Rating: Summary: America Is An Empire Review: From The Independent Review, Spring 2001 by Doug BandowThe United States is a unique imperial power. In what columnist Charles Krauthammer calls the "unipolar moment," this country stands as an international colossus. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, it dominates the world in a manner not seen for least 150 years, and perhaps much longer... ...the United States possesses not only the ability to intervene everywhere, but the ability to defeat any adversary. Russia is a wreck. Japan has minuscule international influence compared to its economic strength. China is a rising power, but it remains a military pygmy. Even western Europe, an international aggregation whose population and economy exceed those of the United States, has only 10 to 15 percent of America's combat capability. With varying amounts of effort, the United States could defeat any (and probably all) of those great countries if it chose to do so. Still, all is not well... ...America is an empire. As Chalmers Johnson puts it in his new book Blowback, "Perhaps the Romans did not find it strange to have her troops in Gaul, nor the British in South Africa" (p. 4). But such foreign commitments were considered alien to America throughout most of its history. That tradition was abandoned during the Cold War, but only for compelling reasons... ...Among the costs is what he terms blowback-"the unintended consequences of policies" (p. 8). One obvious form of blowback is terrorism. Johnson points to the 1988 Pan Am bombing over Lockerbie, Scotland, which was probably retaliation for the attack on Libya two years before, and to the bombing of New York's World Trade Center and the attacks on U.S. facilities in Africa and the Mideast. And such attacks continue: the attack on the USS Cole in Aden, Yemen, last fall was likely a response to Washington's attempt to extend its reach to even that distant nation by establishing intelligence facilities. Johnson's discussion of terrorism should be required reading for every foreign-policy official in the new administration. Terrorism rarely occurs in an international vacuum. For the most part, foreign countries and gangs do not kill Americans for pleasure. Rather, they do so to wage what they view as war... ...Blowback is not limited to terrorism. Potentially more dangerous in the long term is the growing international perception of U.S. arrogance. One can quibble with some of Johnson's arguments-for example, that in 1997 in East Asia the International Monetary Fund acted in ways similar to the Soviets' actions in eastern Europe after World War II-but his examples of American arrogance and foolishness should cause any patriot to squirm. There's Okinawa, for instance... ...Johnson prescribes a more rational and humble policy: military withdrawal from South Korea, diplomatic engagement with North Korea, adjustment to China's growing power, and less military involvement elsewhere, among other things. He would "reemphasize the 'defense' in the Department of Defense and make its name fit its mission," and instead have the United States "lead through diplomacy and example"-both shocking concepts in America today (pp. 228-29). If Washington does not adjust its policies, he warns, America's victory in the Cold War may eventually prove hollow . The seventeen sailors killed onboard the USS Cole were merely the latest victims of blowback. Without foreign-policy changes in Washington, there are likely to be many, many more.
Rating: Summary: The author's foolish opinion piece in the LA Times Review: First of all I admit I have not read this book (which is why I am giving it a neutral rating of 3 stars, two more than it probably deserves), but I did read the author's contribution to the Los Angeles Times (reprinted in the International Herald Tribune of 9 April 2001) entitled "If Eisenhower Could Apologize, Why Can't Bush?". Frankly, it is one of the most asinine articles I have ever read on the IHT Opinion page, and I suspect it captures the essence of his book. Here's a quote: "They [the Bush administration] all seem to think that being the 'lone superpower' means never having to say you're sorry. They forget that President Dwight Eisenhower did apologize for the flight of Francis Gary Powers over Russia" The fact that in this case our plane was flying over international waters seems to make no difference to Mr. Johnson. Another quote: "The United States looks absurd talking about its airplane having something called 'sovereign immune status'" - so evidently Mr. Johnson must think it's perfectly legitimate for the Chinese to search the plane (after it was knocked out of the sky by one of their fighters) and help themselves to our technology. The overall message of the article and the book seems to be, if someone kicks us in the teeth, we should humbly apologise for getting our mouth in the way of their foot.
Rating: Summary: Johnson's Voice of Experience Counts Here Review: I am not a scholar nor military expert. My only credentials to justify this review would be many years of living and working in Asia with both military and civilians from the United States who represented us there in the late 60's and early 70's. While some may take issue with certain factoids, the underlying charge that America views Asia and Asians with myoptic arrogance is right on target! As a study tool for those involved in the formation of U.S. Asian Foreign Policy, this book is indispensable.
