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Title: Imperial America : The Bush Assault on the World Order by John Newhouse ISBN: 0-375-41401-0 Publisher: Knopf Pub. Date: 16 September, 2003 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $23.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.38 (8 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Excellent book criticizing Bush foreign policy
Comment: This is an excellent book criticizing Bush foreign policy. It includes excellent profiles of Bush, Rumsfeld, Cheney, and Powell. It captures excellent geopolitical analysis of Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, and North Korea. It also covers the impact of the neo conservatives policies.
Colin Powell, Secretary of State, is the only one earning the author respect. Powell is a balanced, thoughtful, intelligent, and patient centrist. He has exceptional knowledge on issues. He is the most popular Secretary of State we ever had. Because he is isolated within a conservative administration, Powell has not been able to fulfill his potential. On most issues, he is at the loosing end, while being usually right.
Dick Cheney, Vice President, is the most powerful Vice President, the U.S. ever had. He is very intelligent, and domineering. He is an harsh conservative. He operates through confidential communication with the President that no one else is privy too. As a result, his intent is almost impossible to overcome.
Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, is the opposite of Powell. He is loud, impatient, arrogant, and constantly overreaches on issues. The gap between the State Department and the Defense Department has never been wider. The Defense Department has preempted the State Department on foreign policies resulting in a radical shift to the right. Rumsfeld is very intelligent and cunning. This makes him a formidable nemesis for Powell.
The author is most critical of Bush. He knows little about foreign affairs. He is not intellectually curious. He has less knowledge of history than most other presidents. Regarding the Israel-Palestinian conflict, an official mentioned that "he does not have the knowledge or the patience to learn this issue enough to have an end destination in mind."
The Iraqi invasion was ill advised. Iraq has little to do with terrorism. Hussein and Islamic terrorist networks had diverging objectives. Iraq did not possess weapons of mass destruction. Between 1991 and 1998, UN inspectors destroyed Iraqis nukes. But, the Administration became obsessed with regime change. Yet, the Administration lacks the necessary planning, and commitment of time and money the regime change entails. After WWII, the occupation of Japan lasted seven years, and Germany ten years. These societies were far less fractious than Iraq. It could take over 10 years to stabilize Iraq. Lawrence Lindsay, Bush first Economic Advisor, stated the cost of the Iraqi regime change will be $100 to $200 billion. After this statement, he was ousted. His estimate may be too low.
For the author, Iran represents the best hope of stabilizing the volatile Middle East. Iran has its own history and natural borders (not fabricated by the West). It has free election, and rising pro Western reformers. The Bush administration should support Iran undergo its internal transformation. Instead, he notes that Bush has made Iran a member of the "Axis of Evil." Bush frequent reference to this "Axis of Evil" has strengthened Iran hardliners. Bush aggressive attitude towards Iran contributes to further destabilizing the region. Rumsfeld is also bent on confronting Iran militarily. Thus, relationship with Iran has fallen apart. However, Iran is associated with serious policy issues that even a Democratic President could not ignore. These include Iran's ongoing nuclear program that is being supported directly by Russia. Also, Iran supports financially several terrorist groups aiming their terror towards Israel. These include the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Hamas, and Hizbollah.
Pakistan is the most dangerous country; yet, it is an ally. The author convincingly suggests that the Bush administration often has it wrong in selecting allies and foes. The Pakistan India border is the most volatile region in the World. Twice in the 12 months after 9/11, the two countries threatened to go to war. This is a frightening thought considering the nuclear arsenal these countries have on both side of the Kashmir. Despite General Musharraf stand against the Taliban and al-Qaeda, his army provides terrorist groups with training camps and weapons. Two provinces are controlled by Taliban and al Qaeda sympathizers. Pakistan madrassas schools are breeding grounds of Islamic terrorists. Pakistan and North Korea have exchanged complimentary components of their respective nuclear technology. Thus, Pakistan is a powder keg. It should not be treated as an ally.
