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Peter Dale Scott

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American War Machine: Deep Politics, the CIA Global Drug Connection, and the Road to Afghanistan (War and Peace Library) Paperback – May 12, 2014

by Peter Dale Scott (Author)

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Part of: War and Peace Library (8 books)

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This provocative, thoroughly researched book explores the covert aspects of U.S. foreign policy. Prominent political analyst Peter Dale Scott marshals compelling evidence to expose the extensive growth of sanctioned but illicit violence in politics and state affairs, especially when related to America's long-standing involvement with the global drug traffic. Beginning with Thailand in the 1950s, Americans have become inured to the CIA's alliances with drug traffickers (and their bankers) to install and sustain right-wing governments. The pattern has repeated itself in Laos, Vietnam, Italy, Mexico, Thailand, Nigeria, Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Chile, Panama, Honduras, Turkey, Pakistan, and now Afghanistan—to name only those countries dealt with in this book. Scott shows that the relationship of U.S. intelligence operators and agencies to the global drug traffic, and to other international criminal networks, deserves greater attention in the debate over the U.S. presence in Afghanistan. To date, America's government and policies have done more to foster than to curtail the drug trade. The so-called war on terror, and in particular the war in Afghanistan, constitutes only the latest chapter in this disturbing story.

Print length

408 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Publication date

May 12, 2014
Dimensions

6.12 x 0.86 x 8.94 inches
ISBN-10

074255595X
ISBN-13

978-0742555952
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Editorial Reviews

Review

In Scott's view, the American military-industrial complex so feared by Eisenhower has grown into a military-industrial-corporate behemoth. This 'overclass,' often functioning independently from the official elected government, has spearheaded countless actions that it perceives to be in the best interest of perpetuating American hegemony. With exhaustive research and extremely persuasive arguments, Scott seeks to prove that the funding and motivation behind America's assertion of global supremacy can be traced to drugs. Drug money fueled American actions in Laos and Vietnam during the Cold War, American support of the mujahedeen in Afghanistan in the '80s, and defines American political action in Latin America and present-day Afghanistan. By looking at covert activity and recorded history through the lens of American global dominance, Scott makes a terrifyingly compelling case; he asks readers to consider what actions taken in the last fifty years have not benefited America's military-industrial complex, such an integral part of the global economy. . . . [His] carefully structured arguments never fail to interest or disturb. ― Publishers Weekly, Starred Review Published On: 2010-10-01

Scott has written a provocative account of CIA machinations and their link to spikes in global drug production, war, and terrorism. His chapters on Thailand and the Far East are especially well-grounded and of great use to historians. . . . [Scott] is a creative thinker who deserves credit for delving into the netherworld of clandestine operations and global corruption which most academics choose to ignore. . . . At his core, Scott is an idealist who believes that in exposing the sinister forces accounting for the spread of unnecessary violence, an aroused citizenry can mobilize to rein them in. The stakes today are especially high, because if left unchecked, the pattern of warfare and destabilization which Scott describes may lead to a global confrontation of truly catastrophic proportions as well as irreversible environmental damage and the economic bankruptcy of the United States. ― History News Network

There are certain books that, once read, alter one’s mind permanently. This is such a book. Naïve readers and patriots beware: You will never think about the world in the same way after you have read just the first two chapters of American War Machine. ― The Erowid Review

American War Machine explains how one of the principal techniques of [commandeering power in the United States by secret, undemocratic means] has been the CIA’s utilization of the drug traffic to combat communism, the governments and movements of the left, and, in our time, to maintain American supremacy in the world. . . . The demonstration is, one could say, stupefying. . . . This book reads like a real thriller filled with twists and suspense; a thriller for which one does not, yet, know the end. But can there be an end? In this world where the honest citizen is overwhelmed by mountains of data, this book must absolutely be read because it allows us to understand to what degree we have been so manipulated and misinformed. . . . [A] solid and convincing document, the mind-blowing reading of which truly leads to original and non-conformist elements of reflection, indispensable for attempting to understand the world which surrounds us, and for trying to discern where it is going. -- Bernard Norlain ― Revue Défense Nationale

Peter Dale Scott has published a book of stunning richness. . . . I know of no study that so precisely captures a period as dangerous as our own. . . . Indeed, empires, kingdoms, and republics have their state secrets, but when the entire state becomes a secret, when in so-called democratic nations everything is decided without the people, elections themselves being open to doubt, it is necessary that one escape from the fear of ordinary people in the presence of the powerful and try to understand where these decisions are trending that are contrary to our interest. . . . Peter Dale Scott is the Tocqueville of this era, helping us understand how we are sliding into a world that can only be revolutionary if it wishes to survive. . . . Buy this book, read it, make it known. -- Ariane Walter ― Agoravox