Rating: Summary: End of a career Review: Unfortunately a misguided and a little paranoid piece of dubious scholarship. Johnson is supposed to look at the horizon of history and look at what shaped it. He rails against the imperialist bogeyman missing the boat that the world is a better place because of what the US stood for and against.
Rating: Summary: Excellent!! Review: Some people may rant and rave about this and that aspect of this book, but it is really a fine piece of scholarship. The whole point of this book is East Asia and America practice capitalism very differently. America has, due to the Cold War, persued a military course of action. Now that the Cold War has ended, America is having a difficult time shifting. During the Cold War America bullied, cajolled, pushed, and manouvered Asian countries to follow a certain course. With the fall of the Berlin Wall, America is now trying to shove its version of Capitalism down the throats of various Asian nations and in the process causing tremendous financial strains in Asia and fostering deep resentment there. This anger by many Asian nations could develop into some kind of revolt against America in the future. Hence America's short term policy of today may cause a "blowback" that will come back to bite America in the future. Mr. Johnson challenges conventional thinking. He calls America an empire and after reading his well reasoned book, I agree. America is having a hard time shifting from its last 50 year role as the chief Cold Warrior to a more equal partner with Asia. It has difficulty in understanding that different peoples and cultures do business differently. America sometimes behaves like a bull in a china shop. My only critism of BLOWBACK is his conclusion early on in the book of who caused the Pan Am flight to be blown up over Scotland. Ignoring that, the book gets better and better the further you read. If you want a quick education about Asia and how it operates in business and how the U.S. responds, read this book.
Rating: Summary: Nothing very dramatic here..... Review: "Blowback" is a pedestrian book and I would not recommend it to anyone. Frankly, the author makes a very poor case for much of anything spectacular or even very interesting. The neat word "blowback" is used, but my response to the odd terrorist or international incident that results from American Imperialism -- the major downside that this book purports to be concerned about and even that only in anecdotal form -- is, "So?". Sure these indicdents kill some people, make news, and so on, but what happens in the aggregate down the road *in America or in the world itself*? The author has pretty much nothing to add here. As far as solutions to the current state of the American Empire, the suggestions here are so lame as to be embarrasing. They are obviously liberal, ivory-tower, academic platitudes that have no practical meaning -- things like: reduce defense spending (oh, yeah, that'll do it!), let China have room to grow and have more expansion (a winner for sure!), use more diplomacy and less bullying (snore...), etc. This is really a sad effort, because there are very real problems with Imperial America that need to be seriously and candidly addressed NOW. And there are solutions. But this author never got to properly defining the overall problem, so no surprise that the proposed solutions are thin gruel indeed. But this leads to the one good thing that one can point to about this book -- it does at least recognize that America is now an Empire. Good start, but even this is only assumed from the beginning -- it really should be proved and defined in detail (which can and has been done, but the author did not do this). So if you need to read this book or skim it for an assignment or something, make sure to check it out at a library. You don't need to own this book because it is so lightweight. Now, if you really want a book that will show you how America is an empire (and a unique, non-classical one at that), and suggests real solutions for the country and for individual Americans caught up in the evolving circumstances, go look at Tom Chittum's "Civil War Two: The Coming Break Up of America." (end of review, beginning of rant) I am completely disgusted with how American academic sociologists, historians, philosophers, and specialists in different languages and cultures have TOTALLY AND THOROUGHLY abandoned the cutting edges of their own fields! And they do so in the face of what has to be one of the most interesting and turbulent times ever. Is it that you all have tenure now and are feeling fat and happy with life? What the hell gives? The comparison of "Blowback" (writtten by a tenured liberal academic) with "Civil War Two" (written by a soldier turned computer geek) demonstrates how bad the situation has become. Who am I to say this? I am an engineer and by God am I glad that my mind wasn't numbed to death by what passes as "liberal education" in American universities these days. You are a sorry bunch... A warning to practioners of the "soft sciences": get your frigging act together or we are going to totally eat your lunch. You may not live and breath in the real world, but if you want to have done anything in your life other than fill a toilet bowl, begin to do your jobs! (end of rant)
Rating: Summary: Well versed, well written, and an important warning Review: Although some of the reviewers of this book believe that Johnson has stepped beyond his realm of knowledge, as someone who has researched these issues in depth, I can say with certainty that he has not This book has placed forward a very important thesis on the current state of American affairs, and a rather accurate one. Cruise Missile foreign policy and economic brinksmanship have certainly dominated U.S. policy in this decade, and it is a very dangerous game to play. If anyone doubts Mr. Johnson's theory, then they should perhaps take a closer look at the countries and situations he had included into his writing, from China and Japan, which he knows intimately, to the politics and policies of the end of the Cold War. Johnson is not an isolationist, and neither am I, but the fact remains that America is in a new stage of psuedo-imperialism, only without even the containment justifications of the Cold War. You need only to look at Iraq and the Balkans to see the truth. That, and the economic information that the author provides is excellent. In the end, I do not agree with all of Johnson's statements, such as the brief analysis of Pentagon spending (his statement concerning the F-15 fighter being unmatched is flawed, consideringt he proliferation of agile Su-27/33 fighter in China). However, his thesis holds up, and his opinions are fundamentally sound. Not a single statement is made that cannot be backed up with hard evidence and plain old history.
