The book looks at what really causes wars, who profits from war, who pushes
war. The titles of the various chapter give a good description of the book.
Chapter 1 "Wards of the Government" describes how Native Americans, self
supporting indigenous nations, were subdued by placing them in debt that
eventually forced them to cede their land and they became wards of the
government.
Chapter 2 "Wards of the Banks" describes how governments themselves were
forced into debt by a series of large central banks who issued currency
which only increased each nation's debt.
Chapter 3 "The Federal Reserve" describes our own central bank, the Federal
Reserve. It was patterned after older European central banks and designed to
place our own national government in debt to and under the control of the
Federal Reserve.
Chapter 4 "The Role of War" describes how European colonial empires fell
after World War Two and the United States took over as colonial master of
the world with certain dire consequences.
Chapter 5 "The Remedies of War" describes the internationalization of
finances after World Wars One and Two. It also shows sful attempt of
President Kennedy to change this direction. His assassination ended his
attempt to make such changes.
Chapter 6 "Inevitable Results of War" describes the growth of the military,
industrial complex and multi national corporations as a result of war.
Chapter 7 "Conclusions" summarizes the findings of previous chapters and
offers the reader some practical remedies
WHAT INDIVIDUAL CHAPTERS CONTAIN
ONE SECTION IN THE BOOK LOOKS AT SOME OF THE TREATIES ENDING WARS
THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
The colonists won the war. In their treaty with England the British were
granted full trading rights. WHO WON THE WAR? What was the rationale of the
war if the “winners” continue trading with the “losers” whom they went to
war with so they would not have to trade with them?
THE WAR OF 1812
Britain attempts to stop the United States from trading with France. The
United States continues to trade with France through several Caribbean
nations. The British regard this as interference with trading on the high
seas. The British seize more than 1800 ships belonging to the rebellious
United States. Again, the USA wins the war but in the treaty ending the war
the British were given access to Newfoundland fisheries and complete freedom
to navigate the Mississippi River.
THE MEXICAN WAR
This was the least economic of our wars but it still had economic
implications. The two major issues in this war were slavery and western
expansion. An increase in Southern territory would give the South an
advantage in the United States Senate. The port of New Orleans could (would)
become larger than the port of New York. The treaty gave United States
citizens and vessels free and uninterrupted passage into Mexico by the Gulf
of California and the Colorado River. This would force U.S. commerce through
the western USA rather than through New Orleans.
THE CIVIL WAR
Slavery and the Port of New Orleans were still issues in 1861. The major
issues were economic and not social or political. The focus of the war can
best be seen by looking at the Emancipation Proclamation. The proclamation
did not free a single slave. Slaves in Delaware were exempt from the
proclamation. Slaves in any territory under control of the Union were also
exempt. If slaves in any area under Union control were exempt what is the
rationale of the proclamation?
A letter of Major General George McCellan to President Lincoln provides us
with the basis of the Emancipation Proclamation. The letter speaks of the
economic disaster to the Union if secession is successful. It urges Lincoln
to pursue any course (even war) to assure the maintenance of the union.
The resignation speech of Jefferson Davis from the United States Senate also
helps us understand the rationale of the war. In his resignation speech
Davis tells his colleagues that the issue is not slavery. The framers of the
Constitution did not address the question of slavery . There was an implicit
agreement they would but 75 years later no one has attempted to address the
issue. Davis tells the members of the Senate that the Constitution gives the South
the right to secede. We are exercising that right before we become so
completely overwhelmed by the federal government that we become incapable of
exercising that right.
WORLD WAR 1 - THE TREATY OF VERSAILLES
There were 263 articles in the treaty. The final 16 left Germany bankrupt
and devoid of any political or economic power. At the same time Germany was
held responsible for all her debts. She was required to pay the total cost
of occupation. German territory was divided up among the Allies. Germany was
required to return monies given her in previous treaties.
In all decisions and interpretations of decisions affecting Germany, she was
to have no representation. It is little wonder that within a few years
Hitler would be able to galvanize German anger and hatred as he did
CHAPTER 6 INEVITABLE RESULTS OF WAR
MILITARY INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
Our military organization today bears little relation to that known by any
of my predecessors in peacetime, or indeed by the fighting men of World War
II or Korea. Until the latest of our world conflicts, the United States had
no armaments industry. American makers of plowshares could, with time and as
required, make swords as well. But now we can no longer risk emergency
improvisation of national defense; we have been compelled to create a
permanent armaments industry of vast proportions. Added to this, three and a
half million men and women are directly engaged in the defense
establishment. We annually spend on military security more than the net
income of all United States corporations.
This conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms
industry is new in the American experience. The total influence -- economic,
political, even spiritual -- is felt in every city, every State house, every
office of the Federal government. We recognize the imperative need for this
development. Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications. Our
toil, resources and livelihood are all involved; so is the very structure of
our society.
In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of
unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military
industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power
exists and will persist.
We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or
democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and
knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial
and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so
that security and liberty may prosper together.
THIS LAST SECTION IS QUOTED IN THE BOOK. IT IS A QUOTE FROM PRESIDENT
EISENHOWER’S STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH JAN. 1961
IMPLICATIONS OF THE BOOK FOR TODAY
IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY THERE ARE STILL PERSONS WHO UNDERSTAND SOME OF
THESE BASIC ISSUES. THE FOLLOWING IS TAKEN FROM THE TEXAS REPUBLICAN PARTY
PLATFORM ADOPTED IN JUNE 2000.
Elimination of Executive Orders – The Party demands the elimination of
presidential authority to issue executive orders, presidential decision
directives and other administrative mandates that do not have congressional
approval. Further, we demand a repeal of all previous executive orders and
administrative .
Repeal of Federal War Powers Act –A perpetual state of national emergency
allows unrestricted growth of government. The Party charges the president to
cancel the state of national emergency and charges Congress to repeal the
War Powers Act and to declare an end to the previously declared states of
emergency.
Monetary System – The Party calls for the United States monetary system to
be returned to the gold standard. Since the Federal Reserve System is a
private corporation, has no reserves, and is not subject to taxation or
audit, we call on Congress to abolish this institution and reassume its
authority, enumerated by Article I, Section 8 of the United States
Constitution, for the coinage of money.
Federal Reserve Audit – The Party supports a congressional audit of the
Federal Reserve Board. The Federal Reserve Board minutes of meetings should
be made public.
THESE IDEAS CERTAINLY ARE BASIC IDEAS CONTAINED IN Surrogate Wars: A Real
Look At Wars. YET THIS SAME GATHERING NOMINATED FOR PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH
WHO HAS LED US INTO WAR AND GREATLY ENHANCED THE POWER OF THE FEDERAL
RESERVE BY INCREASING OUR DEBT.
ONE OF THE TRUTHS THIS FACT EXPRESSES IS: WE DO NOT LACK THE PEOPLE WHO
UNDERSTAND THESE BASIC ISSUES. THESE IDEAS CROSS PARTY LINES. THESE IDEAS
ARE EXPRESSED TO A GREAT DEGREE BY THE PLATFORM OF THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY AND
OTHER “MINOR” PARTIES. Surrogate Wars: A Real Look At Wars SHOWS THAT IN THE
PAST BOTH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS MADE COURAGEOUS EFFORTS TO IMPLEMENT
THESE TRUTHS
WHAT WE LACK IS THE STRUCTURES TO ALLOW POLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS TO DEVELOP
WITHOUT BEING HINDERED BY ECONOMIC FORCES.