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American War Machine: Deep Politics, the CIA Global Drug Connection & the Road to Afghanistan
This provocative, thoroughly researched book explores the covert aspects of U.S. foreign policy. Prominent political analyst Peter Dale Scott marshals compelling evidence to expose the extensive growth of sanctioned but illicit violence in politics and state affairs, especially when related to America's long-standing involvement with the global drug traffic. Beginning with Thailand in the 1950s, Americans have become inured to the CIA's alliances with drug traffickers (and their bankers) to install and sustain right-wing governments. The pattern has repeated itself in Laos, Vietnam, Italy, Mexico, Thailand, Nigeria, Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Chile, Panama, Honduras, Turkey, Pakistan, and now Afghanistan—to name only those countries dealt with in this book. Scott shows that the relationship of U.S. intelligence operators and agencies to the global drug traffic, and to other international criminal networks, deserves greater attention in the debate over the U.S. presence in Afghanistan. To date, America's government and policies have done more to foster than to curtail the drug trade. The so-called war on terror, and in particular the war in Afghanistan, constitutes only the latest chapter in this disturbing story.
408 pages, Hardcover
First published November 16, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 19, 2022
This is the second book I've read by the academic Peter Dale Scott. Unfortunately it was a bit of a let down after reading "Deep Politics and the Death of JFK." "American War Machine" has plenty of fascinating information but feels hastily put together.
I read this book over 3 brief periods. I read the first few chapters around Thanksgiving last year. I read a few chapters around New Years and finished the book between yesterday and today.
I have a few gripes with this book. First, I found the overarching narrative disjointed. In the acknowledgements we see that parts of 5 of the 11 chapters of this book have been previously published elsewhere. In my mind, this made me feel like this book was hobbled together to publish and was almost unnecessary. Second, Scott repeats some points or facts three, four or five times. It's a short book. I didn't forget any of the stuff from 30 pages ago. Third, Scott clips massive sections of other authors writing to illustrate his points. I get why he does this, but I didn't feel like I wasn't reading his book anymore. Fourth, Scott takes his final words to say something nice about each President, which includes thanking George Bush for not starting a war with Iran in 2007, among other insane thank you's. I can not help but roll my eyes.
I read this book over 3 brief periods. I read the first few chapters around Thanksgiving last year. I read a few chapters around New Years and finished the book between yesterday and today.
I have a few gripes with this book. First, I found the overarching narrative disjointed. In the acknowledgements we see that parts of 5 of the 11 chapters of this book have been previously published elsewhere. In my mind, this made me feel like this book was hobbled together to publish and was almost unnecessary. Second, Scott repeats some points or facts three, four or five times. It's a short book. I didn't forget any of the stuff from 30 pages ago. Third, Scott clips massive sections of other authors writing to illustrate his points. I get why he does this, but I didn't feel like I wasn't reading his book anymore. Fourth, Scott takes his final words to say something nice about each President, which includes thanking George Bush for not starting a war with Iran in 2007, among other insane thank you's. I can not help but roll my eyes.
April 14, 2012
This book gives a good account of clandestine net work of military establishment through out the world, specially that of america. Though at times appears to be over debated on conspiracy theories, but at the end well conceived, argument and well logical backing of the theories.
August 8, 2013
Would have liked more details about some thing and less about others but that's just my personal tastes. Got a little bored from time to time but overall it was a good brief history of many interesting aspects of the American War Machine.
December 29, 2019
The author is a family friend.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews