ว +49

    The most I know about Smedley Butler is what I learned in boot camp, “ Two Marines, two medals” Dan Daly and Smedley Butler

  • @BEMEiTY
    @BEMEiTY 3 ปีที่แล้ว +252

    Was just reading about Smedley a few weeks ago. As I've been having to navigate my dark and narrow paths out of combat induced insanity. How I speak about corporate interest reminds me of Smedley. It was somewhat comforting and validating to not feel completely alone in this battle.

    • @deletedTestimony
      @deletedTestimony 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      I'm looking for testimonials from Veterans for a book I'm writing. If you have some time to talk I would love to listen to your stories.

  • @pengfeidong5268
    @pengfeidong5268 3 ปีที่แล้ว +866

    Man, capitalism was so crazy “back in the day”, huh,
    *sweats nervously*
    Later in 2020: Tesla hires mercenary army, threatens to coup Bolivia to “enforce democracy”, demands free lithium

    • @theultimategamer8537
      @theultimategamer8537 3 ปีที่แล้ว +57

      This right here just sums it up

    • @femurbreaker4483
      @femurbreaker4483 3 ปีที่แล้ว +177

      So glad that monopolies don't exist anymore
      *Sweats harder*

    • @dog-ez2nu
      @dog-ez2nu 3 ปีที่แล้ว +109

      I love how we learnt our lesson about unregulated capitalism AND fascism to just re-do them again now.
      Like how many painful cycles do we have to do this?

    • @donalny
      @donalny 3 ปีที่แล้ว +22

      @@dog-ez2nu depends on the lesson you think was learned.

    • @Josep_Hernandez_Lujan
      @Josep_Hernandez_Lujan 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      @@dog-ez2nu Until we nuke ourselves into oblivion

  • @backpackr
    @backpackr 2 ปีที่แล้ว +357

    A part of your soul is lost when you enlist. The fact I'm a "trained killer" is bothersome. Going to war also makes it hard. Veterans did awesome things then return to a mediocre life.. some of us figure out we have to do bigger things. I'm doing marketing and local broadcasting. If I were to lose that, I'm not sure what I would do. It scares the hell out of me.

    • @enkidude
      @enkidude ปีที่แล้ว +8

      Have you read sympathy for the devil or Kent Anderson?

    • @lulumoon6942
      @lulumoon6942 ปีที่แล้ว +17

      My father was a Korean War Conflict POW and Veteran. He gave me a similar view of the realities of war... and Intergenerational Trauma. May the Lord bless you with healing, purpose, and peace of mind. ❤️🙏💞

    • @lulumoon6942
      @lulumoon6942 ปีที่แล้ว +10

      Also, Viktor Frankl's old book, "Man's Search for Meaning," can be helpful for going on.

    • @kenlandon7803
      @kenlandon7803 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      My dogs are a great comfort to my physical injuries and other issues. They give me great purpose and companionship. Semper fi to all of you who served.

    • @eamonia
      @eamonia ปีที่แล้ว +10

      I tried explaining it to my wife. After a few sentences, I just gave up. It's like trying to explain surviving an avalanche to your cat.

  • @jones1351
    @jones1351 3 ปีที่แล้ว +578

    'They got money for wars, but can't feed the poor...' -- 2Pac, Keep Your Head Up

    • @craiga2002
      @craiga2002 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      The worst health problem among the poor in America is obesity, and its related diseases.

    • @jones1351
      @jones1351 3 ปีที่แล้ว +64

      @@craiga2002 35.2 million (including 10.7 million children) faced hunger in America in 2019. America, the wealthiest country in world history. 600k homeless, juxtaposed with 12 million empty homes. U.S. wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Pakistan have cost $6.4 trillion since 2001. That total is $2 trillion more than all federal government spending during fiscal year 2019.
      So, I repeat, ‘they got money for wars, but can’t feed the poor’ - 2Pac, Keep Your Head Up
      Side note: most American Obesity is among middle aged and older, not children. Furthermore the irony is we're fat but malnourished at the same time.
      'There's only one way to improve ghettos. That's to improve them out of existence' -- James Baldwin
      This country could eradicate poverty many times over. That it doesn't, while spending endless amounts on pointless endless wars... is simply criminal.

    • @-----------------------------
      @----------------------------- 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      @@jones1351 85 billion is spent on food stamps.
      Mandatory spending aka social program spending sits at 2.966 trillion dollars
      Discretionay spending aka half of the military sits at 1.485 trillion.
      Social security and Medicare/Medicaid are the biggest spenders. Somehow in a country where we don't have free healthcare for all we spend a shit load of money on healthcare only to end up with selective people getting healthcare. I've never met a poor person with proper money management, go visit a food bank and take note at the vehicles there. The poor would rather live lavish while dragging themselves into poverty. The poor has always lived above their means. Why are low income people paying for post paid cellular plans? Why aren't they on a pre paid service or at the very least government provided cell phones? The poor will stay poor because of their mindset and lack of care to get out of poverty.

    • @jones1351
      @jones1351 3 ปีที่แล้ว +28

      Thank you. A good challenge makes us dig deeper and learn more.
      The short response is: is it enough?
      In a country with a current GDP estimated at $21 Trillion is 79% going to 10% of families a fair distribution, while the bottom half get only 4%? With that spread is it any wonder that mandatory spending is what it is? But even at it’s current rate, is it enough? Since we still have poverty with outcomes rivaling some underdeveloped nations (infant mortality, etc.), I’ll say the answer is NO.
      As for you having ‘never met a poor person with proper money management’, I don’t know who you’ve met. But I do know that the tired trope of blaming the poor for poverty is older than the Republic. The poor don’t write the laws that create the wealth and income distribution of the nation. Getting a better Cellphone plan or driving a Junker (assuming one can even do that) will not lift people out of poverty. A better distribution of the income and wealth of this country - the wealthiest in world history -will.
      Small example: For the present federal minimum wage - $7.25/hr - to have the same buying power it had 50 years ago it would have to be $10.73/hr, today. That’s just flatline, adjusted for inflation (not a real raise). If it were pegged to productivity it would be about $20/hr. In Denmark, baseline employees at Micky D’s get $21/hr. The poor don’t determine the federal minimum. Rich Senators do that.
      As for spending on ‘social programs’ vs. military, that’s a false dichotomy. There is overlap. 20,000 military families are on SNAP. I’ve worked at military commissaries. I’ve seen family members using EBT cards, while their sponsors were in the desert being shot at. My beef is with how much of our treasure is spent on WARS as opposed to the poor. We shouldn’t have poverty in a country as wealthy as ours, is my bigger point.
      It’s not the ‘mind set’ of the poor that’s the problem. It’s the callous attitude and idiotic dogmas of those who run the country (the few, the wealthy, the greedy and ignorant) that’s kicking our ass.

