Topic: War Is A Racket

Former Israeli peace negotiator Daniel Levy tells the BBC that cutting off food and water to a civilian population cannot be justified as targeting militants, calling such claims "lies." The hosts agree that "war is a racket," noting that the financial markets and the "money printer" benefit from continued conflict. They suggest the U.S. is pivoting from Ukraine to Israel to maintain high levels of military spending.

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.

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 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.

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.