North Korea is a bankrupt country relying on foreign aid for its survival. Russia has assisted its nuclear program development. North Korea has sold nuclear technology to Iran and Pakistan. This is the only export it has. Their nuclear program is advanced, as they have tested a missile with a range of over 1,000 miles that flew over Japan. The government has attempted to negotiate a nonadversarial "Agreed Framework" with the U.S. for a decade. Clinton had done great progress on this issue. But, Bush interrupted all related negotiations. And, his "Axis of Evil" speeches have halted any diplomatic development. As a result, the North Koreans have developed their nuclear program more urgently.
In the authors view, the neo conservatives unilateral policies have destabilized the World Order. The European Union is more fragmented and Anti-American. Both the UN and NATO are ailing. Actual attention to terrorism has suffered due to the obsession with regime change with the 'Axis of Evil' states. As expressed before, such foreign policies will do little in reducing terrorism.
Rating: 5
Summary: This explains why the USA is no longer as loved as before
Comment: As a Briton married to an American, and who is deemed an Honorary Virginian by marriage, I love the USA! But sad to say, I am in an increasing minority over in Europe where I spend much of the year. Yet after 9/11 there were headlines in French newspapers proclaiming "Nous sommes tous Americains". Why did the great and very genuine outpouring of love to the USA after the tragedy of 9/11 vanish into smoke? Why do MORE people hate your wonderful country than ever before? This book gives you the chilling answers: buy it, read it, digest it, give copies to all your friends and then vote accordingly in 2004. You are a great country and deserve to be loved - make sure you elect someone whose priority will be to restore the USA to its rightful place as the most deservedly well-loved of the world's nations. Christopher Catherwood, author of CHRISTIANS, MUSLIMS AND ISLAMIC RAGE (Zondervan, 2003)
Rating: 2
Summary: I can handle partisan, but boy is this thing dry.....
Comment: You'll love the themes of this book if you are on the left, you'll hate it if you are on the right. If you are in the middle, however, cousin John's writing style will leave you parched and reaching for water.
This book is unlikely to change anyone's mind about the current Administration's foreign policy. John is an ex-Clintonian and that informs his perspective. He is also a Foggy Bottom traditionalist. The problem with his critique is that what he focuses on is the revolutionary changes that the new administration has wrought on our foreign policy. The Bush administration is, unlike previous ones, committed to revolution. Their belief is that the current state of affairs abroad, especially in the middle east, are unsustainable and contrary to our national interest. If you accept that premise, then the correct approach to US foreign policy is regime change.
The upshot to all of that is that John is focused upon the process with out really addressing, at length and in depth, the ideology underlying the process.
And did I mention that this book is slow reading?
In a nutshell, this book will not change anyone's mind.
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Title: The Great Unraveling: Losing Our Way in the New Century by Paul Krugman ISBN: 0393058506 Publisher: W.W. Norton & Company Pub. Date: September, 2003 List Price(USD): $25.95 |
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Title: Rogue Nation: American Unilateralism and the Failure of Good Intentions by Clyde Prestowitz ISBN: 0465062792 Publisher: Basic Books Pub. Date: 13 May, 2003 List Price(USD): $26.00 |
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Title: America Unbound: The Bush Revolution in Foreign Policy by Ivo H. Daalder, James M. Lindsay ISBN: 0815716885 Publisher: The Brookings Institution Pub. Date: October, 2003 List Price(USD): $22.95 |
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Title: American Dynasty: Aristocracy, Fortune, and the Politics of Deceit in the House of Bush by Kevin Phillips ISBN: 0670032646 Publisher: Viking Press Pub. Date: 01 January, 2004 List Price(USD): $25.95 |
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Title: The Lies of George W. Bush: Mastering the Politics of Deception by David Corn ISBN: 1400050669 Publisher: Crown Pub. Date: 30 September, 2003 List Price(USD): $24.00 |
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