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I helped make Mexico, especially Tampico, safe for…

“I helped make Mexico, especially Tampico, safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in. I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefits of Wall Street. The record of…” quote by Smedley Butler
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“I helped make Mexico, especially Tampico, safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in. I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefits of Wall Street. The record of racketeering is long. I helped purify Nicaragua for the international banking house of Brown Brothers in 1909-1912. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for American sugar interests in 1916. In China I helped to see to it that Standard Oil went its way unmolested.”

Smedley Butler

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The narrator recounts involvement in U.S. interventions across Latin America and China, portraying them as driven by corporate and financial interests rather than moral or strategic reasons.

In simple terms: He describes U.S. actions as serving corporate profit.

Key Takeaway

Question the motives behind foreign interventions.

Themes

imperialism corporate exploitation military intervention

Mood

critical analytical

Type

historical political commentary

When to use this quote

  • historical analysis
  • policy critique
  • ethical debate

Key Concepts

economic imperialism political manipulation

Questions to Reflect On

  • What ethical responsibilities do corporations have in foreign policy?
  • How can citizens hold governments accountable for profit-driven interventions?
A Different Perspective

Oversimplifies complex geopolitical contexts.

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