Hideous Dream (Paperback)

This highly personal, and highly emotional account, of what for most of us was yet another CNN Docu-drama, puts a fallible human face on this amazingly cynical operation--the US invasion of Haiti in 1994.

Having read some of the other reviews of HD at Amazon.com , I think they are telling us how powerfully our system organizes the thinking of the individuals in it. One man gives HD a glowing review, then when confronted with what it quite likely his own credulity in the face of that other monument of US cynicism, the aggression against Yugoslavia, he retracts everything he has said. And the fellow who says he served with Goff in Haiti... well, his final words tell us a lot. "[A] white guys journey to becoming black..." What is THAT about?

I found the book to be brutally self-critical throughout. Contentiousness there was plenty. Arrogance... nah.

What I found was a book that humanized two groups who are frequently stereotyped, one for public villification, and one for public worship: Haitians and the military. The whole book plays out like an "I am a camera" documentary, with some very emotional editorializing in the interstices, and the result, while a little jarring from time to time (Goff admits he is a novice writer, more than once), is a remarkable demystification of the events and the social forces that underwrote them.

Buy this book.

The personal attacks to discredit Goff instead of standing up to his ascertations were not effectively masked at all. I agree with another reviewer that the comment made about Goff "becoming Black" is not a very effective way to critique Goff. Nor is another reviewer's comments about Goff breaking General Order one by drinking alcahol. In case you've not heard, once you cross into a brother hood that embraces killing and dying as a way of life, drinking and other destructive behavior (such as bar brawling) that is officialy against the rules is practically a rite of passage and to judge Goff for drinking with his men is to judge a huge population of the military.

I would hope that their would be more straight forward and factual criticism for those whom disagree with MSG Goff. One reviewer claims that Goff distorts facts, please, tell us which ones he distorts if you are going to make those claims so readers can better examine the attack on Goff's credibility.

One reviewer doubts Goff's membership to the elite Special Forces unit, "Delta Force." I would direct that reader to Eric Heney's recent book, Inside Delta Force, where Goff is clearly recognizable as one of the Delta Operators in one of Haney's pictures of B Squadrdron, 1982, Greneda. Of course, Goff is the only one pensively looking away from the camera, conflict plain as day on his face. Haney took the liberty of changing Goff's name for his privacy, calling him Stan Johnson. Most people who criticize Goff would be advised to take note of the fact that, Heney, while less open about his criticism's of foreign policy than Goff, openly expresses the morally corrupt and oppressive role he saw the U.S. plaing in Central America in the 1980's. Right wing death squads? Murder of thousands of civilains by men equiped, trained and advised, and often led by U.S. forces? Heney expresses the torment he felt about being involved in these kinds of operatoins. These things are old news and are not disputed, even by men like Heney who write not to critique U.S. foreign policy, but are simply telling of the role they played and how they felt. It is far more watered down than Goff's criticisms, showing even more that many can see the contradiction, but shy away from opening pandora's box too far, for it usually signals the super patriots attacks on their credibility and loyalties. These should stop being the knee jerk reactions to those with opinions that differ from the status quo. Much is at stake in these times and better infomred is better equiped to make decisions that best honor the good in the spirit of humanity. My advice to those who are considering this book: Do your research. Be open minded. Think before you attack those who criticize the status quo. It is in all of our best interests.