    • @nulolove
      @nulolove 3 ปีที่แล้ว +41

      @@----------------------------- bruh my mom worked 3 jobs just to keep the lights on and my brother had to sell drugs to get food in our house. And he took other jobs too. No one is poor cause of a mindset or living beyond their means. All of my clothes and shoes were handed down until I got my first job. There were days where I literally couldn’t eat cause we couldn’t afford food. I’ve been to food banks and you know what cars I see there? Old Toyota’s, Honda’s, chevys, and fords. Never seen no BMWs or Mercedes. And you forget that you need cellular connection and smartphones to be able to work in today’s environment? Nigga the way you talk sounds like you’ve never had to work hard and could look up statistics so you can say poor people aren’t working hard enough. How many niggas from the ghetto you know? How many poor ppl you know?? If you knew any you’d know that we have to carefully budget almost everything. I’ve never seen anyone in my neighborhood not have a budget. No poor person is trying to live lavish while living in poverty. Maybe don’t listen to prager U and Shapiro all the time and try to look into stuff yourself.

  • @CSDragon
    @CSDragon 3 ปีที่แล้ว +212

    I read this video title as "A vegetarian's warning: Smedley butter" and was very confused when you were talking about soldiers

    • @TheDallasDwayne
      @TheDallasDwayne 3 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      I would buy Smedley Butter

    • @sheleavitt06
      @sheleavitt06 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      I did the same thing😂😂😂

    • @williamchamberlain2263
      @williamchamberlain2263 3 ปีที่แล้ว +8

      "Smedley Butter: the traditional taste of colonialism"

    • @paddymaguire2541
      @paddymaguire2541 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      some buttered vegetables can definitely kill you!

    • @MichaelWilliams-gj4mk
      @MichaelWilliams-gj4mk 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Butler was not a soldier he was a marine .don't disrespect him by calling him a soldier you asshole

  • @adamyahya4638
    @adamyahya4638 3 ปีที่แล้ว +187

    Disposable Heroes - Metallica:
    Soldier boy, made of clay
    Now an empty shell
    Twenty one, only son
    But he served us well
    Bred to kill, not to care
    Do just as we say
    Finished here, greetings death
    He's yours to take away

    • @joedehoe8352
      @joedehoe8352 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      James hetfield is a genious great song especially the live video of 1985 pretty sure the song is also about football his inspiration since he played football qhos youth and highschool years

  • @thecurlyafro8496
    @thecurlyafro8496 3 ปีที่แล้ว +83

    Powerful intro. Got me tearing up. I almost couldn’t do that “last about face” after 7yrs on the navy. It was hard. Especially living overseas with just my wife and kids in japan. I’m lucky I had my family for I didn’t know how to continue marching forward to “normalcy”. Thank you for that. Wish more people understood that. Keep making video Knowing Better. 👍🏽

  • @ReapWhatYaSow
    @ReapWhatYaSow 3 ปีที่แล้ว +198

    Smedley Butler, truist definition of Patriotism. One of my favorite Marines.

    • @JohnBrown722so
      @JohnBrown722so 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

      No u don't sit down shutup 😊

    • @JohnBrown722so
      @JohnBrown722so 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

      I don't lie so why do I reapbthese lies u hide behind

    • @ReapWhatYaSow
      @ReapWhatYaSow 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@JohnBrown722so I have no idea what the fuck you are talking about!

    • @stealmysunshine
      @stealmysunshine 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

      The man was amazing.

  • @thomasgun1329
    @thomasgun1329 2 ปีที่แล้ว +22

    I got a D when I did a story on the best general in American history . Dude you are the first person who recognize who this man is in fact your the first one other then myself. It’s happening all over again

  • @tejashdasgupta1840
    @tejashdasgupta1840 3 ปีที่แล้ว +108

    War, war never changes. Only the weapons change.

    • @lizardlegend42
      @lizardlegend42 3 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      Since the dawn of human kind when our ancestors first discovered the killing power of rock and bone, blood has been spilled in the name of everything: from God to justice to simple, psychotic rage. Because war, war never changes

    • @donalny
      @donalny 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I always hear that in Solid Snake's voice in my head.

    • @tejashdasgupta1840
      @tejashdasgupta1840 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      @@donalny This is actually Fallout but I know what solid snake line you're referring to.

    • @Josep_Hernandez_Lujan
      @Josep_Hernandez_Lujan 3 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      @@donalny “War has changed.
      It's no longer about nations, ideologies, or ethnicity. It's an endless series of proxy battles, fought by mercenaries and machines.
      War--and it's consumption of life--has become a well-oiled machine.
      War has changed.
      ID-tagged soldiers carry ID-tagged weapons, use ID-tagged gear. Nanomachines inside their bodies enhance and regulate their abilities.
      Genetic control, information control, emotion control, battlefield control…everything is monitored and kept under control.
      War…has changed.
      The age of deterrence has become the age of control, all in the name of averting catastrophe from weapons of mass destruction, and he who controls the battlefield, controls history.
      War…has changed.
      When the battlefield is under total control, war becomes routine.”
      ― Solid Snake

    • @luska5522
      @luska5522 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      But men do, trought the roads they walk

  • @corngreaterthanwheat
    @corngreaterthanwheat 3 ปีที่แล้ว +212

    "He's just so smart, Jen-nay."
    -Butler, presumably after oppressing someone, but before advocating for veterans

    • @shellbeebo
      @shellbeebo 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Can you explain this? I just want to see if I'm missing something.

    • @djdrav
      @djdrav 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      @@shellbeebo Forrest Gump. Hope that helps. 😉

    • @corngreaterthanwheat
      @corngreaterthanwheat 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@shellbeebo If you're under 25 don't worry about it. Forrest Gump was before your time. KB said Butler was the FG of imperialism.

    • @MrK00n
      @MrK00n 3 ปีที่แล้ว +13

      @@corngreaterthanwheat not everyone comes out of the womb with vast amounts of knowledge. Make allowances for people to grow.

