The War Racket

. . . Ooo, you’re slick – you investors in hate
You Saddams and you Bushes,
you Bin Ladens and snakes
You billionaire bullies,
you’re a globalized curse
You put war on the masses
and then you clean out the purse

And that’s how it’s done, war after war
You old feudal parasites
you just sacrifice the poor
You got the cutting edge weapons
but your scam’s still the same
as it’s been since the Romans:
It’s the patriot game
Well, that's the war racket
That’s the war racket

You twisters of language,
you creeps of disguise
Your disinformation –
it's like worms in your eyes
You privileged bankers,
you gambler thieves
You profit on war, you think
there's just less money in peace.

That’s how it’s done, time after time,
In country after country
and crime after crime.
You pretend it’s religion
as if there’s no one to blame
for your dead and impoverished
in your little patriot game;
Honey, that's the war racket.

We got the world's greatest power
and you team up with thugs.
Make a fortune on weapons,
destruction and drugs.
But your flags and boots and uniforms
they start to all smell the same
when both sides are killing
in your little patriot game..

And that’s how it’s done
and you’ve got our sons
in the crosshairs of horror
at the end of your guns
But your national anthems
they start to all smell like shame
when all sides are dying
in the patriot game

And war is never, ever holy
It’s just a greedy men’s dream
And you two-faced crusaders –
both sides are obscene.
War is not made by God,
war is just made by men
who misdirect our attention
while you thieves do your thing

And that’s how it’s done
About every 30 years
The rich fill their bank accounts
The poor fill with tears
The young fill the coffins
The old hang a wreath
The politicians get photographed
with their names underneath.
It’s the war racket
It’s just the war racket

– Buffy Sainte-Marie

11/22/17 UPDATE:
Buffy Sainte-Marie's "The War Racquet" is included on her new album, Medicine Songs. She recently performed it on CBC's q program.


NEXT: Progressive Perspectives on
U.S. Military Intervention in Syria

Related Off-site Links:
Tomahawk Maker's Stock Up After U.S. Launch on Syria – Paul R. La Monica (CNN Money, April 7, 2017).
Syria Airstrikes Instantly Added Nearly $5 Billion to Missile-Makers' Stock Value – Jen Wieczner (Fortune, April 7, 2017).
Observers Warn That Syria Attack is Trump's "Wag the Dog" Moment – Lauren McCauley (Common Dreams, April 7, 2017).
In Striking Syria, Trump Risks Confirming the Worst Fears About His Presidency – Aaron Blake (The Washington Post, April 7, 2017).
"Illegal Act of War": Trump's Unilateral Attack on Syria Condemned – Nadia Prupis (Common Dreams, April 7, 2017).
 Trump Launched Missile Strikes on Syria Without Congressional Authorization – John Nichols (The Nation, April 7, 2017).
Trump's Syria Strike Was Unconstitutional and Unwise – Conor Friedersdorf (The Atlantic, April 7, 2017).
Elites Are Giddy Over Trump’s Airstrike in Syria, and That’s Terrifying – Isaac Chotiner (Slate, April 7, 2017).
ABC Breaks Syria Exclusive – Assad Knew Of Attack – Bombs Were For Show – Lauren Kathleen (Bipartisan Report, April 7, 2017).
The Real Targets of Trump’s Strike Were His Domestic Critics – Greg Grandin (The Nation, April 7, 2017).
The Spoils of War: Trump Lavished With Media and Bipartisan Praise For Bombing Syria – Glenn Greenwald (The Intercept, April 7, 2017).
Five Top Papers Run 18 Opinion Pieces Praising Syria Strikes – Zero Are Critical – Adam Johnson (FAIR, April 7, 2017).
How Many Times Is Killing People Going to Make Donald Trump "Presidential"? – Jack Mirkinson (Fusion, April 7, 2017).
Making Sense of Syria – Alex Gourevitch (Jacobin, April 7, 2017).
Buffy Sainte-Marie Talks Corporate "Racketeers," 2016 Election, and Power In the Blood – Joe Lynch (Billboard, June 18, 2015).

UPDATES: Raytheon Stocks Surge After Chemical Attack, Personally Benefiting Trump – Democracy Now!, April 10, 2017).
Trump’s Chaos Is Covering for Stealth Escalation Overseas – Katrina vanden Heuvel (The Washington Post via Common Dreams, June 27, 2017).
House Passes Defense Bill Sure to Make "War Profiteers Rejoice" – Jake Johnson (Common Dreams, July 14, 2017).
Hail to the Warmongers – Danny Sjursen (Truthdig, December 20, 2017).
Trump Plans to Greatly Expand Arms Sales Around the World – Charlie May (Salon, January 8, 2018).