Showing posts with label Smedley Butler. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Smedley Butler. Show all posts

Saturday, November 22, 2025

Wars and Rumors of War, 2025. Part 8. The Tin Pot Dictator Edition.

You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.

Matthew, Chapter 24.

There are only two things we should fight for. One is the defense of our homes and the other is the Bill of Rights. War for any other reason is simply a racket.

Smedley D. Butler.


October 25, 2025

United States v. Venezuela.

The US has more ships in the Caribbean since the Cuban Missile Crisis and with massive overreach is executing crewmen of Venezuelan boats, maybe criminals, maybe not, with expensive munitions meant for a peer to peer war on the sea.

A U.S. senior Admiral has resigned rather than participate in what may very well be murder.

Covert operations have been authorized in Venezuela.

October 26, 2025

Thailand v. Cambodia

The countries have signed a ceasefire deal.

October 29, 2025

United States v. ?

The United States extended its campaign of murder into the Pacific this week, sinking four boats and leaving picking up the survivors to Mexico, which protested over the killings.

Sooner or later, and probably sooner, the U.S. Navy is going to kill a charter fishing boat with Americans on it.  It's inevitable.

Israel v. Hamas

Israel executed a large scale strike on Gaza . . . it appears the ceasefire may be in trouble.

October 30, 2025

The United States, with a demented child in the Oval Office, is going to resume the testing of nuclear weapons.


Trump  is clearly, to use the legal standard, "a danger to himself or others".  

Apply the 25th Amendment.

November 1, 2025

Russo Ukrainian War

Ukraine asserts that Russia has deployed 170,000 troops in eastern Donetsk in an effort to take the stronghold of Pokrovsk.

November 2, 2025

United States v. Nigerian Islamic Terrorists

President Trump threatened to intervene in Nigeria if the country doesn't get that nation's anti Christian terrorists under control. 

United States v. Venezuela

A Russian Il-76 with cargo plane linked to the Wagner Mercenary group landed in Caracas, Venezuela on October 26.

November 18, 2025

Israel v. Hamas

The UN Security Council approved the following resolution yesterday:

Resolution 2803 (2025)

Adopted by the Security Council at its 10046th meeting, on 17 November 2025

The Security Council,

Welcoming the Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict of 29 September 2025 (“Comprehensive Plan”), and applauding the states that have signed, accepted, or endorsed it, and further welcoming the historic Trump Declaration for Enduring Peace and Prosperity of 13 October 2025 and the constructive role played by the United States of America, the State of Qatar, the Arab Republic of Egypt, and the Republic of Türkiye, in having facilitated the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip,

Determining that the situation in the Gaza Strip threatens the regional peace and the security of neighboring states and noting prior relevant Security Council resolutions relating to the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question,

1. Endorses the Comprehensive Plan, acknowledges the parties have accepted it, and calls on all parties to implement it in its entirety, including maintenance of the ceasefire, in good faith and without delay;

2. Welcomes the establishment of the Board of Peace (BoP) as a transitional administration with international legal personality that will set the framework, and coordinate funding, for the redevelopment of Gaza pursuant to the Comprehensive Plan, and in a manner consistent with relevant international legal principles, until such time as the Palestinian Authority (PA) has satisfactorily completed its reform program, as outlined in various proposals, including President Trump’s peace plan in 2020 and the Saudi-French Proposal, and can securely and effectively take back control of Gaza. After the PA reform program is faithfully carried out and Gaza redevelopment has advanced, the conditions may finally be in place for a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood. The United States will establish a dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians to agree on a political horizon for peaceful and prosperous coexistence;

3. Underscores the importance of the full resumption of humanitarian aid in cooperation with the BoP into the Gaza Strip in a manner consistent with relevant international legal principles and through cooperating organizations, including the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the Red Crescent, and ensuring such aid is used solely for peaceful uses and not diverted by armed groups;

