military

A regular contributor to the Nation, Johnson extends the antimilitarist thesis that he put forth in Blowback: The Costs and Consequences of American Empire to current issues of U.S. foreign policy in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other areas in the Gulf region. Likening the United States to imperial Rome and calling contemporary America "a military juggernaut intent on world domination," Johnson recounts episodes of what he labels "imperialism" in U.S. history and emphasizes the dangers of a military bureaucracy that he thinks increasingly influences the formation of U.S. foreign policy and the running of our government. His criticism ranges far, attacking racism and sexism in the military, secrecy in defense department and intelligence bureaucracy, the unauthorized use of mercenaries, and the support of "globalization" as a tool of "economic imperialism." Although Johnson's provocative analysis reveals disturbing government action, especially in the use of the U.S. justice system, the recurring analogy he makes of America to the Roman Empire is specious and largely undocumented, and his criticism of U.S. world hegemony in the post-Cold War period does not adequately discuss foreign policy alternatives for dealing with world terrorism and genocidal wars. This clearly written, controversial critique of American foreign policy and the military is suitable for most academic and larger public libraries

Before 9/11 in BLOWBACK, Chalmers Johnson anticipated dire consequences and negative active reactions to the American U.S. foreign policy that has run roughshod over much of the world, but especially Asia. In his latest cautionary book, Mr. Johnson pulls no punches as he accuses the Bush crowd of global militarism using a "private army" of Special Forces to keep the American colonies "in line". Referring to Presidents like Eisenhower, Mr. Johnson makes the case that the military-industrial complex has already happened, but is really a federal government-industrial complex. He insists that the State Department, EPA, and Interior, etc. have been silenced by the war machine and the oil magnates. "Preemptive intervention" is just a fake way of covering the administration's belief that the USA is the New Rome."

Though he takes the clever Clinton to task as a disguised imperialist, Mr. Johnson spends much of his criticism on Bush bashing. The author insists that the "boy emperor" and his merry men (and a few women) are destroying the nation with their illusions of grandeur policies. This segment of THE SORROWS OF EMPIRE is the strength of the book as Mr. Johnson lays out powerful evidence with astounding and absorbing details of outlandish defense overkill with related scenarios and incredible spending that Everett Dirksen could not imagine. However, the book lacks substance on what can be done besides booting out the current Congress perhaps because the author feels we have crossed the Potomac. Still the case for American imperialism endangering the future of this country is strongly made.

Harriet Klausner

Johnson's tirade may appeal to Leftist ideologues, but it is thoroughly weak on facts. Most obviously: What "empire"? Are bilateral, contractual, mutually-agreed military bases equivalent to imperialism? This seems ridiculous considering the fact that the US' partners can end their relationship at any time. The US presence around the world is about as "imperial" as Volkswagen factories in Brazil and Mexico. Perhaps there is some discriminatory aspect, then, of this interrogation. And secrecy?? Is he kidding? The US government couldn't keep a secret if it wanted to. Many a commentator had remarked that Watergate coudln't have happened in France because it would have been successfully covered up. I almost burst out laughing upon hearing this charge. Indeed, few countries have as transparent and open a political culture as the American one. End of the Republic? Rumours of its death are greatly exaggerated. Johnson is strong on melodrama, weak on facts. Perhaps this book will appeal to ideologues and foreign xenophobes wishing to demonize the US, but more critical minds must look elsewhere.

Johnson has made a career out of smarmy, America-bashing fare.