  • @brancellbooks
    @brancellbooks ปีที่แล้ว +15

    I learned about the Spanish-American War because of the Disney musical Newsies. It takes place in 1899, and one of the characters mentions a war that ended recently. Some googling led to a realization that, indeed, things happened between 1865 and 1914.

  • @zachb2046
    @zachb2046 3 ปีที่แล้ว +70

    I've known about this man for years, Smedley Butler *tried* to warn us...

  • @kjorlaug1
    @kjorlaug1 3 ปีที่แล้ว +409

    This is Cody, from Alternate History Hub...

    • @danielmartin9057
      @danielmartin9057 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      I thought that’s who it was lol

    • @usernotfound-jw7xs
      @usernotfound-jw7xs 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      yes

    • @movement2contact
      @movement2contact 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      I don't know any of you guys references... 👴🏻😓

    • @pedroleon4421
      @pedroleon4421 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@movement2contact check out the channel alternate history hub, great content

    • @lizardlegend42
      @lizardlegend42 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@alexeyr8262 no, it's not

  • @FallenCause
    @FallenCause 3 ปีที่แล้ว +67

    Butler basically predicting the advent of nuclear weapons in that final monologue gave me chills. I hate that I never learned about him through high school nor college.

    • @weirdwildweed6557
      @weirdwildweed6557 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      "They don't want us to know!" the dummer we become the better...
      We must force the goverment to drop all charges against Julian Assang, he is the good guy.
      Julian Assang is only trying to inlighten the world of what warcrimes the leaders (owned and controled by the big Corporations) are using the taxpayiers money for and in the People's innorance are doing with or using their money for .
      But the goverment does not want the truth to come out!
      Thats why they want to silence Julian Assang .

    • @olafvidar9315
      @olafvidar9315 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Smedley won 2 medal of honors.... 2!

    • @lif3andthings763
      @lif3andthings763 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      I did

  • @TwoTreesStudio
    @TwoTreesStudio 3 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    It's absolutely insane how many of these incidents were passing references in Archer. What a fantastic show...

  • @ains2904
    @ains2904 3 ปีที่แล้ว +74

    It ain't me. IT AIN'T MEEE! I ain't no senator son. It ain't me. IT AIN'T MEEE! I ain't no fortunate one.

    • @StarlightEater
      @StarlightEater 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Whats that from bud

    • @C2yourself
      @C2yourself 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      Tom Fogarty, Credence Clearwater band

    • @danawilkes6174
      @danawilkes6174 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@C2yourself John Fogarty was the lead singer of CCR...

    • @lannyhammett119
      @lannyhammett119 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      please............ dude enough

  • @Ott3r5losh
    @Ott3r5losh 3 ปีที่แล้ว +190

    It’s 3:06am in Australia
    I’m at my local maccas in the car because I had a “nap” at 5pm.
    Thank god for this upload

    • @luda7549
      @luda7549 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      its 11:12AM in new jersey im in my house because i woke up at 8

    • @JewTube001
      @JewTube001 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      bro are you me?

    • @farhananwar3186
      @farhananwar3186 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      1:45am on my end bruv (WA boy)

    • @JaviEngineer
      @JaviEngineer 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      What the fuck is a Maccas?

    • @andresolmos8639
      @andresolmos8639 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      @@JaviEngineer McDonald's if I'm nota wrong

  • @bettievw
    @bettievw 3 ปีที่แล้ว +31

    I support veterans. Every veteran who is left without help is a veteran that we failed. But I don't support war. People often act like these are conflicting but I couldn't disagree more. Every western country spends exorbitant amounts of money on warfare, calling the army the "Ministry of defense" or whatever that country's alternative is. As if we're defending anything. My country, the netherlands, is currently participating in wars that benefit no one but companies. We continue to support other countries that wage illegitimate wars, and we refuse to use any of our power. Even though we have so much. I wish we could understand that war is nearly never just, and that the government will not act in out favor unless we *force* it to.

  • @kenharris5390
    @kenharris5390 2 ปีที่แล้ว +60

    Thanks for making this subject known to more people. Great stuff. The US government is even more beholden to its corporate paymasters, today more than ever. I think that US politicians should have their corporate donor's and lobbyists' badges and logos on their suits, just like racing drivers.

    • @MikeJones-ye6li
      @MikeJones-ye6li ปีที่แล้ว +4

      That's actually a pretty smart and practical way to help with the problem of hidden money in politics

  • @eldrago19
    @eldrago19 3 ปีที่แล้ว +54

    "when someone makes a move of which we disapprove who is it we send to intervene? UN and OAS, they have their place I guess but first we send the marines." - Tom Lehrer

  • @hamishneilson7140
    @hamishneilson7140 3 ปีที่แล้ว +156

    Thank you for teaching me the term Yellow Journalism, it's a term that I think we all should be using more often today instead of "click bait."

    • @publicguy1664
      @publicguy1664 3 ปีที่แล้ว +24

      The entire MSM is yellow journalism these days. Its ALL pro-war, pro-fascist and anti-worker.

    • @triggeredliberal7236
      @triggeredliberal7236 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@publicguy1664 Nah remove pro-fascist and I must say you kind of correct.

    • @publicguy1664
      @publicguy1664 3 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      @@triggeredliberal7236 It is fascist because the MSM are pro corporate-government entanglement. Mixing of big business and state is one of the pillars of fascism.

    • @michelegosse7116
      @michelegosse7116 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      evening despised gossip-smear popular rags were printed on cheap sh. tty yellow paper.

    • @hamishneilson7140
      @hamishneilson7140 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@publicguy1664 You're making some very broad and generalized claims. Are you saying that both Fox and CNN are pro-war, pro-fascist, and anti-worker? If so who is a good alternative in your opinion. Furthermore, please explain your reasoning behind these claims.

  • @hunterhensley3670
    @hunterhensley3670 3 ปีที่แล้ว +107

    We still got yellow journalism lol “ weapons of mass destruction”

    • @dr.jamesolack8504
      @dr.jamesolack8504 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      Hunter Hensley
      Yep.....Fox News.

    • @haught7576
      @haught7576 3 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      @@dr.jamesolack8504 if there is one thing you can’t differentiate between Republicans and Democrats, it’s their bloodlust

    • @briant6333
      @briant6333 3 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      @@dr.jamesolack8504 et al. The news only tells you 2 things. What they want you to hear and what keeps you tuning in. The media loves war. They get to give themselves awards about how brave they are getting the shot of the kid dying and they get more people to watch and thus paid more by the advertisements .... tocatch the them. Media is a racket too

    • @charlesward8196
      @charlesward8196 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      Yeah, Trump colluded with Russia, he must be impeached!

