Customer Reviews

The New American Empire

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In The New American Empire, economist and professor emeritus Rodrigue Tremblay dares to ask: what is really the motive behind the American war in Iraq? What will be its consequences, both for the United States and the world? Focusing on a critical shift that American foreign and domestic policies have taken under George Bush since September 11, 2001, viewed both in the context of modern history and as part of the evolution of Western civilization since the fall of Constantinople in 1453. The dangerous implications of a war initiated and led under false pretenses, the strategic importance of oil and its fundamental motivation in a political and worldwide power grab, emerging decadence in the West and more are all chronicles with a cautious eye and a sharp tongue. A deftly researched, deadly serious warning of the clear and present dangers of America's current uncontrolled national hubris.

"M. Marshall" (Palo Alto CA, USA)

In sixteen thought-provoking chapters, the author
discusses, among other topics, a comparison of the
zealous mindsets of Ossama bin Laden and George W.
Bush, the rise of the religious right and its growing
influence in the Republican Party, the international
implications of the "Bush Doctrine" of September,
2002, and the strategic importance of oil.

One of the most enlightening sections in this timely
book is the discussion of the "Just War Theory".

Is George W. Bush's war of aggression against Iraq a
"Just War"? The author emphatically answers No. He
presents a clear case against a war which has so far
caused more than 25,000 deaths, most of them civilian,
including those of more than 1,000 young Americans
sent half way around the world. For what? Nobody seems
to know, since the official rationales for starting
this war have disappeared one after the other, some
being outright lies.

This was not a war of "last resort", since Wolfowitz,
Cheney and Co had been planning the invasion of Iraq
for more than a decade. It would seem now that the war
in Iraq is not being fought with the "right
intentions": Wolfowitz and Cheney have mentioned, on
numerous occasions, that "Iraq's oil" had to be
secured. There was no "just cause" either since Iraq
had no military capabilities to threaten the United
States, or any other country for that matter. This is
a war with no legitimacy, since the United Nations
refused to give its authorisation for such a military
invasion. And, as a result of the indiscriminate
bombings of civilian urban populations, it is an
immoral war, because it has resulted in the killing of
scores of innocent people.

Chapter 16, "Greatness and Decadence of the West",
could perhaps have been the starting point for this
essay, and is well worth a second read. In it, Dr.
Tremblay resumes in a nutshell the essential values of
Western civilisation and the reasons for its success.
Taking us into the future, the author speculates on
the life cycle of this "Democratic Western Empire"
which may soon be split into two competing economic
blocs-the United States and Europe. Eventually, as
China develops and expands, a tri-polar world may
emerge.

Because of its sharp analysis of U.S. politics
following the shock of Sept.11, this book will hold
the readers interest from beginning to end. Kudos to
the author.

I have read many great (and not so great) books on President Bush and on how his Neo-con advisers gave him the intellectual and the intelligence ammunitions to launch a unilateral war against Iraq. None, however, integrates the lessons of history (the cycle of empires) and the intricacies of domestic politics (the role of AIPAC) in such a clear and powerful way as The New American Empire does. The book covers such a wide range of related topics, from the 'Just War theory' to the 'Brezhnev Doctrine' and the 'Helsinki Accords', that it is impossible to read it without acquiring ipso facto a synthetic view of geopolitics and its current ramifications. It is a welcomed antidote to the superficial analyses that one reads in the major newspapers and hears on cable TV.
I have a feeling that this is one book that will stand out as very prophetic in a few years.

Nobody ever bombed us because of Monica, and it's not because "we love freedom" stupid. The answer to this national question rests within our far reaching and deep rooted foreign policies, many of which the majority of educated people in this country are simply unaware of. With this in mind, The New American Empire is the book to purchase inorder to begin learning about what is currently being done in our name in foreign countries, and who exactly is the driving force behind the Bush administration's foreign policy agenda. I for one found Tremblay's book educational and I was profoundly disturbed to learn about the level of Israeli influence within our national government. Israel is a foreign power, so what is going on here?

The New American Empire comes highly recommended and I would give it more than 5 stars if I could. NOT TO BE MISSED.

[...] The author of "The New American Empire" builds a solid case, from public official reports, and shows that the unprovoked invasion of Iraq followed in the footsteps of the 1980 Carter Doctrine aimed at using military force to protect the flow of Middle Eastern oil. Tremblay also amply documents the Israeli pressures, coming from outside and inside the government, for such a war. Reading this book, I came to the conclusion that this demonstration comes closer to the truth than anything else in exposing the true reasons for this disastrous war. It's a read.

It is difficult to find a more up-to-date and more well-researched book about George W. Bush's imperial America. From the "Just War Theory" (chap. 10) to the fate of Western civilization (chap. 16), one finds a very thoughtful analysis of why the U.S. government is on a wrong and dangerous path in its foreign policy.

[...] The author of "The New American Empire" is right to point out that former President Gerry Ford and his then Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger, were more responsible and more successful, in 1975, when they supported the Helsinki Accords. These historical agreements reaffirmed the principle of self-determination of nations and, by removing external threats, opened the gates to reforms within the former Soviet Union. [...] This book is highly recommended.

[...] "The New American Empire" deals factually with the Iraq war and how the Bush administration has paid scant attention to international and even domestic law. Read this excellent book!

"The New American Empire" is an insightful overview of how G.W. Bush's unabashed neocon ideology has led to disastrous turmoil abroad, increased international tensions and a destabilized economy. This is clear to everyone who wishes America well; hopefully the American electorate will recognize this in time.

"The New American Empire" covers all bases: On how the pro-Israel neocons succeeded in imposing "their" foreign policy on the Bush administration; on how the March 20, 2003 war against Iraq was planned over a ten-year period prior to 9-11, 2001, a cruel event which provided the "pretext" to move troops to Iraq and take militarily control of the Middle East and of its oil. Historians will like to read this book a generation from now.