4. Authorizes Member States participating in the BoP and the BoP to: (A) enter into such arrangements as may be necessary to achieve the objectives of the Comprehensive Plan, including those addressing privileges and immunities of personnel of the force established in paragraph 7 below; and (B) establish operational entities with, as necessary, international legal personality and transactional authorities for the performance of its functions, including: (1) the implementation of a transitional governance administration, including the supervising and supporting of a Palestinian technocratic, apolitical committee of competent Palestinians from the Strip, as championed by the Arab League, which shall be responsible for day-to-day operations of Gaza’s civil service and administration; (2) the reconstruction of Gaza and of economic recovery programs; (3) the coordination and supporting of and delivery of public services and humanitarian assistance in Gaza; (4) any measures to facilitate the movement of persons in and out of Gaza, in a manner consistent with the Comprehensive Plan; and (5) any such additional tasks as may be necessary to support and implement the Comprehensive Plan;

5. Understands that the operational entities referred to in paragraph 4 above will operate under the transitional authority and oversight of the BoP and are to be funded through voluntary contributions from donors and BoP funding vehicles and governments;

6. Calls upon the World Bank and other financial institutions to facilitate and provide financial resources to support the reconstruction and development of Gaza , including through the establishment of a dedicated trust fund for this purpose and governed by donors;

7. Authorizes Member States working with the BoP and the BoP to establish a temporary International Stabilization Force (ISF) in Gaza to deploy under unified command acceptable to the BoP, with forces contributed by participating States, in close consultation and cooperation with the Arab Republic of Egypt and the State of Israel, and to use all necessary measures to carry out its mandate consistent with international law, including international humanitarian law. The ISF shall work with Israel and Egypt, without prejudice to their existing agreements, along with the newly trained and vetted Palestinian police force, to help secure border areas; stabilize the security environment in Gaza by ensuring the process of demilitarizing the Gaza Strip, including the destruction and prevention of rebuilding of the military, terror, and offensive infrastructure, as well as the permanent decommissioning of weapons from non-state armed groups; protect civilians, including humanitarian operations; train and provide support to the vetted Palestinian police forces; coordinate with relevant States to secure humanitarian corridors; and undertake such additional tasks as may be necessary in support of the Comprehensive Plan. As the ISF establishes control and stability, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will withdraw from the Gaza Strip based on standards, milestones, and timeframes linked to demilitarization that will be agreed between the IDF, ISF, the guarantors, and the United States, save for a security perimeter presence that will remain until Gaza is properly secure from any resurgent terror threat. The ISF shall, (A) assist the BoP in monitoring the implementation of the ceasefire in Gaza, and enter into such arrangements as may be necessary to achieve the objectives of the Comprehensive Plan; and (B) operate under the strategic guidance of the BoP and will be funded through voluntary contributions from donors and BoP funding vehicles and governments;

8. Decides the BoP and international civil and security presences authorized by this resolution shall remain authorized until Dec. 31, 2027, subject to further action by the Council, and any further reauthorization of the ISF be in full cooperation and coordination with Egypt and Israel and other Member States continuing to work with the ISF;

9. Calls upon Member States and international organizations to work with the BoP to identify opportunities to contribute personnel, equipment, and financial resources to its operating entities and the ISF, to provide technical assistance to its operating entities and the ISF, and to give full recognition to its acts and documents;

10. Requests the BoP provide a written report on progress related to the above to the UN Security Council every six months;

11. Decides to remain seized of the matter.

United States v. Venezuela

USS Gerald R. Ford Enters Caribbean Sea

This is all part of the illegal use of US military force against suspected drug smuggling entities.  Yesterday, Trump vaguely suggested the US might hit targets in Mexico.

November 21, 2025

Russo Ukrainian War

The Trump and Putin administrations combined to work out a peace plan for Ukraine . . .without Ukraine.  The agreement would cede territory to Ukraine, limit the size of Ukraine's military, and prevent additional member states in NATO, the last of which the US cannot actually commit to as it does not unliterally represent NATO.

The text of the proposal is here:

1. Ukraine's sovereignty will be confirmed. 

2. A comprehensive [sic] and comprehensive non-aggression agreement will be concluded between Russia, Ukraine and Europe. All ambiguities of the last 30 years will be considered settled. 

3. It is expected that Russia will not invade neighboring countries and NATO will not expand further. 

Expected? 