    • @duzzitmatter8679
      @duzzitmatter8679 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      WMD - Russian collusion, “2 weeks to flatten the curve” - Biden gets 80Million votes - absolutely no voter fraud - 19 Hijackers, Bldg 7, Gulf of Tonkin, Lusitania, etc, etc....it ain’t just Fox News my friend. If there is a dollar to be made and you’re in the way, you’d best step aside or reach out and get it for them.
      Btw...it’s no longer about the money. They have enough. It’s about the power. It’s being consolidated and you’re either the willing accomplice or a target. You’d best gird up your loins amigo....it’s gonna be a bumpy ride until we land.

  • @tofu_golem
    @tofu_golem 10 หลายเดือนก่อน +6

    You covered everything I would have wanted and then some. More Americans need to know about Smedley Butler. His book War Is A Racket is now in the public domain and can be read free & legal on the Internet.

  • @theconqueringram5295
    @theconqueringram5295 3 ปีที่แล้ว +28

    It's a shame that these events are largely forgotten in US history. Thank you for making this video.

  • @alifqadrmuhammad4542
    @alifqadrmuhammad4542 3 ปีที่แล้ว +22

    Here is something to think over: cartoons from my childhood mocked the name Smedley; from Hanna-Barbarra to Warner Brothers. I wonder to whom this disrespect was directed? Major-General Smedley Darlington Butler is number one of the top five ALL-TIME HEROES of mine. Long live the memory and VALIANT efforts of The Great General!

  • @Ultraelectromagnetic
    @Ultraelectromagnetic 3 ปีที่แล้ว +74

    Just want to chime in a bit. There's actually a long explanation as to why "Philippine-American War" is now the more accepted term instead of "Philippine Insurrection." It seems like a small thing, but to Philippine historiography the use of the term "insurrection" reflects the United States' refusal to recognize the Philippine Republic in order to justify US conquest of the archipelago.
    Both terms have been used during the period (aside from Filipinos, some Americans and other foreigners referred to it as a "war" from the beginning) but I think part of why "insurrection" stuck in the US for so long is precisely because it's "D-list" and most people there who do hear about it in school are never made aware that the Philippine Republic was much more than a ragtag horde of rebel tribespeople - which, if you look at American political cartoons of the period, is basically what the imperialist faction in the US were presenting them as. By the time the war broke out in February 1899, the Philippines had a democratic constitution, a government with elected officials and separation of powers, gov't offices and institutions, a formal military (they fought with conventional trench warfare for the first few months of the war before going guerrilla), and it controlled most of the archipelago's territory - it was a functional independent state, while the US only held the city of Manila and the bay. Thus the label "insurrection" was never accepted here in the Philippines, where we consider the Philippine Republic of 1899 the first constitutional republic in Asia, albeit short-lived.
    So you can imagine how much of a big deal it was for some Philippine historians when the US Government recognized this and changed the official Library of Congress entry from "Phil. Insurrection" to "Philippine-American War" (I think this was in 1998). Oh God that was longer than I thought it would be. On that note, thanks for making this video! I've never heard of Smedley before and now I'm trying to find a copy of his book. Cheers!

    • @l.antoinetteanderson3736
      @l.antoinetteanderson3736 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Thank you for your comment. If the book form is no longer available, or at an out-of-reach price: it should still be available on Kindle, where I purchased mine; i can read this title on the app on my Android Tablet.

    • @r.guerreiro140
      @r.guerreiro140 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      With my due respect, would you mind to bring us more insights about your current president, Mr Duterte?

    • @src175
      @src175 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@r.guerreiro140 He's kinda a failure. Typical Philippine political cronyism. Nothing new, in the end, but significantly more unintelligent sounding than previous presidents. At least Arroyo was somewhat erudite, even if she was a thief.

    • @r.guerreiro140
      @r.guerreiro140 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@src175 Better a thief than a murder :/
      But in other aspects of his administration?

    • @src175
      @src175 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@r.guerreiro140 Cronyism, corruption, pointless public works projects like that stupid dolomite beach, absolutely awful pandemic response such as with his propensity to think that generals somehow know how to cure epidemics, he's just bad. He sold us out to China too, so that's a thing.
      Also, Arroyo stole hundreds of billions of dollars from our economy. That's pretty fucking bad, and I would not at all consider that better.

  • @emtee40
    @emtee40 9 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    I had an awesome conversation while renewing my license with an old lady who worked there about Smedley Butler. She mentioned how she was a history buff and I told her I was too. She then said she's REALLY into history of which most people don't know. I then asked if she heard of the Business Plot. She literally lit up and said, paraphrasing here, 'Smedley Butler should be celebrated'. It was a great conversation and I was up there well after I was done.
    Remember my fellow Americans, Eisenhower, Patton and MacArthur were responsible for the deaths of a few veterans protesting the lie FDR used during his presidential campaign to give WW1 vets a financial bonus.

  • @Kyle-rq1sr
    @Kyle-rq1sr 3 ปีที่แล้ว +21

    Smedley Butler was a true bad ass. In boot camp, we were taught about him and how he stood up against the corporate fascists that wanted to take over the government.

    • @Szcza04
      @Szcza04 ปีที่แล้ว

      Why then are so many ex millitary Neo Nazis

  • @haplon33
    @haplon33 3 ปีที่แล้ว +35

    "The Gentleman from Cannibal Island" is my new moniker tyvm

  • @johnwhite7219
    @johnwhite7219 3 ปีที่แล้ว +8

    My dad who was a WW2 combat veteran told me the hardest thing to do was thinking ahead so you stayed out of potential fights. He was trained to kill with his bare hands and feared his training would come back.

  • @nopasaran191
    @nopasaran191 2 ปีที่แล้ว +29

    Great video that shines a light on our obsession with imperialism. It means even more coming from a veteran. Keep it up man. Solidarity and subscribed

  • @kakirtog9610
    @kakirtog9610 3 ปีที่แล้ว +294

    "Trust me, you want Carlos Maza to give it to you long"
    Hehe

    • @CanalTremocos
      @CanalTremocos 3 ปีที่แล้ว +14

      Wish I had such glowing reviews.

    • @mellakat80
      @mellakat80 3 ปีที่แล้ว +11

      Phrasing

    • @dfunited1
      @dfunited1 3 ปีที่แล้ว +9

      I knew I wasn't the only one who caught that.