Rating: Summary: Small Bricks Indeed Review: In the movie, My Cousin Vinny, the main character uses a anology comparing a legal case to bricks. A lawyer will show bricks a certain way to make them seem substantial but in reality are not. Blowback uses lots of unsubstantial bricks. From the accusation that life is better in Okinawa. Yes, military personnel get free housing there and a cola. Free housing is provided everywhere (except Korea where dependants are unusual) including the US. Many of the other points are equally flawed. With such bricks the main focus od the book is questionable. The main thread of the book is that the United States is an imperialistic power...however the examples provided are superficial examples. A continuation of current policies, especially in Asia, will lead to unintended consequences such as the PAM AM bombiong. (Another flawed example: If it was done by Libya, Johnson points out that it was in retailatin for US bombing Libya, left unsaid was that the US bombing was in response to the death of US soliders in a Disco bombing in Berlin.) With supporting facts that are skewed and incomplete, the main point is highly questionable. Does the US need military bases in other countries: Yes for a mutually beneficial arrangement.
Rating: Summary: Clear and to the point Review: Chalmers Johnson in this book is informative, factual and unbiased as he recounts our american approach to dealing with the post W.W.II situation and the Cold War. We as Americans would do well to reflect upon the validity of continuing to interact with our neighbors, friends and allies in this manner in the future. Having spent 30 years overseas in the places he describes, Viet Nam (68-71, Okinawa (71, 86 to 90), Japan, Saudi Arabia (Gulf War), Iran (during the Sha), Indonesia (in 97), Malaysia (98-99), Singapore (97-99) as both an instrument of U.S. policy (USMC) and a businessman I concur with his view of the situation. This book should be required reading for all federal government officials (elected or appointed) and all state department personnel. Chalmers Johnson in this book is a candle raging against the darkness.
Rating: Summary: Ought to stick to asia .... Review: Blowback is a term used by the CIA to describe the often unintentional and sometimes damaging results of actions that the CIA has undertaken. Johnson gets totally out of his area by refering to the 1988 explosion that destroyed Pan Am flight 103, killing 270 people - 189 Americans - at Lockerbie, Scotland which is cited as an example. Johnson says it is now widely recognized that this was retaliation for a 1986 Reagan administration aerial raid on Libya that killed President Muammar Khadaffi's stepdaughter. According to Noel Koch, who headed anti-terrorism efforts for the US Defense Department from 1981 to 1986 and still works on contract for the US State Department as an anti-terrorism expert. "It was decided by the two governments, by the United States and the United Kingdom, that Libya had been responsible for the bombing of Pan Am 103," Koch says. "I have never believed that, and I don't believe the case will stand against the Libyans." Vincent Cannistraro, former Central Intelligence Agency Chief of Counterterrorism, "there was some immediate planning that US intelligence detected on the part of the Iranians to actually sponsor a revenge operation. I guess you would call it an operation to settle a blood debt." and according to Oliver Revell,the former head of the FBI's Lockerbie investigation, "The ultimate perpetrator in this crime has not been fully established...there's also the very strong possibility that Qaddafi himself could have been acting on behalf of the Iranians." (These are opinions aired on NPR in the last month - not from years ago) Hardly "widely recognized". Johnson is just poorly informed - hope his facts on Asia are better.
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