War: The Greatest Evil
The rhetoric accompanying war is always saturated with noble sentiments and symbols. Flag, country, duty. We have enemies thus we need better weapons. The military-industrial complex grows and grows. The Pentagon has carte blanche. It asks for a new aircraft carrier, submarine or fighter jet. The answer from the White House and Congress is, “Sure. How many do you want?” The legendary Marine Corps General Smedley Butler said, “War is a racket. It always has been. It is possibly the oldest, easily the most profitable, surely the most vicious. 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. It’s an economic imperative which must be stimulated, however deviously.”
Recorded at the Sanctuary for Independent Media.
Speaker
Chris Hedges
Chris Hedges is an award-winning independent journalist who has covered the Middle East for many years. Noam Chomsky says, “Chris Hedges has compiled a remarkable record of reporting and analysis. He has been an incomparable source of insight and understanding, both in his outstanding career as a courageous journalist and in his penetrating commentary on world events.” He is the host of The Chris Hedges Report and the author of many books. His latest is The Greatest Evil is War.
A. Listener –
I love the way Chris Hedges articulates things. Since he studied at Divinity School, his talks feel like sermons to me. Beautiful use of language.
Arthur Ratcliffe –
The most important aspect of the military contribution to the climate crisis is pointed out in this excellent commentary.
https://www.veteransforpeace.org/take-action/climatecrisis
Sadu –
Chris Hedges has been one of the most consistent anti-War, pro-Peace journalists in the U.S. He has exposed the sanctimonious hypocrisy and moral bankruptcy of the U.S. leadership and the many corporations that gain enormous profits from killing people and destroying countries, all in the name of “democracy” and “freedom”. He names names of the evil perpetrators, from President on down. If there is a Hell and perdition everlasting, these people, who are part of the massive U.S military-industrial-congressional-complex, would be thrown into it forever for inflicting so much pain, suffering and devastation worldwide.