    • @XavierbTM1221
      @XavierbTM1221 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      that goddamn anchor baby

    • @jamieschechner7954
      @jamieschechner7954 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I was just thinking this.
      Long
      Lol

  • @brianpeck4035
    @brianpeck4035 3 ปีที่แล้ว +22

    Glad to see this. I have heard of Smedley and his book. My dad's grandpa just missed Cuba and was sent to the Philippines. He fought in WW 1 as well. He was unhappy that it was over...too much fun. I have his medals and am in the difficult position of feeling both pride and shame.

  • @pedroleon4421
    @pedroleon4421 3 ปีที่แล้ว +131

    "and trust me, you want Carlos to give it to you long" AYOOO PAUSE

  • @BrianClarkpharmd
    @BrianClarkpharmd ปีที่แล้ว +10

    As a former marine as well, this man is a legend in the corps

  • @hakon8220
    @hakon8220 3 ปีที่แล้ว +53

    "Narration starts" Oh hai Cody from alternate history hub!

  • @quedtion_marks_kirby_modding
    @quedtion_marks_kirby_modding 3 ปีที่แล้ว +90

    12:56 The USA's support of panama's independence let Colombia to a period that I can only describe as being a simp for Germany.
    Our army was trained by germans, we supported the central powers (even tho for obvius reasons our support was very limited), when airforces became a thing all of our planes were made in Germany, we had German uniforms, etc.
    This lasted until a German U boat took down a Colombian fishing ship in 1941. We didn't became a friend of the USA until the korean war were the goverment decided to be close to the USA to grow the economy.

    • @theultimategamer8537
      @theultimategamer8537 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      As a Canadian of a Colombian family I appreciate this history lesson.

    • @quedtion_marks_kirby_modding
      @quedtion_marks_kirby_modding 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@theultimategamer8537 Your welcome.

    • @FriedrichHerschel
      @FriedrichHerschel 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      As a german I appreciate this history lesson.

    • @redmeat4vegans62
      @redmeat4vegans62 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      SO - you hated us for our freedom, and the freedom we gave to the Panamanians. Like the freedom to do exactly what we told them to do ..... Yes - and so many of my countrymen do not understand why so much of Latin America does not like the US and/or is leary when we start talking about 'liberating' Venezula.

    • @feastguy101
      @feastguy101 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@redmeat4vegans62 Colombia should liberate Venezuela and reinstate Gran Colombia... that would be cool

  • @widgetfilms
    @widgetfilms 3 ปีที่แล้ว +68

    It's about time someone made a video about him.

    • @danielm5324
      @danielm5324 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      Except that it continues to leave out very important information, and I would argue that it's intentional.
      What most historical retellings wilfully ignore (including Knowing Better) is that Smedley Butler tried very hard to be a war profiteer himself for many years. His attempts began while he was still on active duty, and he was trying to sell artillery pieces, fighting knives, bayonets, and some other things... this was still common practice for higher ranking officers to sell designs to the government, but this was just starting to change while Butler was still serving. Likely, he would have been fine to sell them right after he retired. However, the attempt to court martial him near the end and all the high level controversy at the very end of his career didn't help his cause.
      Undeterred, Butler sank more and more capital into more designs and continued to pitch even more varied equipment to the government and was known to note that he was owed.
      He was now broke, and entered into politics and received an advance to write "War is a Racket."
      Butler likely would have always advocated for the Bonus Army, but beyond that, his positions come across as very disingenuous.

    • @erraticonteuse
      @erraticonteuse 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      @@danielm5324 It's possible he took a step back and realized "What the fuck am I doing?" He _was_ raised Quaker, who are generally pacifists and big on self-reflection.

    • @danielm5324
      @danielm5324 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      @@erraticonteuse it's possible. However, it just doesn't seem likely, considering he was still hard at it when he was approached to write and get into politics. And the fact that he - and most everyone that brings him up - leaves up his years of attempting to be a war profiteer himself makes it unlikely to me. It also seems VERY disingenuous to conveniently leave this years long effort out of his book and the recounting of the man.
      Like so many other war heroes, their accomplishments are best left to stand on their own. When you get into hero worship, you're usually very disappointed.

    • @danielm5324
      @danielm5324 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      @@erraticonteuse something else dawned on me... yes, he was raised Quaker. However, Quakers are known for total adherence to pacifism and to be totally opposed to taking oaths. After 30+ years in the Marine Corps, he would have regularly sworn oaths to the Constitution as an officer in the United States Military. With his impressive combat record as well, I believe it's safe to say he totally shed the faith of his childhood.
      I get where you're coming from, and I believe people can change. I also get what you're saying that possibly he may have reached an ethical ephinany in his older years that may have been influenced by his upbringing.
      However, given the circumstances of his change, the fact that he would refuse to disclose the reality of his attempts to enrich himself for many years via weapons/military gear production, the way he entered into politics, and the way most modern historians play along with the deception: I just find it totally unlikely.

    • @solgato5186
      @solgato5186 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      It's beautiful eh? There are videos about GSB and The Business Plot, Brown Brothers, Harriman, all those names from an intense time in US History to study. I'd rather be studing early & pre-Chalcolithic megaliths but people in the USA do not get an education about their own country without doing a lot of work to find a source that doesn't mine words or equivocate the truth into mush. So happy this channel is taking on pivotal moments in history and doing a fabulous job placing them in temporal context with other events people are more likely to have learned about. Basically I'm just excitedly saying YES! TO your comment. :*D

  • @suspectnutria
    @suspectnutria 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    This is now relevant with the fall of Afghanistan and the end of the War on Terror

    • @PyrotechNick77
      @PyrotechNick77 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      I was just about to comment this as well.

    • @notNajimi
      @notNajimi 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      If butler were here to see it he’d say “I told ya so”

  • @adamchurvis1
    @adamchurvis1 3 ปีที่แล้ว +51

    Of the 19 men awarded the Medal of Honor twice, five of these were Marines who were awarded the honor at a time (WWI) when Marines were awarded BOTH the Army Medal of Honor and the Navy Medal of Honor for a single incident. This makes the number of double-recipients 14, with only two Marines -- Smedley Butler and Dan Daly -- receiving the Medal of Honor for two separate incidents.

    • @matthewshelby4579
      @matthewshelby4579 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      I have to be that guy and shoot in the dark. One of those men has to be Audie Murphy.

