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Blowback (Second Edition)

The Costs and Consequences of American Empire

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About this listen

 The term "blowback", invented by the CIA, refers to the unintended consequences of American actions abroad. In this incisive and controversial book, Chalmers Johnson lays out in vivid detail the dangers faced by our overextended empire and reveals the ways in which our misguided policies are planting the seeds of future disaster.©2000 Chalmers Johnson (P)2007 Blackstone Audio, Inc. Political Science Politics & Government United States World

Critic reviews

"Boldly provocative....A useful and timely alert." ( The New York Times)
"A straight-talking analysis of America's global conduct during the Cold War and since, and what we're going to pay for it." ( The Nation)
"It is indeed a new post-Cold War ballgame, and Johnson's warning, if it were heeded in Washington, would help keep America safe from the temptation of untrammeled power." ( Newsday)
All stars
Most relevant
This is the first book of three from Johnson in which he excoriates US overseas policies during and since the Cold War. Facts and figures fly by at a good pace and the book is well-researched.
Some of his views are 1) the IMF is an unregulated branch of the US treasury, capable of laying whole economies to waste through incompetence, eg the Far East recessions of the late 1990’s 2). The bloated defense sector is out of control. 3). The “get rich quick” philosophy of US financial institutions is not serving industry and is at odds with the developing world which merely want to increase its industry/GDP. Perversely, the least-cost goal leads to offshoring of US manufacturing jobs and the hollowing out of home industries; the US domestic problems are very visible 2 decades later and elsewhere he even predicted a Trump-like figure would arise.

Johnson’s thought-provoking polemic about US foreign policy

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excellent book
factual and based on deep knowledge of the author.
paints a broad picture of American militarism and the following blowback

excellent book. a must!

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