4. A dialogue will be held between Russia and NATO, mediated by the United States, to resolve all security issues and create conditions for de-escalation in order to ensure global security and increase opportunities for cooperation and future economic development. 

5. Ukraine will receive reliable security guarantees. 

Supposedly it received those when it gave up its nuclear weapons. 

6. The size of the Ukrainian Armed Forces will be limited to 600,000 personnel. 

This is bullshit.  Ukraine's army is defense.  Why not limit Russia's army? 

7. Ukraine agrees to enshrine in its constitution that it will not join NATO, and NATO agrees to include in its statutes a provision that Ukraine will not be admitted in the future. 

Further bullshit. 

8. NATO agrees not to station troops in Ukraine. 

More bullshit. 

9. European fighter jets will be stationed in Poland. 

Why is this even being discussed? 

10. US guarantee: 

▪️ The US will receive compensation for the guarantee. 

We get paid?  Why? 

▪️ If Ukraine invades Russia, it will lose the guarantee. 

Not going to happen. 

▪️ If Russia invades Ukraine, in addition to a decisive coordinated military response, all global sanctions will be reinstated, recognition of the new territory and all other benefits of this deal will be revoked.  

▪️ If Ukraine launches a missile at Moscow or St. Petersburg without cause, the security guarantee will be deemed invalid. 

11. Ukraine is eligible for EU membership and will receive short-term preferential access to the European market while this issue is being considered. 

12. A powerful global package of measures to rebuild Ukraine, including but not limited to: 

a. The creation of a Ukraine Development Fund to invest in fast-growing industries, including technology, data centers, and artificial intelligence. 

b. The United States will cooperate with Ukraine to jointly rebuild, develop, modernize, and operate Ukraine's gas infrastructure, including pipelines and storage facilities. 

c. Joint efforts to rehabilitate war-affected areas for the restoration, reconstruction and modernization of cities and residential areas. 

d. Infrastructure development. 

e. Extraction of minerals and natural resources. 

f. The World Bank will develop a special financing package to accelerate these efforts. 

13. Russia will be reintegrated into the global economy: 

a. The lifting of sanctions will be discussed and agreed upon in stages and on a case-by-case basis. 

b. The United States will enter into a long-term economic cooperation agreement for mutual development in the areas of energy, natural resources, infrastructure, artificial intelligence, data centers, rare earth metal extraction projects in the Arctic, and other mutually beneficial corporate opportunities. 

c. Russia will be invited to rejoin the G8. 

14. Frozen funds will be used as follows: 

$100 billion in frozen Russian assets will be invested in US-led efforts to rebuild and invest in Ukraine. The US will receive 50% of the profits from this venture. Europe will add $100 billion to increase the amount of investment available for Ukraine's reconstruction. Frozen European funds will be unfrozen. The remainder of the frozen Russian funds will be invested in a separate US-Russian investment vehicle that will implement joint projects in specific areas. This fund will be aimed at strengthening relations and increasing common interests to create a strong incentive not to return to conflict. 

15. A joint American-Russian working group on security issues will be established to promote and ensure compliance with all provisions of this agreement. 

16. Russia will enshrine in law its policy of non-aggression towards Europe and Ukraine. 

17. The United States and Russia will agree to extend the validity of treaties on the non-proliferation and control of nuclear weapons, including the START I Treaty. 

18. Ukraine agrees to be a non-nuclear state in accordance with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. 

19. The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant will be launched under the supervision of the IAEA, and the electricity produced will be distributed equally between Russia and Ukraine — 50:50. 

20. Both countries undertake to implement educational programs in schools and society aimed at promoting understanding and tolerance of different cultures and eliminating racism and prejudice: 

Gee. .. maybe the US ought to do that. .  oh wait, that would be DEI. 

a. Ukraine will adopt EU rules on religious tolerance and the protection of linguistic minorities. 

b. Both countries will agree to abolish all discriminatory measures and guarantee the rights of Ukrainian and Russian media and education.  

c. All Nazi ideology and activities must be rejected and prohibited. 

This is baloney.  There isn't a lot of this in Ukraine to start with and Russia behaves as if anything Ukraine does is due to Nazi ideology.

By the way, Donald. . . are you going to address this with Nick Fuentes? 