    • @adamchurvis1
      @adamchurvis1 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@matthewshelby4579 Nope.

    • @matthewshelby4579
      @matthewshelby4579 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@adamchurvis1
      Aw, come on, really?? That guy won so many medals they ran out of medals to give him!

    • @adamchurvis1
      @adamchurvis1 2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@matthewshelby4579 He was awarded the Medal of Honor once, but he was also awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star with bronze oak leaf, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star with "V" device, and Purple Heart with two bronze oak leaf clusters.

  • @kevinconrad6156
    @kevinconrad6156 3 ปีที่แล้ว +53

    When I moved to the city I live in that has a Marine base I had just sold a house so I bought 10 copies of General Butler's book and left them in waiting rooms around town.

    • @MrK00n
      @MrK00n 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Marines already know about Smedley Butler. He’s taught in boot camp. Butler and Dan Daily are the only two-time MoH recipients in the Marine Corps.

    • @kevinconrad6156
      @kevinconrad6156 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      @@MrK00n That's is why I leave his book, they will read it. Of course they know General Butler, but few know or have read his book. And it is really three MoH since he got a Brevet medal before officers could get a MoH.

    • @kevinconrad6156
      @kevinconrad6156 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@MrK00n Did you read his book in boot camp? This video was about his book and politics.

    • @MrK00n
      @MrK00n 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      @@kevinconrad6156 look man if it’s not color by numbers Marines don’t care. They’ll see it and go “oh more moto boot camp shit. I wonder what motard left that here” and then go back to dreaming about that sweet sweet back home poonani.
      Like 70% of the Marine Corps is concentrated in the lowest 3 ranks, and they are almost all under the age of 21. They DGAF about politics. They want to do their jobs and murk on fools.
      Sure there’s some super enlightened wannabe college boy types, but they are a minority. Most dudes just want to spend their free as far away from Marine Corps garrison stupidity as possible.
      If you want to influence thinking drop off copies at the VA hospital.

    • @kevinconrad6156
      @kevinconrad6156 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@MrK00n Actually many of the marines here are not so thick headed since it is a Marine Corp Air Station, pilots and mechanics are usually brighter than the average Marine. Plus, see Smedly Bulers name on a book with the title "War is a Racket", some might get curious.

  • @ho-hyongyoo3251
    @ho-hyongyoo3251 3 ปีที่แล้ว +27

    Okay this is just scary how relevant how everything in this video.

    • @r0br33r
      @r0br33r 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      oKAY CAN WE JUST

  • @i.lostblur
    @i.lostblur 3 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    my "United States History and Government" teacher in a NYC Highschool definitely covered this. I don't remember if it was part of the text book, or if it was a facsimile that he just handed out as related material.
    i'm surprised that others report never learning about this in a public school so i'm grateful that you created this video.

  • @aaronsandoval5392
    @aaronsandoval5392 3 ปีที่แล้ว +95

    In the marine corps we learn about his medals of honor but nothing about what he did after

    • @Wandering_Chemist
      @Wandering_Chemist 3 ปีที่แล้ว +28

      Well probably best you didn’t because I already posted a comment on here about my story in the Marines and when I found out about all of what Butler did (kind of a military history buff) and started telling other people in my unit about who Butler really was and my Full Bird Company Commander got his degree in Military History and wrote his thesis on Butler. But he caught wind of what I was saying about Butler and dude I straight got threatened with a NJP (1 rank taken, 2 month half pay, 1 month EPD) if I didn’t shut my mouth about Butler. Only in the Marine Corps right? Lol 😂

    • @Wandering_Chemist
      @Wandering_Chemist 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @Safwaan lol you think 😂 and it’s a big political game as well. What ever I’m out now.

    • @Wandering_Chemist
      @Wandering_Chemist 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @Safwaan wait what? I hope you’re joking! I was praising you dude!

    • @Wandering_Chemist
      @Wandering_Chemist 2 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @Safwaan I completely agree with you man

    • @Wandering_Chemist
      @Wandering_Chemist 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @Safwaan yeah man why would you think I was insulting you? You could not have been more closer to the truth than most people I know.

  • @WoddCar
    @WoddCar 3 ปีที่แล้ว +75

    To address all the questions about comments from 5 hours ago, KB offers early access to videos to patreon supporters

  • @willienolegs8928
    @willienolegs8928 3 ปีที่แล้ว +38

    I found the book “War is a Racket” a while a go was fascinated by it but I know a lot more about Smedly Butler. Good man. Thanks for the video.

  • @someoneelsedoit8706
    @someoneelsedoit8706 2 ปีที่แล้ว +13

    You know, rewatching Dr Strangelove and seeing Smedly Butler in the Bonus Army March clip, made me realize how much George C Scott based his character, General Turgidson, off of Smedly. From his speech patterns to the way he moves while he talks.

    • @AtSafeDistance
      @AtSafeDistance ปีที่แล้ว

      When they showed film of Smedley talking to the "fellas" : I immediately thought of Scott's performance

  • @sillysimion6079
    @sillysimion6079 3 ปีที่แล้ว +28

    Hollywood made a movie loosely based on the business coup called "Keeper of the Flame" with Spencer Tracy, and Katherine Hepburn. One thing you forgot to mention, the person that recruited Smedley Butler mysteriously died of a heart attack, once it all came to light. Smedley actually went to the press with it, when he was first approached, and along with a reporter who worked with him played along with the mysterious recruiter (The name escapes me right now) until enough evidence was gathered to go to the Government. Military war history online has an episode on the business coup, that's very good it's narrated by a Marine Historian, so does the BBC (Both on you tube). Smedley was so angry that Congress quickly swept this under the rug, he felt they did not take the threat seriously, what money and power buys you. The Marine Historian was a little more apologetic, saying there actually was no law at the time regarding a coup attempt from within the nation, especially during peace time, this did not come along until WW-2. But he also added, it did happen, Smedley was one of impeccable integrity, and honesty, and most of all a patriot. He gathered how it was to come about, using a veterans army to commit the coup, the names involved, who was to finance it, they were not sure what to do with Roosevelt though. They discussed either killing him if he refuses to comply or using him as a puppet president figurehead void of power. Then there's the reporter as a witness and his evidence. So when they say it can't happen here, it has!

    • @lulumoon6942
      @lulumoon6942 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      And we are still dealing with the effects of FDR...

