The World's Only Rogue State 
By Terry Wolfwood, Barnard-Boecker Centre Foundation in Victoria, B.C.

    In his latest book, Rogue State: A Guide to the World's Only Superpower, William Blum shows that in spite of the efforts of U.S. leaders to make their actions appear humanitarian and democratic, the U.S. has run a global protection racket based on four imperatives: (1) making the world hospitable for globalization, particularly for U.S.-based corporations; (2) enriching military contractors who donate generously to politicians; (3) preventing the rise of any society that might serve as an alternative to capitalism; and (4) extending political, economic and military hegemony over the world while creating a world order in America's image.

    Part I makes the connection between supporting terrorism abroad in U.S. interest (from Cambodia to Afghanistan, to the School of Americas and the CIA), and the criminal "justice" system at home. He documents military interventions since 1945; the U.S. still has military forces in more than 100 countries. Earth is not enough though, Blum quotes the Pentagon's plan to wage war in space: "we're going to fight in space. We're going to fight from space and we're going to fight into space." 
Part II covers U.S. weapons of mass destruction from Hiroshima to Depleted Uranium in Iraq and Yugoslavia. There is a long list of when and where the U.S. used chemical and biological weapons, at home and abroad - literally insecticides for people.
Part III is "The American Empire: Coming soon to a country near you." Blum lists military and political interventions all over the world. The U.S. has stood as a true "rogue" in dozens of votes at the UN, often supported only by Israel, and a handful of other faithful allies, like Canada. The U.S. even voted against the right to food as a human right. 

    Even when the truth is revealed, "being the World's Superpower means never having to say you're sorry." This powerful empire is based on repression abroad and at home. How do they get away with it? Blum says, "little is left to chance in the Selling of America." The worldwide love affair with America is the result of a media as powerful as the military that glorifies the U.S. everywhere and in every form of media. Blum says most Americans do not yet recognize the consequences of their government's deeds. 

Source: Book Review by Terry Wolfwood, July, 2000. Terry Wolfwood works for the Barnard-Boecker Centre Foundation in Victoria

To order, contact: Common Courage Press, Monroe, ME 04951, USA (or send US$18 to W. Blum, #707 - 5100 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington DC 20008-2064 for an autographed copy).