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jazzy_daveJohn Pilger "The New Rulers of the World" (Verso)
This book is four essays on a world dominated by corporations and imperialist governments that cause much death and suffering to further their goals. It's all a bit over the top, but probably more true than most of us would let ourselves believe.
The first essay called "The Model Pupil" is about how western governments supported the brutal reign of Indonesia's General Suharto and the overthrow of the nation's popular government and then allowed corporate interests to divvy up the country. Next, "Paying the Price", tells of the suffering of Iraq's citizenry from post-Gulf War sanctions that limit the food, medicine, and material allowed into the country, as well as constant military action such as bombings in the "No Fly Zone." Saddam Hussein profited during this time and the western military helped keep down uprisings to keep him in power. The story is continued in "The Great Game" where the specter of terrorism is compared to the atrocities of much greater magnitude initiated or covered up by western governments, as well as the oft-told story of the CIA's involvement in creating Osama Bin Laden. In the final essay, "The Chosen Ones" Pilger writes about his home country of Australia welcoming the Olympic games while hiding their dark past and shameful present in oppressing the aboriginal peoples. One interesting idea I got from this book is that although the US government has been behind much atrocity, greed, and dishonesty that it is not just an American trait. Pilger puts it clear that Britain, France, and Germany have done the same when they've had the power and that any country in control could (and probably would) do the same.
Wonderful, if distressing stuff. Highly recommended.
This book is four essays on a world dominated by corporations and imperialist governments that cause much death and suffering to further their goals. It's all a bit over the top, but probably more true than most of us would let ourselves believe.
The first essay called "The Model Pupil" is about how western governments supported the brutal reign of Indonesia's General Suharto and the overthrow of the nation's popular government and then allowed corporate interests to divvy up the country. Next, "Paying the Price", tells of the suffering of Iraq's citizenry from post-Gulf War sanctions that limit the food, medicine, and material allowed into the country, as well as constant military action such as bombings in the "No Fly Zone." Saddam Hussein profited during this time and the western military helped keep down uprisings to keep him in power. The story is continued in "The Great Game" where the specter of terrorism is compared to the atrocities of much greater magnitude initiated or covered up by western governments, as well as the oft-told story of the CIA's involvement in creating Osama Bin Laden. In the final essay, "The Chosen Ones" Pilger writes about his home country of Australia welcoming the Olympic games while hiding their dark past and shameful present in oppressing the aboriginal peoples. One interesting idea I got from this book is that although the US government has been behind much atrocity, greed, and dishonesty that it is not just an American trait. Pilger puts it clear that Britain, France, and Germany have done the same when they've had the power and that any country in control could (and probably would) do the same.
Wonderful, if distressing stuff. Highly recommended.
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