#1637

Mentioned in 16 episodes

War is a racket

Book • 1935

Smedley D. Butler

In 'War Is a Racket,' Smedley D. Butler offers a searing indictment of the true, profit-driven nature of warfare.

Having seen the gruesome realities of combat firsthand, Butler unveils a shocking exposé on how wars are deliberately fomented to line the pockets of the elite.

He challenges the noble façades often wrapped around military conflicts and invites readers to question the motives behind global battles.

The book highlights how the business of war thrives on the sacrifices of soldiers and taxpayers, benefiting powerful industrialists and corporations.

Butler also examines the intricate connections between government officials and major corporations that drive war policies for financial gain.

Mentioned by

Mentioned in 16 episodes

Recommended by

Ian Carroll

as a short, insightful book critical of the military-industrial complex.

#2284 - Ian Carroll

Mentioned by

Joe Rogan

in reference to General Butler.

#2327 - AJ Gentile

Mentioned by

Joe Rogan

, citing it as Smedley Butler's account of his disillusionment with war.

#2337 - Oliver Anthony

Mentioned by

Ben Cohen

as a source of inspiration regarding the use of the military.

Ben of Ben & Jerry’s Exposes the Motives Behind War With Russia & the Politicians That Sold Out

Mentioned by

Joe Rogan

as having written about the military-industrial complex in 1933.

#2160 - Billy Carson

Mentioned by

Joe Rogan

as a book outlining war as a racket, before World War II.

#2367 - Jesse Welles

Mentioned by

Mike Benz

to exemplify how major multinational corporations profited from World War I.

Mike Benz: The CIA’s Use of NGOs to Coup Foreign Governments, and How They’re Doing It to Trump

Mentioned as evidence of conspiracy when discussing the history of government corruption.

#2329 - Ehsan Ahmad

Mentioned by Jonathan Hackett in the context of the Marine Corps' history of working with foreign partners.

Theory vs. Practice: What is Irregular War?

Mentioned by

Chris Sullivan

in the context of banker's wars.

Bitcoin vs. The Federal Reserve with Chris Sullivan from Jekyll Island (WiM537)

Mentioned by

Matt Kennard

when discussing the relationship between US military and corporate interests.

Exposing the Imperial Class | Matt Kennard

Mentioned by

Shane Cashman

, the author of the book is Smedley Butler, a Marine who was against going to war.

Trump Orders Specialized National Guard Units To Combat Crime In Cities, Dems Furious w/ Andrew Wilson

Mentioned by

Aaron MacLean

as a book by Smedley Butler, another quirky Marine, who had out-there views by the end of his life.

Ep 219: Stephen Platt on Mao's China and the Original Marine Raider

Mentioned as the author of the book, War is a Racket.

The Raider: China and the Life of Evans Carlson, with Historian Stephen Platt

Mentioned by

Jocko Willink

while discussing the harsh condemnation of war and the military industrial complex.

300: War is a Racket

Mentioned by

Stormy Waters

in the context of a communist general's book.

The 'Robber Barons' Who Tried to Save America w/ Stormy Waters - Complete

Mentioned by

Gary Null

when discussing the impact of war on American society.

The Gary Null Show 2.18.25

Mentioned by

Alex Jones

, quoting Smedley Butler, when introducing a report about the art of selling war.

Alex Jones 2025-Aug-19 Tuesday

Mentioned by

Tony Arterburn

in relation to how people power structures tend to use war to manipulate society.

#908: Psyop Season Takes No Days Off With Tony Arterburn

Mentioned by

Dan McKnight

as the author of the pamphlet "War is a Racket" denouncing war.

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