- Paperback: 458 pages
- Publisher: Common Courage Press,U.S. (May 1995)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1567510523
- ISBN-13: 978-1567510522
- Product Dimensions: 22.9 x 15 x 2.5 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 771,666 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
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Synopsis
A consideration of the effects of the actions of the US military and the CIA around the globe, on the political stability and peoples of the countries in which they took place.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Blum's work is written in an easy-to-understand style and will thoroughly shock anyone not familiar with United States escapades around the world since the end of World War II. Blum has done excellent research and discusses the incidents with a high degree of objectivity. Although he is highly critical of the United States during the Cold War, this is by no means a pro-Soviet book, for Blum condemns the actions of both superpowers in his work. Excellent reading--packed with information (the book has relatively small print so 400+ pages is a lot).
19 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I already have this book and was quite worried when I read a review on this site claiming that Blum had claimed Tibetans welcomed the Chinese occupation. Luckily, while the chapter in question has some faults, it claims no such thing.
I checked the chapter on China and in fact only 2 pages - 25 and 26 refer to Tibet at all. No-where in them is any reference to Tibetans welcoming the invasion or occupation. It does say that and that Tibetan guerillas opposed 'Peking rule and/or the profoundsocial changes being instituted by the revolution (serfdom and slavery were, literally, still prevalent in Tibet'). This may give the wrong impression - since it could be interpreted to mean the Chinese occupation led to a fairer or freer society while the reverse is undoubtedly the case. While Chinese human rights abuses and killings should have been mentioned for balance I feel the book is not as unbalanced as the previous reviewer suggests.
As for charges that the book is unbalanced or favours Chinese Communism here is an excerpt (from pages 26-27 - so people can check it for themselves)
'The Chinese devoted a great deal of effort to publicising their claim that the United States ....had dropped large quantities of bacteria and bacteria-laden insects over China. It presented the testimony of about 38 captured American airmen...It should be noted that some of the American's statements were so full of communist rhetoric...that their personal authorship of them must be seriously questioned. Moreover it was later learned that most of the airmen had only confessed after being subjected to physical abuse'
This seems fairly balanced to me (with the exception that in this context the euphemism 'physical abuse' should not be used in place of 'torture').
Overall I found the information in this book to be well sourced - with any problems being ommissions (e.g on Chinese human rights abuses) - but then the focus is on CIA and US military interventions - it does not pretend to analyse those of other governments and militaries.
25 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I am an honors history major and studied US history and US foreign policy. I was aware of some mistakes by the US, such as giving Japanese occupiers of Korea power and then, Korean collaborators of the Japanese over regional people's committees; ignoring the gross corruption of Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalist regime during the 1945-1949 civil war; ignoring the blatantly unfair practices of the Shah of Iran prior to the 1979 revolution; meddling in Brazil's internal affairs in the mid-1960s. But after reading this book, all I can say is that I wish it had been part of my college material, for although I read many books, this would have enriched my education.
The United States remains a wonderful country full of opportunities for its citizens and for legal immigrants who obey the law and contribute to the nation's well being; its freedoms, natural beauties, and cultural advancement are not to be questioned. But as far as American integrity abroad... The United States IS NOT a force for democracy. It has continually labeled internal rebellions and legitimately elected officials "communists" whenever Washington disliked the ruler or disagreed with the country's independent and non-hostile foreign policy.
I regret to confess that I have lost respect for the government of the US, and that I must rank it with the hypocritical Japanese government in terms of honesty about its past--it has not only been communist dictatorships that lied and used propaganda to deceive its own people. American foreign policy has killed millions of innocent people, and it is their blood that colors the red square in the Stars and Stripes.
A must reading for all history lovers and for all who really want to know what this great country of ours is doing abroad.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Spreading Democracy
A thoroughly good read and recommended for anyone studying history, politics, sociology etc. It certainly gives food for thought and prompts you ask some very searching questions,... Read more
Published on 19 Aug 2009 by J. R. Carroll
Redressing the balance
This book is by no means a thorough investigation of world affairs nor an exercise in balanced reporting, the USA vs. 'Communism'. Read more
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Mainly Latin America/ Africa
I was expecting more on Indian Sub-continent and to my amazement Mr Blum ejected CIA's cunning strategy towards Pakistan and India. Read more
Published on 11 Mar 2001
Hypocritical and very disturbing.
I bought this book not because it would tell me much new information (the information is already available from dozens of sources), but because it would bring this information... Read more
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What schools don't tell ya in History class!!
Have you ever wondered or questioned our country's foreign policy? Then this shocking, factual book is definitely for you. I definitely recommend that you buy it. Read more
Published on 12 July 1999
Blum's chapters are short, well documented and eye opening.
I was in Baghdad during the first week of the air war (Jan 91) and the Chapter on the Gulf War is extrodinary in the way it covers salient points in about 20 pages. Read more
Published on 17 May 1999
Should be required reading in every school
The best summary of post-WW2 history you'll ever read. This explains how people around the globe are kept in their place.
Published on 17 Feb 1999
Genocide from Americans? I thought we were the good guys.
This book made my brain and american spirit look into an abyss of uncertainty and conspiratorial thinking. Read more
Published on 25 Jun 1998
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