The Empire Has No Clothes: U.S. Foreign Policy Exposed [Hardcover]

Ivan Eland (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2004

Taking an in-depth look at the United States government, this landmark work demonstrates why the United States should be considered an empire and how this is contrary to the ideals of both conservatives and liberals and to the very principles on which the United States was built. Through a detailed examination of US foreign policy over the last century up through the Bush administration's policies in the Middle East and elsewhere, this work explores how rampant imperialism has threatened US security, strained US relations with the rest of the world, and curtailed American civil liberties at home. Examining the similar signs in the current state of affairs that have marked the decline of other great powers throughout history, a case is made for the dismantling of the American empire and a return to the mode of military restraint traditional to American foreign policy. This book is a chilling insight into the direction the United States has taken and, if its interventionist policies continue, the direction it will take in years to come.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A sober, hard-hitting critique and a cogent brief for why liberals and conservatives should reject an imperial role for America." -- Richard Betts, Director, Institute of War and Peace Studies, Columbia University

"Deserves the thoughtful attention of all Americans disturbed by the imperial pretensions evident in Washington since the Cold War." -- Andrew J. Bacevich, Professor of International Relations, Boston University

"Dr. Eland makes a persuasive case that current U.S. national security policy is actually undermining our security and civil liberties." -- Lawrence J. Korb, former Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Defense

"Impressively lucid, filled with careful research and highly insightful commentary, certain to satisfy concerned readers across the political spectrum." -- Ambassador Edward L. Peck, former Chief of U.S. Mission in Iraq

"The sobering antidote for the imperial wine that has impaired the judgment of American politicians since the Cold War." -- Harvey M. Sapolsky, Director of Security Studies, MIT

"Think a U.S. empire is desirable and viable? Read Ivan Eland’s insightful, essential book, and you will change your mind." -- Edward A. Olsen, Professor of National Security Affairs, Naval Postgraduate School

"[This] should greatly influence the debate in this country about how to restore a Constitutional foreign policy. Read this book." -- Chalmers Johnson, Author,

About the Author

Ivan Eland writes a weekly column 'The Empire Has No Clothes' on Antiwar.com and has served as principal defence analyst for the Congressional Budget Office, director of Defense Policy Studies at the Cato Institute, and investigator for the House of Foreign Affairs Committee. His writings have appeared in USA Today, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Philadelphia Inquirer, and Newsday. He has appeared on ABC, BBC, CNN, C-SPAN, Fox News, MSNBC, NPR, and PBS.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 250 pages
• Publisher: Independent Institute; First edition. edition (October 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0945999984
• ISBN-13: 978-0945999980
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #684,900 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well-researched insights, November 26, 2004

By 

book reader (VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Empire Has No Clothes: U.S. Foreign Policy Exposed (Hardcover)

Eland challenges conventional wisdom about why so many people around the world dislike Americans--it's not who we are or what we believe, but how our government behaves. With specific chapters directed at both conservatives and liberals explaining how over-reaching US interventionism goes against their principles, there is something in this book for everyone.

24 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How to dismantle an Empire, December 8, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Empire Has No Clothes: U.S. Foreign Policy Exposed (Hardcover)

A direct, educated antithesis to the imperial warmongering of Kaplan and the like. A read that will interest anyone who is interested in preserving our declining democratic republic.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Thoughtful & Incisive Treatise on American Foreign Policy, December 5, 2009

By 

David M. Dougherty (Arkansas) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Empire Has No Clothes: U.S. Foreign Policy Exposed (Paperback)

The author presents his position that the best U.S. government is the one that governs least and does not spend its resources building an empire. Presidents like Teddy Roosevelt, Wilson, FDR, Kennedy, Johnson, and Bush who spent a great deal of effort to expand the American Empire become the worst presidents in our history. The idea that we need an empire to push the battle lines farther from our shores is exposed as a hoax for the aggrandizement of the president in power. As the author so eloquently states, there is no reason for the U.S. to maintain its "great power" status, especially at the expense of its economy. Should we not learn from the case of the Soviet Union which fell because the obligations of its military empire were too great for its economy. The author posits; can it not happen to us?

The U.S. now has more than 700 military bases throughout the world, and maintains a significant position in NATO, an organization centered in Europe where the EU has the world's 2nd largest economy, but uses the US military as its security shield. Nice. And Japan uses us as their defense force while penetrating our economy and buying American domestic assets to our great detriment. Gee, the only thing made in America any more are its women and then increasingly by foreigners. But in the meantime we become the world's mercenary police force unfortunately paid by ourselves on behalf of others.

So the argument goes: we need Hawaii to protect the West Coast. Then Okinawa and Guam to protect Hawaii. Then Japanese bases to protect Okinawa. Then troops in South Korea to protect Japan and South Korea. Is there no end to this lunacy? I guess so -- only when we have troops all over the world to isolate any seemingly hostile country at its own borders. The problem, of course, is not only can we not afford this, it's that no other country agrees we need to do it. So by our own actions, we set ourselves up as the power to be defeated. And history proves that day will not be long in coming. Almost all empires have not lasted longer than 250 years -- (for us that would be 2039 at the latest.)

The author makes so many good points that it would take another book to recount them. But for example, he makes the case that Truman, Johnson and Bush I claimed the authority as President to take the U.S. into war. However, the pesky Constitution specifically states that the President is only the Commander-in-Chief, and that only Congress has the power to declare war. In addition, the people have the right to keep and bear arms for their own defense -- yet empire-mongering presidents have sought to eliminate that troublesome feature in the Constitution bit by bit to create subjects out of citizens. And on and on.

Everyone should read this book and ponder the ideas within. Author Eland has much to say, and there is much to learn here. The reader should not let himself be swept along by media propaganda to the downfall of the U.S. Even if I don't agree with all of the author's points, they still bear careful scrutiny and consideration. The reader will be the better for reading this work.

Highly recommended.

Oh, this review is based on the Updated Edition of 2008.