War against a foreign country only happens when the moneyed

"War against a foreign country only happens when the moneyed classes think they are going to profit from it." These words, spoken by the keen-eyed George Orwell, reveal a truth that has long been veiled by the banners of glory and patriotism. In this potent statement, Orwell lays bare the ugly reality that drives many of the wars waged by nations: it is not the cries of the oppressed or the dreams of liberty that fuel such conflicts, but rather the greed and ambition of those who stand to gain from the bloodshed. War, in this sense, is not born from noble causes but from the desire to enrich the few at the cost of the many.

The ancient world was no stranger to this truth. Consider the Persian Empire, whose kings, such as Xerxes, embarked on vast campaigns of conquest not for the benefit of their people, but to secure their dominance over vast wealth and resources. Xerxes, with his great army, invaded Greece not for the sake of justice or freedom, but to expand his empire and increase the wealth flowing into his royal coffers. The Persian king, draped in opulence, was not concerned with the well-being of his soldiers or the people he sought to conquer. His war was waged for gain, for power, and for glory, all while the men who fought and died in his name had little to gain but the promise of victory. These campaigns were the plunder of the many for the enrichment of the few, and so it has often been with wars throughout history.

In the more recent past, we see the same pattern. Consider the American Civil War, a conflict that tore the United States apart, leaving deep scars in its wake. While the nation was fractured over issues of slavery and states' rights, it is important to remember that at the heart of the war was economics—the interests of the wealthy plantation owners in the South who relied on the labor of enslaved people to maintain their economic power. Even in the North, the rise of industrialists and corporations saw profit in the war effort, with factories churning out weapons and supplies. It was not merely the ideals of freedom and justice that drove the war forward but the prospect of financial gain that pushed many to continue the bloodshed. The rich, whether North or South, saw war as an opportunity to expand their influence and wealth, while the poor and disenfranchised were sent to fight and die, their struggles far removed from the luxuries of the elite.

And what of the First World War, where the conflict began with an assassination and a web of alliances, yet escalated into the largest and most devastating war the world had ever seen? Many historians have pointed to the military-industrial complex—a shadowy alliance between governments and corporations that profits from the manufacture and sale of weapons. The banks and financial elites, whose interests were intertwined with the arms trade, stood to gain from the long, drawn-out nature of the war. As the blood of soldiers soaked the trenches, it was the wealthy classes who profited, their riches swelling with every weapon bought and every piece of equipment sold. The ordinary soldiers, whose lives were sacrificed in the name of nationalism, returned home broken and scarred, with little to show for their sacrifices. Their pain and suffering served only to line the pockets of those who had never set foot on the battlefield.

Orwell’s words remind us of the truth that war, in the end, is not a struggle of good against evil, but often a battle for control and wealth. The moneyed classes, those who sit at the high tables of power, are rarely the ones who endure the hardships of war. They use the people’s fervor, their patriotism, to serve their own interests. For those who stand to profit from the spoils of war, the cost of human life is but a small price to pay. It is the common man, the soldier, the peasant, the laborer, who bears the brunt of the bloodshed, while the wealthy elite watch from their palaces, their fortunes growing ever larger.

The lesson we must take from Orwell’s sharp-eyed wisdom is this: war is often a tool of the powerful, a means by which they can enrich themselves at the expense of the many. We must remain vigilant, questioning the motives behind the calls for war and understanding that while the banners of freedom, honor, or justice may be waved, the true motive is often economic. As we face conflicts in our own time, we must ask: who benefits from this struggle? And if the answer is the few, at the cost of the many, we must resist the call to arms and seek peace through other means.

In our own lives, when faced with conflicts or struggles, remember Orwell’s insight. Greed and self-interest often hide behind the noble faces of war, and it is our duty to see through them. We must seek peace—not for the sake of our leaders, but for the sake of the common good. Let us not be seduced by the rhetoric of power, but strive to build a world where resources are shared and wealth is distributed, so that we may avoid the endless cycle of war that has torn apart so many lives throughout history. Let wisdom guide us toward understanding, and compassion lead us to peace.