Customer Reviews

The GorriĆ³n Tree (American University Studies Series X, Political Science)

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Much has been written by the Reaganites to defend what was the most outrageous aggression by America on a small nation in the 20th century; the lies about Soviet and Cuban "occupation," the threat to the US citizens studying there, the construction of an airfield to handle Commie bombers, etc. While the author is clearly biased towards the Grenadian Revolution, he does give the lie to most of the post-invasion rationalization. However, in so doing he does understate the hard-line nature of the Leninist (Coard) faction, which did see itself as the legitimate revolutionary faction, ultimately destroying itself and its Stalinist vision. However, the focus is on Cuba's involvement, which clearly did not see Grenada as anything other than a fellow socialist state struggling to overcome a hostile political environment in the Caribbean. That is not to say that Castro did not intend to collaborate with the New Jewel Movement in exporting revolution, but with a larger and better located Nicaragua on the mainland as a partner, Grenada had, by necessity, to be the most junior of colleagues. I would like to have seen this aspect developed more, but Cotman obviously wants to paint a sympathetic picture here. I recommend this book, even at its lofty price, for anyone interested in hearing another side to this still controversial issue.