Killing Hope: U.S. Military and CIA Interventions Since World War II: Amazon.ca: William Blum, Peter Scott, Larry Bleidner: Books

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Review

"A valuable reference for anyone interested in the conduct of U.S. foreign policy." -- Choice, about the previous edition, The CIA: A Forgotten History

"A very valuable book. The research and organization are extremely impressive." -- A.J. Langguth, author and former New York Times bureau chief, about the previous edition, The CIA: A Forgotten History

"Each chapter I read make me more and more angry." -- Helen Caldicott, about the previous edition, The CIA: A Forgotten History

"Far and away the best book on the topic." -- Noam Chomsky, about the previous edition, The CIA: A Forgotten History

"I enjoyed it immensely." -- Gore Vidal, about the previous edition, The CIA: A Forgotten History

"The single most useful summary of CIA history." -- John Stockwell, former CIA officer and author, about the previous edition, The CIA: A Forgotten History

Book Description

Is the United States a Force for Democracy? From China in the 1940s to Guatemala today, William Blum provides the most comprehensive study of the ongoing American holocaust. Covering U.S. intervention in more than 50 countries, KILLING HOPE describes the grim role played by the U.S. in overthrowing governments, perverting elections, assassinating leaders, suppressing revolutions, manipulating trade unions and manufacturing "news."

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Customer Reviews

32 Reviews

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Average Customer Review

4.3 out of 5 stars (32 customer reviews)

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Thorough Critique of American Policy for the Last 50 Years, April 24 2002

By

J.W.K (Nagano, Japan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Killing Hope: U.S. Military and CIA Interventions Since World War II (Paperback)

This is an unbelievably-well-documented expose of American Foregin Policy over the last 50 years. Although his style leaves much to be wanting, Blum's book is filled to the brim with facts that are never discussed by traditional political analysts. Rarely does one catch a glimpse of the underbelly of America Foreign Policy, and that is exactly what Blum here provides. Some reviewers have said that he is a biased Leftist spouting agitprop, or that he is pushing an ideological agenda, but frankly I just didn't see this. If pedaling truth is an ideological activity, then I suppose they are right. The fact is, Blum is a master of weeding through and exposing the lies and propaganda of American policy makers. This is not "disinformation" (as one reviewer put it) but pure, documented facts - and lots of them. Blum comes off as an author who has committed himself to finding and providing the public straight, unvarnished truth - a very difficult project when one considers the extent of government, military and media obfuscation. Although Blum's tone can be distainful and even downright angry at times, it is nonetheless justified. As you will see in the book, the United States government has done some terrible things - things that would drive any genuine patriot to righteous indignation. Blum's findings might be difficult for the average American to swallow, but then the truth is like that sometimes. Open your mouth and open your mind. This book is food for rational thought. A timely, much needed expose of an imperialist military that has completely slipped away from public control.

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3.0 out of 5 stars The reader from Idaho..., Aug 17 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Killing Hope: U.S. Military and CIA Interventions Since World War II (Paperback)

...is infuriating until it becomes clear that he/she is being ironic. It seems 18 people either realize that or agree with some deliberately outrageous beliefs.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Not a Conspiracy Theorist, July 23 2003

By

Luciana A. Bohne "Cassandra" (NYC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: Killing Hope: U.S. Military and CIA Interventions Since World War II (Paperback)

A fact cannot be modified, but it can be
problematised--that is, put under analysis.
William Blum's "Killing Hope" takes the Cold-
War foreign policy of the US and upends
conventional apologies and justifications
for a rather ruthless campaign to stamp
out the ideology that most threatened
American dominance in the world: communism.
Though I met Blum and can attest that he
is no communist, like any decent American he
hates liars. His book exposes lies. Once
an idealistic career servant at the State
Department, Blum turned whistle-blower
after becoming morally nauseated at the
bagful of lies that launched the country
on its disastrous adventure in Vietnam.
"Killing Hope" is an encyclopedic catalogue
of Washington's lies, misdeeds, and subversions
of democracy all over the globe--mostly
carried out in complete secrecy from the
American people. From Chile to China,
Blum shows that "freedom and democracy"
in foreign lands were never primary goals
of US foreign policy but the propaganda
cover for domination and control. Were
this a required book in all US high-school
history books, American youth could
hardly be lining up to serve in wars
that are carried out for exactly
the opposite motives from the stated ones.
In Iraq today, 145,000 soldiers, who went
to fight to liberate Iraq, are finding
out that Iraqis do not thank them for their
sacrifice. Lied to and misused, they often
find this out at the end of a bullet that
strikes them down. To historians like
Blum, this manipulation of American trust is
a crime. His book is, among other things,
a passionate dedication to truth--
and he's not making it up, either.
Declassified government documents are the major
source of his thesis!

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