Who benefits from the current gulf war?

Putin and Russia for sure.  Oil companies that don't export via the gulf.  Weapons manufacturers. Government insiders who can make investment decisions on classified information.  Financial firms that can leverage the new volatility.  You can add to the list.  You won't find "regular people" on there.

So I'll offer this quote today from General Smedley Butler:

“I spent 33 years and four months in active military service and during that period I spent most of my time as a high class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street and the bankers. In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism. 

I helped make Mexico and 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 benefit of Wall Street.

 I helped purify Nicaragua for the International Banking House of Brown Brothers in 1902-1912.

 I brought light to the Dominican Republic for the American sugar interests in 1916. 

I helped make Honduras right for the American fruit companies in 1903. 

In China in 1927 I helped see to it that Standard Oil went on its way unmolested. 

Looking back on it, I might have given Al Capone a few hints. The best he could do was to operate his racket in three districts. I operated on three continents.”

I believe General Butler was the originator of the quote that "War is a racket."

Smedley Darlington Butler (July 30, 1881 – June 21, 1940) was an American major general in the United States Marine Corps. During his 34-year military career, he fought in the Philippine–American War, the Boxer Rebellion, the Mexican Revolution, World War I, and the Banana Wars. At the time of his death, Butler was the most decorated Marine in U.S. military history. By the end of his career, Butler had received sixteen medals, including five for heroism; he was awarded the Marine Corps Brevet Medal as well as two Medals of Honor, all for separate actions.