War Is A Racket By Major General Smedley Butler

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Dandelion Salad
Originally published January 16, 2011

numoleen on March 11, 2009

War is a Racket by Smedley Butler is a famous speech denouncing the military industrial complex. This anti-war speech by two-time Congressional Medal of Honor recipient exposes war profits that benefit few at the expense of many. Throughout his distinguished career in the Marines, Smedley Darlington Butler demonstrated that true patriotism does not mean blind allegiance to government policies with which one does not agree. To Hell with war.

SPIN: The Art of Selling War (2004)

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Dandelion Salad

Originally posted June 15, 2011

rushingfan on Jan 29, 2007

Directed by Josh Rushing, a veteran Marine Corps media spokesman, “SPIN: The Art of Selling War” is an investigative documentary that looks at the standard justification for going to war by the American administrations of past and present.

The U.S. National Bird Is Now a Killer Drone by David Swanson

Image by AK Rockefeller via Flickr

by David Swanson
Writer, Dandelion Salad
Let’s Try Democracy
October 27, 2016

Officially, of course, the national bird of the United States is that half-a-peace-sign that Philadelphia sports fans like to hold up at opposing teams. But unofficially, the film National Bird has it right: the national bird is a killer drone.

How to Counter Military Recruitment by Pat Elder (#NoWar2016)

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Dandelion Salad

by Pat Elder
worldbeyondwar.org
September 26, 2016

Remarks at #NoWar2016

Countering military recruitment in the nation’s high schools confronts an ugly mix of a distinctively American brand of institutionalized violence, racism, militarism, nationalism, classism, and sexism. It confronts the greatest problems in American society.

Women’s Draft? Sign Me Up To Abolish War by Rivera Sun

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by Rivera Sun
Writer, Dandelion Salad
Republished with permission from Peace Voice
June 21, 2016

For too long, the women of this nation have been complacent while our brothers, sons, husbands, and fathers are sent to kill, maim, brutalize, destroy and even die in defense of our alleged liberty.

Abby Martin: 100 Years of US Troops as Lab Rats

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Dandelion Salad

with Abby Martin

teleSUR English on May 23, 2016

On Memorial Day, politicians will speak at ceremonies all over the country and repeat their favorite mantra: “Support the troops.” This pledge is hammered into the American psyche at every turn. But there is a hidden, dark history that shows that the politicians are in fact no friend to service members–but their greatest enemy. An easy way to prove this truth is to look at how they so quickly betray and abandon their soldiers after purposely ruining their lives, and even after using them as literal lab rats.

Chris Hedges: Why the Brutalized Become Brutal

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Dandelion Salad

with Chris Hedges

teleSUR English on Apr 4, 2016

In this episode of Days of Revolt, Chris Hedges interviews two veterans of the US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Michael Hanes and Rory Fanning. They lament the brutality of the American military presence, which they say creates the conditions for terrorism and fuels attacks in places like Brussels. They also speak out about the painful struggle of coping with PTSD, and the alienation faced by many soldiers when they come home.

War – Parts 5-7: Keeping the Old Game Alive-Conventional War + Notes on Nuclear War + Goodbye War (1983)

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Warning

These videos may contain images depicting the reality and horror of war/violence and should only be viewed by a mature audience.

Dandelion Salad

War – Part 5: Keeping the Old Game Alive-Conventional War

RonRbc on Jun 25, 2013

Part 5 of the award-winning 1983 series, written, produced, and presented by renowned Canadian historian Gwynne Dyer. This episode concerns the interaction of conventional and nuclear war, and how one becomes another.

War – Part 4: The Deadly Game of Nations (1983)

Image by Susan Melkisethian via Flickr

Warning

This video may contain images depicting the reality and horror of war/violence and should only be viewed by a mature audience.

Dandelion Salad

RonRbc on Jun 24, 2013

Part 4 of the brilliant seven-part miniseries on war by renowned Canadian historian Gwynne Dyer. Originally broadcast in 1983. This episode investigates how the structure and operation of the international system interacts with war.

War – Part 3: The Profession of Arms (1983)

Image by Franco Folini via Flickr

Warning

This video may contain images depicting the reality and horror of war/violence and should only be viewed by a mature audience.

Dandelion Salad

RonRbc on Jun 24, 2013

Part 3 of the award winning series on the relationship of war, culture, and society, written and hosted by Canadian historian Gwynne Dyer. This episode focuses on the role of officers in the military, and the relationships between soldiers, officers, and society.

War – Part 1: The Road to Total War (1983)

Image by The Official CTBTO Photostream via Flickr

Warning

This video may contain images depicting the reality and horror of war/violence and should only be viewed by a mature audience.

Dandelion Salad

RonRbc on Aug 28, 2012

Part 1 of the outstanding National Film Board of Canada/Gwynne Dyer series shown on PBS in 1983, in which renowned historian Gwynne Dyer traces the evolution of warfare from earlier ages to the Total War of the Twentieth Century.

Don’t Enlist, But Don’t Just Take My Word For It by Lo (repost)

Image by Kate Tomlinson via Flickr

by Lo
Editor, Dandelion Salad
originally posted July 12, 2012
May 25, 2015

This is the most important blog post on Dandelion Salad. Please pass this on to anyone you know who may be considering enlisting as a soldier (mercenary). Stop them from selling their souls.

First is a list of the best videos with a description of the video followed by the link. Next is a short list of article links, then the archive of posts for “Before You Enlist” and websites for more information.

Body of War (must-see) + Iraq veteran, activist Tomas Young dies at 34

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Dandelion Salad

Updated: Nov. 11, 2014

TheRealNews on Sep 24, 2014

Body of War, a film by Ellen Spiro and Phil Donahue. It is an intimate and transformational feature documentary about the true face of war today.

Army Makes Case Against Enlisting by David Swanson

by David Swanson
Writer, Dandelion Salad
warisacrime.org
March 19, 2014

Image by United States Marine Corps Official Page via Flickr

Remarkably, the U.S. Army War College has published a report (PDF) that makes an overwhelming case against enlisting in the U.S. Army. The report, called “Civilian Organizational Inhibitors to U.S. Army Recruiting and the Road Ahead,” identifies counter-recruitment organizations that effectively discourage young people from joining the military.

The Folly of ‘Commemorating’ War by Lesley Docksey

by Lesley Docksey (with grateful thanks to Nick Spurrier)
Writer, Dandelion Salad
England
September 9, 2013

Any student of history knows that many of the problems the Middle East and Africa are now experiencing stem from the Great Powers having parcelled up the land, drawn borders where none had existed and put into power various friendly leaders in the aftermath of World War I. That includes the failures of Western actions in Iraq and Libya, and the ongoing failure of Syria, the West’s refusal to accept a popular President in Bashar al Assad and its efforts to undermine him, resulting in a horrific humanitarian mess.