The American Art of War

[Octafish]

Sounds about right:



"No books for you, but plenty of ammo."

The American Art of War

War is the American way of life -- Paul Atwood, War and Empire: The American Way of Life; Carl Boggs, The Crimes of Empire: Rogue Superpower and World Domination; Paul Rogers, Losing Control: Global Security in the 21st century; London: Pluto Press, 2010

Reviewed by Eric Walberg
Al-Ahram Weekly
13-19 May 2010

Three new publications from the leading radical British press are the tip of a growing iceberg of passionate pleas for sanity in international affairs. Most of us prefer to stick our heads in the sand as the world goes to hell in a hand-basket, but there are works that can fascinate and uplift, perhaps even inspire us to do something before it is too late.

If what you need is a reference book for your own writing, with all the gory details of just how disreputable the world's hegemon is, The Crimes of Empire by Carl Boggs is what you pull down from your shelf. He has slogged through all the filth of "collateral damage", "humanitarian warfare", "client-state outlawry", "perpetual war", "biowarfare", "space imperialism", Guantanamo -- the Orwellian list is seemingly endless -- to provide a litany of horrors that will convince even the most sceptical of observers as to who is the real problem in the world.

Not a pretty read, but a commendable labour on the author's part.

More rivetting than Boggs's list of the empire's sins is the justification for them, as revealed by such neocons as Robert Kagan, who sees American force as necessary "to restrain the chaotic tendencies of a Hobbesian world", and who thus rejects any global restraints on US flexibility. "Human rights intervention", the latest buzzword to condone imperial ventures -- it once was called the "white man's burden" -- is for use by the big guns against the little ones. But Boggs's list of crimes is proof in itself that the imperial project actually creates "a comprehensive lawless whole".

CONTINUED...

http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2010/998/cu3.htm

There may not be enough oil in "Saudi" or money under Wall Street to save the empire.

[unhappycamper]

1. All Empires fall.

Every one.

[Octafish]

4. That is why I weep for my country.

I have since the "intervention" of November 22, 1963 transitioned us from republic.

McCain's statement from the debate: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBAsHTSbkXs

[mod mom]

7. But this one has done such permanent damage to the planet!

[Name removed]

2. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Octafish]

5. Good vs. Evil

Unfortunately, the battlefield is all around. We the People didn't create this nation for the betterment of our "betters." Through concentration of wealth and power, they now use war to keep control over the "unwashed" abroad and at home. They've even verbalized their approach:

Money Trumps Peace.

PS: A most hearty welcome to DU, henry14barnes.

[G_j]

3. "War is the American way of life"

and undermines all that is good

[Octafish]

6. Every combat veteran I've met loathes war. Every. Single. One.

I've met many dozens of veterans of World War II, the Korean War, the war in Vietnam, the first Gulf war, and the current wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Not a single veteran -- of those who've fired to kill -- have uttered a word in support of war as a solution to international problems. Not only do they wish their fallen comrades had not died, many have told me, they also resent having to take the lives of "the enemy."

The veterans I've met who have been pro-war were support folk or stationed toward the rear -- an intel fellah, a missile officer, and a tech guy.

Caveat: During Vietnam, I knew two active-duty noncoms who were combat vets who were pro-war. At least, that's what they said in public.

[Time for change]

8. This looks like a very important book. It's on my list. Thank you, Octafish.