Chalmers Johnson interview about American empire.

[LeftwingPitbull]

Good interview about our empire, with the great Chalmers Johnson, the author of Blowback.

He really gives some good info about why we will see a coming economic catastrophe in America.

http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=40&ItemID=5255

[livetohike]

1. He spoke at our monthly Dem. party

meeting this past Saturday! He was fascinating. His book should be on the best seller list (but I confess I haven't read it yet).

[LeftwingPitbull]

2. Surprised...

You are still a democrat. lol

[livetohike]

3. LOL back at ya!

He spoke for over one hour and took questions for 1.5 hours, but probably could have taken questions for the rest of the day. Not bad for a Saturday morning meeting :-).

I was surprised at the turn out (huge) since I am stuck in Republican country.

[IrateCitizen]

4. I just finished reading "Blowback" and "Sorrows of Empire"

And all I can say about the guy is the way he completely blew me away. The links he made between the export-driven economies of South Korea and Japan being given access to US markets in exchange for their hosting of US military outposts was something I had never considered before, and it just highlights how unsustainable the whole system really is.

He also does a good job at showing how militarism has come to infect every area of American society in a rather chilling manner.

I'll be sure to print this one out, read it and distribute.

[IrateCitizen]

5. This part was a real zinger, IMHO

I think it's important to stress that any policy may have unintended consequences, but here we're talking about unintended consequences of policies that the public knows nothing about, therefore, has no context within which to place them, and ends up with a daffy president going around asking, "Why do they hate us?"

[livetohike]

6. Dr. Johnson said that when Bush asked

"Why do they hate us?", he could have listed dozens of countries that feel that way. He also said that when 9-11 occurred, he (Dr. Johnson) thought at first that it might have been Chilean terrorists. Allende was overthrown on 9-11-73.

[KoKo]

7. This Interview is a MUST READ! And, here's something from his C-Span

Book Notes which was posted on DU with more: A post of mine and Bozita's with more stuff on Johnson. He's been overlooked in the Clarke
stuff...but he's very important in the "whole picture" and background of why we are where we are today.

Thanks for this post!

From recent DU Archives for Inquiring Minds who want to know:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=1203675

And, Bozita's Post:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=1203843

[KoKo]

8. Kick for the late evening/night crowd!