Recommended Book. You need to read this to understand Iraq, empire, and the US.
I just finished reading Confessions of an Economic Hitman by John Perkins (Thanks Conrad and Amanda!) If you want to know why 911 happened, why Americans are in Iraq, and how the trans national corporations are in total control of the US government and the world, you need to read this book. If you are serving in Iraq, it is essential that you read this (this means you David! and everyone you are working with). This book is not a conspiracy theory, it is not leftist, rightest, pro communist or anti capitalist. As it says on the cover, "Confessions of an Economic Hitman is the story of one man's experiences inside the intrigue, greed, corruption, and little known government and corporate activities that America has been involved in since World War II, and which have dire consequences for the future of democracy and the world." If you think that foreign aid, the World Bank, and th IMF are the keys to helping the world's poor, think again. They are among the tools used to consolidate power and create a global empire. So are the US Military, construction companies like Haliburton and Bechtel, and oil companies. Just get this book and read it. A more thorough analysis and an interview with Amy Goodman of Democracy Now! can be found here.
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