What I like most about Peter Dale Scott are his fierce intellectual curiosity, his willingness to investigate radioactive topics, and his tireless commitment to unearthing the truth. Over the years, he has done more than almost anyone to discover and chronicle the forces that covertly shape our policies. American War Machine may be his greatest work yet. -- Russ Baker, award-winning investigative journalist and author of Family of Secrets

Peter Dale Scott is our most fearless and illuminating chronicler of the lethal and mysterious web of unaccountable violence linking government to organized crime, the drug trade, state terror, and eventuating in disastrous wars. Read this extraordinary book to understand why this country finds itself gridlocked in Afghanistan, yet another costly quagmire, because a small cabal at the top is still dedicated to the mirage of American global dominance. -- Richard Falk, Albert G. Milbank Professor of International Law Emeritus, Princeton University

Peter Dale Scott writes with his inimitable eloquence about the intersection between U.S. covert operations and international narcotics trafficking and its destructive undermining of American democracy. The past half-century of drug politics―and the country's complicit acceptance of the violence it has spawned―is an ominous portent for our present and future. American War Machine should be required reading for anyone who wants to understand the upper- and underworld marriage that drives contemporary foreign policy. -- Sally Denton, author of The Bluegrass Conspiracy

Peter Dale Scott flashes a bright light on a dark illicit world of lowly thugs and high-placed political and moneyed cabals. Thoroughly researched and deeply informed, this book makes for an intriguing read. -- Michael Parenti, author of The Face of Imperialism and God and His Demons

I said of Scott's last brilliant take on this subject, Drugs, Oil and War, that 'It makes most academic and journalistic explanations of our past and current interventions read like government propaganda written for children.' Now Scott has written an even better book. Read it! -- Daniel Ellsberg, author of Secrets: A Memoir of Vietnam and the Pentagon Papers

Review

Praise for Deep Politics and the Death of JFK:

Staggeringly well-researched and intelligent overview not only of the JFK assassination but also of the rise of forces undermining American democracy—of which the assassination, Scott says, is symptomatic. ― Kirkus

Praise for Cocaine Politics:

An authoritative account of a crucial but underpublicized issue. ― Library Journal

Praise for Cocaine Politics:

This important, explosive report forcefully argues that the 'war on drugs' is largely a sham, as the U.S. government is one of the world's largest drug pushers. ― Publishers Weekly

Praise for The Road to 9/11:

The broad picture he paints is all too accurate. . . . This book, like all of Scott's prose works, is meticulously researched and sourced. His formulations are grounded in the evidence. . . . In short, the scholarship is excellent. ― Liberty Press

Praise for Drugs, Oil, and War:

A new book by Scott is an occasion. ― Lobster

Praise for Cocaine Politics:

For the evidence that narcotics . . . have been instruments of U.S. foreign policy, you simply have to read Cocaine Politics. This, one of the most enlightening books of the year, will redefine your usage of the silly term 'drug war.' -- Christopher Hitchens ― The Nation

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Rowman & Littlefield Publishers (May 12, 2014)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 408 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 074255595X
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0742555952
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.22 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.12 x 0.86 x 8.94 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,294,126 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,335 in International Diplomacy (Books)
- #2,001 in Terrorism (Books)
- #2,369 in Violence in Society (Books)

Customer Reviews:
35 ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

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Eric

The Problem with This book

Reviewed in the United States on March 13, 2012

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I have a few problems with this book. First, this book has "exhaustive footnotes." If you expect to sit down and flow through this book, it won't happen. If you are like me, you'll read the book with two book marks. One for the page you're currently reading, and one for the page you're on in the "Notes Pages." The next issue is; I keep buying more books on Amazon that Scott references.

WARNING: If you are an American, this book will cause cognitive dissonance. After reading chapter 2: "Mexico, Drugs...." I went to Amazon to find more current books, than the ones Scott quotes, on the topic. Mainly because of the increase in violence over the past 5 years, which is not covered in this book. I found it interesting that two different authors were critiqued with statements like; "Love the stories. Well written. But, the author is obviously a communist or socialist because he implies that the CIA and or American leaders are involved in the drug trade." If you want to sleep at night "knowing" that the corruption stops just North of the Rio Grande, West of California by a few thousand miles, and East of N.Y.C. by another few thousand miles, then this is NOT the book for you. Go read something written by a CIA shill.

45 people found this helpful

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Ms.Beyonce

Peter Dale Scott's Latest Gem !

Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2014

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When it comes to "deep" or parapolitics" there is no finer researcher than Peter Dale Scott. Every work that he has written on this subject, from JFK to 9-11, is an education into the true world of politics and its intersection with both the under and over world, at times there seems to be no distinction between the two. Barack Obama was brought to his present office thru the influence of the Crown and Pritzker families of Chicago, both of whom are organized crime connected. The Crowns are also major players in what President Eisenhower called "the military-industrial compled via General Dymanics. That company was well represented on the Warren Commision thru attorneys Albert Jenner & Maurice Moore.

5 people found this helpful

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Jane A. Clark

This is an excellent book!

Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2013

Verified Purchase

Peter Dale Scott has so much detail and so many footnotes that there is no way you can even think about challenging his credibility. This professor has followed these subjects of the drug cartels and the traffic all over the world for years, and definitely knows what he is talking about, and I would highly recommend this book to anyone!

10 people found this helpful

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Steven Roberts

Definitely buy this one!

Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2013

Verified Purchase

Peter Dale Scott has written a definitive work regarding the operations of our military forces for the enrichment of the operators behind the scenes. It tells the truth of the global connection to drug trafficking that the military provides, and the secret reasons from many hidden wars. Hard to put down. Very well documented and footnoted.

5 people found this helpful

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E. johnson

Not fun, but necessary

Reviewed in the United States on July 6, 2011

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Ouch! The first hundred pages of this book are an exercise in self flagellation. Tedious, dry background. But the rest of the book is compelling reading detailing intelligence community involvement backing anti communist factions in south east asia beginning in the post WWII era... and the drug traffic that financed it...and the laundering of those funds...and the conflict with interdiction efforts that later became the norm in south/central america.

9 people found this helpful

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Mark E. Harder

As far as I've read now, an interesting and eye-opening revelation; but can it be trusted?

Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2015

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I'd give it 5 stars, but his evidence (endnotes) - what I've read so far - is often self-referential or cites others of the same mind set. I'd like to see him address critiques of his arguments. Without these, and his answers and his rebuttals, this work is not a fair assessment of his contention - that the CIA and its companions play a significant role in the international narcotics enterprise. I want to know more about connections between the CIA's and the American deep state. I'm at over 1000 Kindle pages now and he keeps promising to address the issues 'later'. Hopefully, he gets there.
I picked this book over similar ones covering the same topics because its author has some credentials: a scholar who has published other works concerning political topics. I won't read the works of so-called 'independent investigative reporters' who haven't mastered English grammar and spelling. Their scholarly creds are a little suspect, don't you think?

One person found this helpful

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John Chavez

Much Detail, Lacks Organizing & Structure

Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2017

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Having read a few dozen non-fiction accounts of international narco-traffic and CIA/DEA/NSA, I find this one to have an excess of (almost random) detail and in dire need of structural editing. It seems to be a " patch-quilt" (many miniscule "patches") of detail & minutiae from other authors and publicly-available sources (news, court & govt. records) - obviously this author researched extensively, but too bad he did not put as much effort into organizing and presenting that information. The time and place of the over-abundant tidbits seems to occur and recur almost randomly throughout this book.
He is also a bit careless in the over-use of generalized relationships: associated, alliance, partnership, cooperated, assisted, directed, etc. - without being sufficiently specific re data/facts to support or define those relationships.
Possibly my numerous previous reads of well-known books and authors on these topics has made me a bit over-critical. I might recommend this book as a (very) general initial exposure to these topics (CIA, international drug trade). But if one has read even a few of the other popular books in this subject area, then you might skip this one. Three-Stars is being kind and generous, at least on my personal scale.

One person found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Excellent book, resulting from long years of research on ...

Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2016

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Excellent book, resulting from long years of research on the subject. P.D. Scott is, as always, very rigorous in his analyses, very thorough and comprehensive. This book is of seminal importance to anyone wishing to educate himself about the American Military-Indurstrial-Narcotic complex.

One person found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Duncan R. McKeown

An exceptionally well researched and revealing book. I would ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 23, 2017

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An exceptionally well researched and revealing book. I would urge anyone to read this who wants to(dares to?) know who is really behind the drug epidemic plaguing our world, and why solutions appear to be so intractable.

One person found this helpful

Micheline GINGRAS

Five Stars

Reviewed in Canada on January 17, 2018

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Génialement fait.

Deborah Warren

Five Stars

Reviewed in Canada on September 4, 2017

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Everyone should read to understand the United States.

Sylvain Lachapelle

Five Stars

Reviewed in Canada on March 11, 2015

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Very good book

One person found this helpful

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