The Crimes of Empire

Imperial Nations advance their own interests by exploiting other societies. To those on the receiving end this is obvious, while inside the empire, a powerful ideological system of justification tends to hide all but the worst excess. Carl Boggs argues that that the US began life two centuries ago as a nascent colonialist regime plundering and conquering the Native Tribes. The Indian wars were followed by perpetual militarism and warfare fuelled by a deep sense of national exceptionalism. The Crimes Of Empire examines several trends in this process, and illustrates the new depths plumbed since 9/11. Violation of international agreements, treaties and laws and the use of prohibited weapons, support for death squads and torture are just some of the practices that Boggs highlights as he shows how technical superiority and media control prolong the American nightmare.

ISBN 0745329454   Pages 320 ISBN13 9780745329451 (What's this?)   Weight (grammes) 386 Publisher Pluto Press   Published in London Imprint Pluto Press   Height (mm) 215 Format Paperback   Width (mm) 135 Publication date 20 Mar 2010   Spine width (mm) 20 DEWEY 973   Academic level General, Tertiary education DEWEY edition DC22

		Foreword by Peter McLaren
		Preface
		Introduction		1
1		Crimes Against Peace		26
2		Warfare against Civilians		48
3		War Crimes by Proxy		89
4		Weapons of Mass Destruction		112
5		A Tale of Broken Treaties		144
6		War-Crimes Tribunals: Imperial Justice		176
7		Torture and Other Atrocities		207
		Conclusion: Empire or Survival?		241
		Postscript: The Routinization of Mass Murder		249
		Notes		262
		Index		277

Distinguished scholar Carl Boggs's brilliant historical survey of US empire-building highlights the centrality of violence, lawlessness, and self-serving 'humanitarian' ideology, from colonial times to the current wars in Asia. -- James Petras, Bartle Professor Emeritus, Binghamton University Carl Boggs's investigation is relentless, unflinching, and irrefutable. This book performs a genuine service for truth and democracy, an education for every American. -- Michael Parenti, author of Against Empire and To Kill a Nation Americans think others commit war crimes. Not so many years ago, we learned about the "trail of broken treaties" used to steal Native Americans' lands. Crimes of Empire reveals a global pattern of US wars and broken treaties. Here we have an accounting of history's most awesome military and massive killing machine, of millions of people slaughtered and enormous devastation wrought in the name of democracy. Every American who believes in their country's greatness should read Crimes of Empire. By refusing to let war crimes pass unnoticed, Carl Boggs has done humankind a tremendous service. -- George Katsiaficas

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