“War is a racket. It is the only one international in scope. It is the only one in which the profits are reckoned in dollars and the losses in lives.”

“There are only two things we should fight for. One is the defense of our homes and the other is the Bill of Rights.”

Both quotes by Smedley Butler

This week I was saddened to learn that 3 more troops were killed in action in Afghanistan. Today there are around 8,500 U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Afghanistan is an enormous country, just a hair smaller then Texas. Can you imagine the futility of 8,500 troops fighting a war in such a vast, desolate place. Nobody really knows why they are still there. Osama Bin Laden is dead and whatever is left of Al Qeada is in Pakistan or disbursed all over the globe. The Taliban is still there. Truth be told, they were willing to give Osama and all of his thugs up after 9-11. The best I can determine the current mission is for the president to not have lost the war. This was the way it was with Vietnam when it was handed from JFK to LBJ and then to Nixon. We are on our third president in Afghanistan and although he promised to end the wars (just like the 2nd president) it drags on.

Of course, troops are fighting in various wars such as in Syria for no discernible purpose. The U.S. is assisting the Saudis in their quest to starve and kill the Yemenis. The Saudis are particularly fond of bombing children in addition to dismembering journalists. Why would the country that stood against the Nazis and against Stalin ever stand with the Saudis?

Over the Thanksgiving holidays, the progressives chided President Trump for not visiting the troops in Afghanistan. What the hell is a presidential visit going to do for the soldiers there. I say forget the idiotic symbolism and all the we “support the troops” hogwash. Do something real and important. Bring them all home now so that they can be with their families for Christmas and remain with their families afterward.

Smedley Butler was a decorated marine general who is one of only 19 men to win the congressional Medal of Honor twice. He hit the nail on the head when he said that war is a racket. It certainly is. As in his day, war is profitable enterprise for the deep state and for its crony capitalists. He said it best that the profits are reckoned in dollars and the losses in lives.