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The Sorrows of Empire: Militarism, Secrecy, and the End of the Republic (American Empire Project) By Chalmers Johnson ( Metropolitan Books )
Release Date: 2004-01-13
Average Customer Rating:
List Price: $25.00
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Product Description
From the author of the prophetic national bestseller Blowback, a startling look at militarism, American style, and its consequences abroad and at home
In the years after the Soviet Union imploded, the United States was described first as the globe’s “lone superpower,” then as a “reluctant sheriff,” next as the “indispensable nation,” and now, in the wake of 9/11, as a “New Rome.” Here, Chalmers Johnson thoroughly explores the new militarism that is transforming America and compelling its people to pick up the burden of empire.
Reminding us of the classic warnings against militarism—from George Washington’s farewell address to Dwight Eisenhower’s denunciation of the military-industrial complex—Johnson uncovers its roots deep in our past. Turning to the present, he maps America’s expanding empire of military bases and the vast web of services that supports them. He offers a vivid look at the new caste of professional warriors who have infiltrated multiple branches of government, who classify as “secret” everything they do, and for whom the manipulation of the military budget is of vital interest.
Among Johnson’s provocative conclusions is that American militarism is putting an end to the age of globalization and bankrupting the United States, even as it creates the conditions for a new century of virulent blowback. The Sorrows of Empire suggests that the former American republic has already crossed its Rubicon—with the Pentagon leading the way.
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Amazon.com Review
Since September 2001, the United States has "undergone a transformation from republic to empire that may well prove irreversible," writes Chalmers Johnson. Unlike past global powers, however, America has built an empire of bases rather than colonies, creating in the process a government that is obsessed with maintaining absolute military dominance over the world, Johnson claims. The Department of Defense currently lists 725 official U.S. military bases outside of the country and 969 within the 50 states (not to mention numerous secret bases). According to the author, these bases are proof that the "United States prefers to deal with other nations through the use or threat of force rather than negotiations, commerce, or cultural interaction." This rise of American militarism, along with the corresponding layers of bureaucracy and secrecy that are created to circumvent scrutiny, signals a shift in power from the populace to the Pentagon: "A revolution would be required to bring the Pentagon back under democratic control," he writes. In Sorrows of Empire, Johnson discusses the roots of American militarism, the rise and extent of the military-industrial complex, and the close ties between arms industry executives and high-level politicians. He also looks closely at how the military has extended the boundaries of what constitutes national security in order to centralize intelligence agencies under their control and how statesmen have been replaced by career soldiers on the front lines of foreign policy--a shift that naturally increases the frequency with which we go to war. Though his conclusions are sure to be controversial, Johnson is a skilled and experienced historian who backs up his claims with copious research and persuasive arguments. His important book adds much to a debate about the realities and direction of U.S. influence in the world. --Shawn Carkonen
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 Breaks through the deliberate obfuscation of our government and media.
Most American should, by this point, be experiencing a great level of cognitive dissonance. As they read and watch the rhetoric sold to them by their government, and the equally complicitous corporate media, they should intuitively feel that reality is a far cry from what is being represented. In the last eight years especially, what we are being told is taking place is the exact opposite of what is really transpiring: protecting freedom by abolishing the 4th Amendment; war for peace; fighting for our way of life as a euphemism for fighting for private corporate interests; protecting free markets by providing corporate welfare and bailouts of corporate practitioners of maleficence; fighting for the human rights of our fellow man, but only those that reside over oil reserves. The list goes on ad nauseam.
What Chalmers Johnson does in The Sorrows of Empire is break through the disinformation campaign being perpetrated on the world and expose our practices for what they really are: maintenance and expansion of empire.
The word "empire" is taken by many as a pejorative, and they recoil from any serious consideration of the possibility that America may actually be one. When they think of an empire, they think about the Romans, Alexander, or Khan, and then they contrast their understanding of those ancient empires with their own contemporary lifestyle. They subsequently discount the notion that America has become an empire and continue to support the politicians who depend on their ignorance.