  • @MsHojat
    @MsHojat 3 ปีที่แล้ว +34

    That Chiquita Banana won't just stick in people's heads for _hours,_ it may stick in some heads for a _lifetime._ I say this because my dad told me about this commercial multiple times, the latest of which must have just been just a year or few ago.

    • @pierregibson6699
      @pierregibson6699 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      TELEVISION 📺 PROGRAMING 👁😵‍💫

    • @spaceman081447
      @spaceman081447 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      @Mshojat
      RE: "That Chiquita Banana won't just stick in people's heads for hours, it may stick in some heads for a lifetime."
      I still remember the Chiquita Banana TV commercials from the 1950s.

    • @MrSpirit99
      @MrSpirit99 2 ปีที่แล้ว

      Fun fact I got a Bundeswehr advertisment on this video. Twice.
      Oh and I'm 46 and served there for 4 years.
      Great video.

  • @themissile3120
    @themissile3120 2 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    So glad you kept this up after recently taking down a host of videos. Butler's story is an incredibly valuable one to know. Probably the most underappreciated historical figure I can think of.

  • @ZergRadio
    @ZergRadio 3 ปีที่แล้ว +75

    lol I totally misread the title as "A vegetarian's warning!" That thumbnail of banana's really fooled my brain :P

  • @jtveg
    @jtveg 3 ปีที่แล้ว +164

    11:49 So this is where the phrase: "Banana republic" comes from. 🍌

    • @scottleft3672
      @scottleft3672 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      You didn't know?...omg

    • @jtveg
      @jtveg 3 ปีที่แล้ว +19

      @@scottleft3672
      I'm sure you were either born with that knowledge or you received it through divine revelation, because unfortunately the rest of us, omg have to learn things.
      I know shocking isn't it. Lol.

    • @scottleft3672
      @scottleft3672 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@jtveg Don't blame me for your congenital sloth.

    • @jtveg
      @jtveg 3 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      @@scottleft3672
      No no, I'm just jealous that you are so blessed. I wish I could have knowledge beamed into my head like you did.
      I'm sure you also know what an insulated gate bipolar transistor is and how to use one. Or what Boolean algebra is. Right?
      *_You didn't know?...omg_*
      Oh so there are things you don't know, but I do. Weird how that works, isn't it?
      Ps. [ your ] not "you congenial..."

    • @scottleft3672
      @scottleft3672 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@jtveg You mean, your tin foil hat doesn't work in a lightning storm?...makr a new one, use Fibonacci's algebra.

  • @JoeMun
    @JoeMun 3 ปีที่แล้ว +12

    Happy Veterans Day sir! Former active duty marine here. Love the content!

  • @AngeloXification
    @AngeloXification 3 ปีที่แล้ว +13

    It's really difficult to not come to the conclusion that these things are still happening today.

    • @JLo83
      @JLo83 ปีที่แล้ว

      They never stopped...

  • @ethanmontgomery6099
    @ethanmontgomery6099 3 ปีที่แล้ว +14

    ‘War is a Racket’ is one of the best pamphlets of all time and one of my favorite books.

  • @jvbutalid8316
    @jvbutalid8316 3 ปีที่แล้ว +87

    "service guarantees citizenship"
    "im doing my part!"

    • @maker-matt
      @maker-matt 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      A Starship troopers reference

    • @Hansengineering
      @Hansengineering 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      I remember reading that at around 16, and thinking that was a model society. :/

    • @Hansengineering
      @Hansengineering 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @Harvey Dustin In my early teens I was devouring sci-fi from the 'golden age' up to the 70's. Lots of Clarke, some Heinlein. At that age, I wasn't reading the stories beneath the stories. After HS, I spent about 10 years in the Army, including multiple combat tours. Current opinion is MUCH more in-line with the latter Smedley in this video.

    • @Hansengineering
      @Hansengineering 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @Harvey Dustin I don't know if you were aware; Heinlein was in the Navy, and was forced to take a medical discharge. He felt you should be able to decline a medical, so one of his characters did. Can't recall if it was in ST or another of his novels.
      The Army is really good at one thing: Fighting and winning wars. That's its reason to be. In peacetime, it can be other things, but in time of war, everything else is shunted to the side. You mention rigidity in policy, and I find myself wondering if after they allowed LGBT to serve openly, they removed the prohibition on 'sodomy' from the UCMJ. TBH I doubt it.

    • @keirfarnum6811
      @keirfarnum6811 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      “Wanna know more...?”

  • @erlinggaratun6726
    @erlinggaratun6726 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    I've been waiting for this for years. I've searched TH-cam for a bio on Butler half a dozen times. One of the most impressive and interesting military thinkers ever.

  • @mikebrant192
    @mikebrant192 2 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    Great job! I've been trying to revive General Butler in people's minds, and the Business Plot seems to me a perfect mirror for today.

  • @thelonecabbage7834
    @thelonecabbage7834 3 ปีที่แล้ว +22

    Ah, so thats why our highschool football team was called "The Fighting Quakers".

  • @ScipioAfricanusI
    @ScipioAfricanusI 3 ปีที่แล้ว +99

    I was a fan of Tulsi gabbard when she ran. She signed my copy of War is a Racket. She said it was one of her favorite books. Great video!

    • @alecfoster4413
      @alecfoster4413 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      I knew I liked her for a reason!

    • @johnh.tuomala4379
      @johnh.tuomala4379 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      My favorite Democrat.

    • @solinvictus39
      @solinvictus39 3 ปีที่แล้ว +14

      Was very disappointed when she endorsed Biden. Showed me that when it counts she is just another politician.

    • @thekeyandthegate4093
      @thekeyandthegate4093 3 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      @@solinvictus39
      Can almost hardly blame her tbh. The DNC is corrupt to the core. If she spoke out against them or their message, she'd be smeared by the media and propagandized against to high hell. In fact, because she appeals to a lot of people who aren't neoliberal warhawks, you see far leftists and people who've fallen victim to modern yellow journalism spread conspiracies that she's a russian asset all the time on sites like twitter. It's a really sorry state of affairs. George Washington is proven right once again about the formation of political parties being a mistake.

    • @ScipioAfricanusI
      @ScipioAfricanusI 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @Kevin Tewey why a mistake? Her dropping out and saying she will vote for Biden was bad. She just said vote no for neera tanden
      As far as professional politicians go she is excellent
      I think

  • @adamtests9151
    @adamtests9151 3 ปีที่แล้ว +5

    Saw this. Got "War is a Racket," Got "the Plot to Seize the White House" and discovered General Butler was veritable local to me. Going to have to pay a visit to the grave.

