Nemesis: The Last Days of the American Republic (American Empire Project)

Chalmers Johnson is deeply pessimistic about the future of the US and its citizens. He sees at the horizon `a collapse of constitutional government, perpetual war, endemic official lying and disinformation and finally bankruptcy. We are at the cusp of losing our democracy for the sake of keeping our empire.' For him, the heart of the matter is `military Keynesianism' (the US economy is mightily based on weapon manufacturing) and the goal of the military-intelligence community (full spectrum dominance over the world and in space). But this imperial adventure is far too costly. The US spends more on armed forces than all other nations on earth combined, for more than 737 military bases in more than 130 countries. Also, space weapons are pure waste. A space shield doesn't work, because weapons cannot make a distinction between warheads and free floating space debris. `The neoconservative lobbyists are only interested in the staggering sums required.' The US enormous military budget (of which 40 % is secret) is not paid by US taxpayers, but by foreign investors in US debt. In the meantime, democracy is undermined. Chalmers Johnson doesn't see `any president or Congress standing up to the powerful vested interests of the Pentagon, the secret intelligence agencies and the military-industrial complex.' The separation of powers is becoming a dead letter. The legislative and the judicial branches have lost their independence. The author is extremely hard for the current government, calling members of the Administration `desk-murderers'. For him, `putting the ruler above the law is the very definition of dictatorship.' Its TIA (Total Information Awareness) program `is the perfect US computer version of Gestapo and KGB files.' He is extremely angry with the US media, calling them `Pravda-like mouthpieces of the powerful.' For him, what Congress really should do is abolish the CIA and remove all purely military functions from the Pentagon. This hard-hitting book is more than a very solid warning. It is a must read for all those interested in the future of mankind. For a view from the South, I highly recommend `Dilemmas of Domination' by Walden Bello.

Chalmers Johnson is one of our best informed and most intelligent public commentators. His last two books were "must reads" when they came out, the first, Blowback, before 9/11 but very predictive of just such an event, and the second, The Sorrows of Empire, after; most of their theses are enclosed within Nemesis. These all exhibit his extensive knowledge in American foriegn policy and the militarism that has emboldened that policy for the last several decades. Johnson compares US imperialist militarism and the misconceptions that are driving it, to the events that led to the fall of the Roman Republic and the imperial dictatorships that followed. (I think we got our on combination of Caligula and Nero, in the form of George W Bush, a little early.) He compares the terrible misdeeds that embodied the imperial rule of Roman and Britian to the devestation that the American empire has visited on small and weak lands throughout the world. And he says, and I believe, that we are very far down this path to the distruction of our own republic, to be replaced by our own homegrown American dictators. Is our current democratic and republican political system strong and wise enough to avoid the trap that over 50 years of militarism and the more than 25 years of rightwing religiousfundamentalist fueled military/industrial complex has layed for us? I pray that this is not the case, but I fear it is very late, late in the day for our nation's people to wake up and "throw the rascals out." As someone once said, "I fear for my country" if indeed, there is a just god. And if there is not, I fear for the world and all its people. Chalmers and I both fear we are in for a very difficult future. wfh

Like General Dwight Eisenhower, Stan Goff, Joshua Key and General Smedley Butler, Chalmers Johnson has joined the growing ranks of military veterans who are challenging the "overgrown military establishment" (to use George Washington's term) of today. Johnson is a veteran of the Korean war and has a long record as a conservative cold warrior during years of university teaching; but the slow creep of corporatism combined with our massive investment in state violence transformed him. His first book "Blowback," published a year before 9/11, was prophetic in its warning of violent retaliation to policies that much of the US population is unaware of. Much of what Johnson describes in his later two books is a nightmare that has already transpired - the growth of a militarized global society (we lead the world in the arms trade, and in training proxy forces in places like Fort Benning), skyrocketing budgets for war profiteers and spy agencies, a bourgeoning network of private mercenaries and secret prisons, rampant sexism and environmental destruction stemming from our bases and much else that "good Americans" turn away from, or have careers in. Johnson's comments about the media being a manipulative conglomeration of private interests is a truism, and he could've added that much of it is geared towards creating the next generation of corporate warriors, interrogators, hit-men and psy-ops specialists. Lt. Col. Dave Grossman's book "Stop Teaching Our Kids To Kill" goes into the details of how our youth are being indoctrinated to love authority and domination, as does Nick Turse's work on our military industrial info-tainment complex. In many moments, Johnson feels hopeless; but he does see at least the potential for a largely inactive populace to become engaged citizens. He cited the programs he was recently interviewed on ("Democracy Now!" and "Air America") as examples of responsible media. He is also noting a much greater receptivity as he speaks at universities and bookstores. I share some of his pessimism, and one wonders if the Sopranos of the power elite will bring the hammer down on a mass popular movement, as they've brought it down on people throughout the world. But I keep in mind the wise words of another veteran, Howard Zinn, who said, "To be hopeful in bad times is not just foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of cruelty, but also of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness . . . And if we do act, in however small a way, we don't have to wait for some grand utopian future. The future is an infinite succession of present moments, and to live now as we think human beings should live, in defiance of all that is bad around us, is itself a marvelous victory."

The third in a series that started with "Blowback" is the strongest statement of the lot. The experience, expertise, and brain power demand a careful reading rather than simplistic name calling by those who don't like the conclusions (for them labeling "Liberal" saves bothering to think or develop a logical counter argument). Furthermore, there are numerous Conservatives who would find much of the argument justified. Every citizen should read the last chapter before investing, making long term plans, or evaluating this `MBA war President'. Whether one totally `buys into' the argument (well made) that the Republic is about gone because of an irresponsible Congress bypassed by the Military Industrial Complex (a Republican's term you remember) and rotten pervasive dominance of those interests, it should be carefully evaluated not dismissed by name calling as some reviewers have done. No President as asserted so many excess powers via extreme secrecy, curtailing civil rights, creative legal fatwas, signing statements, making himself "the decider" snubbing Congress. And has any other claimed to talk to God? American arrogance compounded by megalomania - my conclusion not Johnson's. Johnson is not a Pacifist, but he makes a strong case that realistic American interests could be supported with perhaps 40 bases rather than 740 that pollute relations in countries where they are placed. (His detailed experience with Japan and Okinawa is more than I'd care to know but one example.) Long ago one President suggested that the US could lead by example or by asserting power and that the later approach would undermine the former as our own Republic and democracy was destroyed.

All I can say that every American should read this book. Chalmers Johnson analysis is right on target. His comparison of the Roman, British, and American Empires is most interesting. Niall Ferguson, British author, " Colossus ", and apologist for Imperialism is nailed to the wall by Mr. Johnson. The misinformation and outright falsehood spouted by the Bush Admistration, and its allies in Congress, and the press, is thoroughly documented. The American Press has been a faithful ally in the effort to achieve American world hegemony.Dispite its tag as being " liberal " , the main Stream Media, has for the most part been pro - corporatist and nationalist, follies that would young men and woman are paying the price for today.The CIA is nothing but an arm of big - business and greed. To say such things is heresy, but it is the truth. It is about time Americans wake up and discover the truth about " America Spreading Freedom and Democracy. Mr Johnson points out how " free trade " cripped India. A must read !