Exposing the Real Che Guevara: And the Useful Idiots Who Idolize Him

Outstanding. This is the kind of material that should be taught in high school and college. Fontova is the same author who wrote "Fidel: Hollywood's Favorite Tyrant", another excellent book. "Che" reveals the real villain the "chic" crowd and so many young people who sport his image on their t-shirts and car windows seem to admire. A real eye-opener to anyone not afraid to learn the real history of this so-called hero and martyr. All the details, dates, times, places are documented. The truth is that Che wasn't a great military leader, but a bumbler-buffoon, coward, sadistic bully and cold-blooded murderer. If you want to know the truth about Fidel and his ilk, read Fontova's books, or better yet, ask a Miami Cuban.

This is a real eye opener for those of us interersted in piercing the huge cloud of propaganda around Guevara, who, the author proves, was nothing more than a racist thug. Everyone who ever thought Che was cool should read this book: a terrifying look into how propaganda stumps reality.

I am always amazed when I see the faces of Mao or Che Guevara on clothing or posters by those free spirits who imagine that these men would do anything but kill them for their social and political views. On page 16 of this book the author recounts how Henry Gomez made a t-shirt to counter all the "Che Lives" shirts floating around. His said "Che's Dead - Get Over It". Carlos Santana saw it and came over to berate him (never mind that Santata's brand of music was banned in Cuba by Guevara). Santata said, "Che may be dead for you, but he lives in our hearts ... Che is all about love and compassion." They then exchanged points. Santata's were based on fantasy and Gomez in fact. In the end, Santana said what one would expect, "You're getting hung up on facts, man." Wow. This book recounts Che's murderous role in the deaths of more than 10,000 people after the Cuban revolution. Just one story of horror involves a mother pleading for the life of her boy directly in front of Che. He listened, thought, and then picked up the phone and shouted a command for the boy to be taken out and shot immediately. He had no respect for the law. It was a bourgeois detail that impeded the revolution. When one official pleaded for a trial before a sentence of death was passed, Che shouted that the man could conduct his trial tomorrow, but that the execution had to be conducted tonight. Even when there were trials, they were just for show with the sentences already noted on the form prior to the trail. There is much of this. That so many on the left, including many American media outlets (such as the New York Times, Time Magazine, Life, and many others), helped Castro and Che come to power should still be a matter of shame, but is never mentioned anymore. That so many on the left extolled Che's justice, courage, beauty, and perfections should be always remembered. More than few are still writing today. All of them are wrong, all of them are perpetuating lies. Che ran from real fights and enjoyed bullying and even killing the defenseless. Far from being a savvy guerilla leader (despite his book on the subject), he bungled every fight he was in and got lost for weeks at a time. In Bolivia, he never recruited a single Bolivian to his cause. Oh, he tricked a few into joining him by promising them training in the USSR or China, but as soon as they could, many of those deserted and became informants for those looking for Che. If you are committed to the dream of Che, you will hate this book. If you want to know more of the reality of who he really was and the atrocities he committed, this book will be an important read for you. Far from being Satre's "most complete human being of our time", he was a monster who improved the world most when he was sent out of it.

Dear Humberto, Sorry I didn't buy your new book. Yesterday I read about half of of it sitting in the coffee shop of my local bookstore. Cheapness was instilled in me during my formative years by my chinese parents. Fortunately, their political leanings were not and I learned to read, think, and analyze for myself. Thank You for writing the book! Even though it's about Che and Cuba, it means a lot to me as well--a Chinese-American. Any book against one dictator is a book against ALL dictators. I imagine you must feel the same rage seeing a Che T-shirt as I do seeing a Mao T-shirt. It bothers me that many people do not think twice about wearing either T-shirt, but if somebody wore a T-shirt with the visage of Hitler, Stalin, bin Laden, or that Virginia Tech guy it'd be all over the news. I don't want to be a "woe is me I'm a minority/person of color", but unfortunately part of me does feel when it's whites killing whites (ie Hitler, Stalin) then those dictators are evil. When it comes to "minority" dictators, those guys are suave, cute, cuddly, or part of "other people's" cultures. What? Dictators are dictators regardless of country, race, culture, or faith. Keep up the good work! You've given me courage now to voice my opinion. When I see someone wearing a Mao (and Che) T-shirt I'll be sure to set them straight. Those images are just as offensive as the Confederate flag or a Nazi symbol.