  • @Moribus_Artibus
    @Moribus_Artibus 3 ปีที่แล้ว +95

    “That’s all you get here, folks. Mile after mile of mall after mall” - George Carlin

    • @CEO_Of_Racism-fk3qv
      @CEO_Of_Racism-fk3qv 3 ปีที่แล้ว +17

      "it's called the American dream cause you have to asleep to believe it"

    • @canaan5337
      @canaan5337 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      Its a big club and you ain't in it.

    • @aaronallblacks
      @aaronallblacks 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      The mega malls with strip malls between the mega malls, I gotta watch that but again

  • @alancranford3398
    @alancranford3398 3 ปีที่แล้ว +27

    Speaking of that famous Eisenhower speech, listen to the entire thing. Look at the warnings about scientists, technicians, academics and other authorities as well as the "military-industrial complex." Think about the role science had in both World Wars. Don't forget about the powerful Eugenics movement. Eisenhower was promoting common sense.

    • @alexanderchristopher6237
      @alexanderchristopher6237 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Science is a tool designed to solve problems and wants. In the military, problem-solvers are always needed. If generals and officers are problem solvers on a military level, scientists and engineers working for the military are solving technical problems.

  • @dylanchouinard6141
    @dylanchouinard6141 3 ปีที่แล้ว +32

    I only knew of Smedly Butler as one of the CSA generals from the Hearts of Iron IV mod Kaiserreich. Thanks so much for this awesome video!

    • @theultimategamer8537
      @theultimategamer8537 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Why is he a CSA general? Considering he was against a fascist plot to overthrow the government wouldn’t he stand with it against another civil war?

    • @dylanchouinard6141
      @dylanchouinard6141 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

      @@theultimategamer8537 Well, I’m the Kaiserreich universe (which starts with Germany winning WWI) Douglass MacArthur tried to establish a military junta in America , so he could have defected to stop a perceived tyranny. Also the CSA in Kaiserreich isn’t the Confederate States of America, but the *Combined Syndicates* of America, so his personal politics might have played a role.

    • @theultimategamer8537
      @theultimategamer8537 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@dylanchouinard6141 ah okay thanks for clearing it up

    • @dylanchouinard6141
      @dylanchouinard6141 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@theultimategamer8537 Yeah, the whole world that the mod creators made is crazy detailed

  • @ironfossil9963
    @ironfossil9963 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    What a man of character and moral code.

  • @garthmarenghi9040
    @garthmarenghi9040 3 ปีที่แล้ว +35

    How have I never heard of this guy? He's the Marine-iest Marine to ever Marine.

    • @kayeka4123
      @kayeka4123 3 ปีที่แล้ว +15

      If I were to put on my Capitalist Conspiracy Theorist hat and make a guess, I'd say that he's forgotten on purpose because of his anti-capitalist messaging.

    • @TheGerrok
      @TheGerrok 3 ปีที่แล้ว +6

      @@kayeka4123 Every Marine who graduates boot camp knows the name Smedley Butler.

    • @johns9652
      @johns9652 3 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@TheGerrok Yup, Smedley Butler and Chesty Puller, you don't get through boot without learning those.

    • @TheGerrok
      @TheGerrok 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      @@johns9652 The other name of note is Dan Daily.

    • @johns9652
      @johns9652 3 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      @@TheGerrok Dan "you s.o.b.s want to live forever?" Daly. Yeah, they didn't drill him into our heads so much as Butler and Chesty though. Hell, after 30 years I can still you what keyword bamcis means, but I had forgotten Daly.

  • @bencristofani3116
    @bencristofani3116 3 ปีที่แล้ว +31

    This video shows me how little americans know about their history, and how often this american history repeats itself, to the detriment of soldiers, workers and veterans and to the benefit of the MIC and wall street. All I am saying is maybe it isn't a huge coincidence that the history of US war profiteering isn't taught about in US schools...

    • @praisekek181
      @praisekek181 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Yes yes yes

    • @MsJeanneMarie
      @MsJeanneMarie 3 ปีที่แล้ว +2

      I saw this really interesting clip on TH-cam (I can’t remember the channel) that showed men from three different East Asian countries. They asked each one about their understanding of wars that occurred in the region and every time, the men had different versions.
      I know the interpretation and the rewriting of history commonplace but this video illustrated it perfectly.

  • @alsyrriad
    @alsyrriad 3 ปีที่แล้ว +9

    Now that I’ve learned about Smedley, I won’t forget about him. 🕊

    • @olafvidar9315
      @olafvidar9315 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      He won 2 medal of honors.... 2

  • @josephthomasjr.6551
    @josephthomasjr.6551 3 ปีที่แล้ว +20

    This is simply magnificent! This video is filled to overflowing with nuggets of wisdom and truth. I strongly suspect that most of my fellow Americans are unaware of these facts. And that, my friends, is NOT by accident!!!

  • @odd-eyes6363
    @odd-eyes6363 3 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    American friends, why do your troops (or at least a vocal group) consider the time they spent overseas as "fighting for your freedom" or "fighting for you" No one has ever gotten close to invade the U.S in recent memory as far as I know.
    I'm not being ironic or sarcastic. This is a legit question

    • @Quintinohthree
      @Quintinohthree 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Do you know what Cinco de Mayo is a cekebration of?

    • @ddoyle11
      @ddoyle11 3 ปีที่แล้ว +4

      Because “Fighting to further the objectives of the military industrial complex” doesn’t roll off the tongue quite as easily.

    • @odd-eyes6363
      @odd-eyes6363 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@Quintinohthree I'm specifically referring to the US and recent times (since the 1900s). I'll edit my comment to make that more clear

    • @nomad5544
      @nomad5544 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      From what I can tell, it's basically based on the early wars the US/Colonies had with France and Britain, and from then on every big war we've been in has either been characterized as a defense of our values or as keeping those values abroad.

  • @m0dulegirl
    @m0dulegirl 3 ปีที่แล้ว +68

    I'm a simple woman: I see new Knowing Better, I click

    • @hirotrum6810
      @hirotrum6810 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      Even if I agree with him, this joke shouldn't be applied to more serious topics

    • @cowboybob7093
      @cowboybob7093 3 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@hirotrum6810 As usual 80% facts to obscure his misinterpretation and agenda delivered with distractions.