This book allows such a reader to see beyond the world he perceives through the blinders of corporate media obfuscation and government propaganda. It permits him to look beyond the smoke and mirrors and to see the world as it actually is.
From his recounting of the historical events that have brought us to empire, to his reporting of contemporary events that compel us to maintain empire, Chalmers Johnson is able to provide valuable insight to the American citizen who clings to the false notion that we remain the constitutional republic intended by our founders.
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Frightening
Nutshell review - Another very interesting (and frightening) book by Chalmers Johnson, the same author of Blowback. War is big business and no one runs that business better than America. A very good read regardless of whether one agrees with the conclusions and forecasts made.
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Informative about global surveillance network ( softears )
Empires are expensive, this book details much of how our money is spent. Johnson is well informed but I can't resist expressing surprise at my interpretation of a couple important viewpoints:
1) The John Birch group is mentioned as possibly being involved with Kennedy's demise? I've seen a lot of suspects but that makes one rub their eyes.
2) How can you write about globalism without even mentioning the #1 globalists, the Rockefellers?
This books shares turf with 'Confessions of an Economic Hit Man' and 'The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism' Both of these latter books are more effective at telling the consequences of the globalism of the past few decades. This book is best at detailing the level of our military empire and our global surveillance network.
Easy to read and informative but not hard hitting.
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American imperialism/militarism ( moparmaxus )
Chalmers Johnson's book "Blowback" got exposure during the 2008 presidential race,mostly from the Ron Paul campaign. This book is a newer release.
Mr. Johnson contrasts the differences between "military" and "militarism".
Militarism is a companion to imperialism which is the domination and exploitation of weaker states.
"War is the parent of armies;from these proceed debts and taxes;and armies,and debts,and taxes,are the known instruments for bringing the many under the control of the few."-page 45 James Madison quoted.
That quote is eerily relevant when I think about current American foreign policy.
Chalmers Johnson takes the reader on a history lesson from Woodrow Wilson's idealism about American imperialism-to Clinton's idea of corporate military welfare-to the privatization of the military and profiteering by more than a few members of the current administration.
Troubling also is the revolving door between the military-industrial complex and offices in the Pentagon.
The American middle-east foreign policy has been related to oil for the most part. That leads us to the introduction of the influence that petroleum has on military actions throughout our history.
Mr.Johnson discussed secret foreign bases and also the behemoth base known as Camp Bondsteel and the monumental expenses related to logistics and the military budget in general.
This is one of a number of books that discusses the planning for an Iraq war well before George W's inauguration,as well as the controversial use of "depleted uranium tipped" weapons in Iraq and Kosovo. It's ironic that the U.N. classifies those weapons as WMD's!
Two very accurate quotes from this book give the potential reader a glimpse of what you will find in the pages of "The Sorrow of Empire."
"When the agents of globalization,the corporations themselves,are revealed as criminal conspiracies to defraud both their customers,their own employees,and their governments,not just the practice but the whole idea of globalization becomes farcical."-page 277.
"Official lying increases exponentially as imperialism and militarism take over."-page 298.
On the subject of empire builiding and the industrial complexes,both military and petroleum, this book is the best that I have read to this point! Chalmers Johnson communicates his points most effectively.
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Important books for Americans
Americans need to read more of what authors such as Chalmers Johnson
have to say.I need not praise His credentials or acclaim as an author, as
this is quite evident already.The Sorrows of Empire: Militarism, Secrecy, and the End of the Republic (Blowback Trilogy)Blowback: The Costs and Consequences of American Empire,two of his recent books that I've enjoyed,are riveting in their
honesty , very well documented and researched in depth.These books open
a window to our governments' activities,policies and military expenditures
that will capture the attention of readers,regardless of political philosophy. I would reccomend these books to anyone interested in the "real" story of our national journey and present perdicament.
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