21. Territories: 

a. Crimea, Luhansk and Donetsk will be recognized as de facto Russian, including by the United States. 

b. Kherson and Zaporizhzhia will be frozen along the line of contact, which will mean de facto recognition along the line of contact.  

c. Russia will relinquish other agreed territories it controls outside the five regions. 

d. Ukrainian forces will withdraw from the part of Donetsk Oblast that they currently control, and this withdrawal zone will be considered a neutral demilitarized buffer zone, internationally recognized as territory belonging to the Russian Federation. Russian forces will not enter this demilitarized zone. 

22. After agreeing on future territorial arrangements, both the Russian Federation and Ukraine undertake not to change these arrangements by force. Any security guarantees will not apply in the event of a breach of this commitment. 

23. Russia will not prevent Ukraine from using the Dnieper River for commercial activities, and agreements will be reached on the free transport of grain across the Black Sea. 

24. A humanitarian committee will be established to resolve outstanding issues: 

a. All remaining prisoners and bodies will be exchanged on an ‘all for all’ basis. 

b. All civilian detainees and hostages will be returned, including children. 

c. A family reunification programme will be implemented. 

d. Measures will be taken to alleviate the suffering of the victims of the conflict. 

25. Ukraine will hold elections in 100 days. 

How about Russia?  

Russia's clearly going to interfere in any Ukrainian election. 

Ukraine has already stated that it won't stand for a limitation on the size of its armed forces.

November 22, 2025

Russo Ukrainian War

Trump has demanded Ukraine's position on the peace proposal by Thursday.

Last edition:

Wars and Rumors of War, 2025. Part 7. The snatching victory edition.

Thursday, May 30, 2024

A New Business Plot?

In the early 1930s, upset with President Franklin Roosevelt, some well-placed businessmen plotted to stage a coup and install Gen. Smedley Butler (an odd choice, given Butler's independent character) as a fascist "President", or at least there's reason to believe they were plotting that.

Butler wouldn't go along with it, the plot failed, and FDR, thinking it best to not disrupt the country too much, never brought it out in the open, if in fact he did not outright encourage a general belief that the whole thing had never happened.

Read the recent Robert Reich item here:

The dangerous anti-democracy coalition

American oligarchs are joining Trump and his faux working-class MAGA movement

Reich reports that Elon Must recently held a billionair's gathering with the tehme of defeating Biden in which he invited; well. . . :

The guest list included Peter Thiel, Rupert Murdoch, Michael Milken, Travis Kalanick, and Steven Mnuchin, Trump’s Treasury secretary.

You've heard of Murdoch, of course, the Australian-born billionaire who owns newspapers of a certain type, and who has recently been opposed to Trump.  And you've heard of Michael Milken.  Certainly you've heard of South African born Elon Musk.1

Consider this quote by billionaire Peter Theil.

The 1920s were the last decade in American history during which one could be genuinely optimistic about politics. Since 1920, the vast increase in welfare beneficiaries and the extension of the franchise to women — two constituencies that are notoriously tough for libertarians — have rendered the notion of ‘capitalist democracy’ into an oxymoron. 2 

Consider that somewhat alarming?  Well consider this, from the same individual:

But I must confess that over the last two decades, I have changed radically on the question of how to achieve these goals. Most importantly, I no longer believe that freedom and democracy are compatible.

Theil contributed $15,000,000 to J.D. Vance's campaign.  And according to Reich:

Just 50 families have already injected more than $600 million into the 2024 election cycle, according to a new report from Americans for Tax Fairness. Most of it is going to the Trump Republican Party.

One of the really remarkable things about politics of the last 20 or so years has been the swamping of right wing money into it.  Rank and file Republicans like to worry about George Soros, but it's really the far right that's getting the cash infusion, and it's showing.  It had a major impact on altering Wyoming's politics existentially, taking a more or less "leave me alone, and I'll leave you alone" brand of local Republicanism into far right populism.  Early on, that was accompanied by lots of money. So much so that one frustrated legislature told me that those forces were "buying the legislature".  

