Topic: Smedley Butler

The US is planning to station Marines in Japan as a "quick force," a move that some analysts warn could turn Japan into the "Ukraine of Asia." This strategic positioning is viewed as a way to goad China into a conflict over Taiwan, further benefiting the military-industrial complex. The discussion references Smedley Butler's "War is a Racket," arguing that modern military deployments are driven by profit rather than national security.

John Brennan characterizes the current political climate as the third great crisis in American history, ranking it alongside the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. He expressed concern that Trump's rhetoric could lead to "spilling over into the streets," which the hosts interpret as a dangerous provocation or a "Hail Mary" from a figure under investigation.

A clip from RT features a reading of General Smedley Butler's famous "War is a Racket" speech. Butler describes his 33 years in the Marine Corps as being a "racketeer for capitalism," helping secure interests for American oil and banks in Mexico, Haiti, and Cuba. The hosts use this to frame modern military interventions as profit-driven schemes.

The removal of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi is debated as either a military coup or a "revolution by civilized people." While Morsi believed he had tamed the military, the Egyptian armed forces intervened following massive public protests. The situation is compared to the 1930s "Business Plot" in the United States and current political tensions in Turkey under Erdogan.

Speculation arises regarding a potential "Smedley Butler" style military coup brewing around the time of General Petraeus's resignation. Additionally, Representative Jackie Speier is criticized for seemingly offering whistleblower Gregory Hicks a desirable future diplomatic posting during his testimony.

Historical parallels are drawn between current economic conditions and the Great Depression of the 1930s, specifically referencing General Smedley Butler and the "Business Plot" to overthrow President Roosevelt. The discussion suggests the US transitioned into a permanent security state under the Truman administration.

Lieutenant General Mark Hertling's quiet retirement from the U.S. Army Europe is scrutinized as part of a larger trend of top brass departures. The hosts compare the current political climate to Watergate and the "Business Plot" against FDR. They reference General Smedley Butler's book "War is a Racket."

The legacy of General Smedley Butler is discussed, specifically his book "War is a Racket" and his role in exposing the 1930s "Business Plot." Butler allegedly thwarted a conspiracy by wealthy industrialists to overthrow President Franklin D. Roosevelt and install a military dictatorship. The hosts note the lack of historical emphasis on this event in modern education.

The historical "Business Plot" involving Smedley Butler is compared to modern shadow operations. Recent admissions confirm that Blackwater (now Xe Services) is operating drones in Pakistan, despite previous claims that the private contractor would no longer work for the US government.

Reports from military contacts suggest West Point has shifted focus from combat tactics to logistics, effectively outsourcing front-line fighting to private contractors like Blackwater. This "accounting trick" allows the government to report lower troop casualties while maintaining a massive mercenary presence, echoing Smedley Butler's "War is a Racket" thesis.

The historical "Business Plot" against President Franklin D. Roosevelt is discussed, involving General Smedley Butler's refusal to lead a coup. The hosts link the families involved in that plot, specifically mentioning Prescott Bush's documented financing of the Nazis, to the modern political elite. They assert that the Bush and Clinton families operate as a single cabal regardless of party affiliation.