The amazing thing to see is the degree to which those who have radically different economic interests simply follow along.  Again, the far right likes to call everyone else "sheep", but the analogy actually applies to Republican voters far more, who vote against their own economic interests continually.  

The extremely wealthy can use their wealth in any number of ways.  It's notable that Warren Buffett and Bill Gates weren't on the list.  But that this occurs at all is troubling, to say the least.  

Capitalist may believe that their interests serve everyone else, and that "freedom" would be "preserved" in an odd sort of Pax Capitalismus with a Cesarean Trump at its head, and probably as a figurehead but wealth, business and capital doesn't exist for the wealthy, but for everyone.  

Panem et circenses, hatred and discontent, and false internal enemies.  Sadly, the trend is well-developed, helped on by a Democratic Party beholding to its own blood soaked, genitals obsessed left wing.

Sic transit gloria mundi.

Footnotes:

1. There's something concerning here that two really rich guys who were not impoverished when they showed up here are now messing with American politics in some fashion.  This, as much as anything, shows how screwed up our immigration policies are. Both Murdoch and Musk ought not to be in the US at all.

2.  It's getting impossible not to note the real rise of misogynistic commentary by the far right.  

It's not the comments of people like Harrison Butker so much, as the comments by other characters on the far right.  Butker's comments have to be taken from the position of traditional Catholic thought.  In some Evangelical corners of Christianity, however, there are now some really beyond hostile views of the current roles of women.  Interestingly, these same forces seemingly have no problems with conduct well outside the Christian norm, ranging from Trump's serial polygamy to Theil's homosexuality.

All this should give the far right pause.  People like Trump, or Theil, clearly aren't in the traditional Christian camp if their own conduct is observed.

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Wednesday, November 17, 1915. Fighting in Haiti and Egypt.

Marines under the command of Smedley Butler, who would become profoundly anti war later on, captured Fort Rivière, the last rebel stronghold in Haiti, resulting in 50 rebel casualties.

Senussi tribesman attacked the village of Sollum, Egypt where forces loyal to the Allies were stationed.  Two Bedouin soldiers were killed and  the telegraph lines sabotaged.

The British Red Cross hospital ship HMHS Anglia struck a mine in the English Channel and sank with the loss of 134 lives.

Last edition:

Tuesday, November 16, 1915. Coca Cola receives a patent.

Labels: 

Saturday, October 24, 2015

Sunday, October 24, 1915. Arab Revolt, Marine Heroes.

Henry McMahon, British High Commissioner of Egypt sent a letter to Hussein bin Ali, Sharif of Mecca confirming support for Arab revolt against the Ottoman Empire and creating an independent Arab state.

The Bulgarian First Army broke through the Serbian line at Pirot in southeastern Serbia.

Haitian rebels attacked a Marine Corps patrol lead by Smedley Butler resulting in an all night fights.  Butler, Edward Albert Ostermann and William P. Upshur would win the Congressional Medal of Honor.  Dan Daly would win a second Medal of Honor.

Smedley Butler in 1929.

The heroic Butler was one of the greatest Marines of all time, retiring as a Major General, and went on to be an anti war politician close to the end of his life.  He'd win two Congressional Medals of Honor in his career and sadly die of cancer in 1940 at age 58. The condition he died of, is one that I have had, slighter later in age, and detected earlier.

Dan Daly

The almost absurdly heroic Daly is one of the most decorated Marine of all time.  He'd pass away at age 63 in 1937.  

Daly was a short man, 5'6", and an Irish Catholic.  He's not buried in Arlington as he wanted to be buried near his home, in New York.

Edward Ostermann

Ostermann had started his career off in the Army and then switched to the Marine Corps.  He'd been a musician in the Army.  His career which would see him obtain the rank of Major General, lasted until 1943 at which time he was refused a combat command due to physical infirmity, and retired.  He died in 1969 at age 86.

William P. Upshur.

Upshur also obtained the rank of Major General but was in a very senior command when he was killed in an airplane crash in Alaska in 1943 at the age of 61.

The Endurance was abandoned when the hull was breached by ice. The crew transferred to lifeboats.

Givanni BattistaTiepolo's frescos in the Church of the Scalzi in Venice were destroyed by naval gunfire.

Last edition: