Confessions of an Economic Hit Man

If John Perkins wants us to believe he has written a confessional, I didn't find much that he confessed. He also wants us to believe he has written an explosive expose. But I didn't find either bombs or blast. According to Perkins there is a huge (non)conspiracy within the U.S.government, operating through large international corporations and the World Bank, to create the appearance of economic incentives to build large infrastructure projects for foreign governments. The trick is to convince the foreign government that the project(s) will create a sufficient return on investment, but in reality, the projects will never perform well enough to ever repay the vast loans. But rather than call the loans, the U.S, like a mafia don, calls for favors instead. That enables the U.S. to build an empire without holding the actual ground of the countries conquered. If the foreign government fails to cooperate, then 'jackals' are sent to either gain the desired cooperation, or overthrow the government by whatever means necessary, including assassinating world leaders. And if that fails, the U.S. Army will make the final arrangements by conquering the hapless country, and installing a puppet government. Of course Perkins offers no direct evidence of any of this, other than to allude to the history of Central and South America, and the current events (and Halliburton) in Iraq. What I found remarkable about the book was Perkins' desire to portray himself as a reluctant victim. He admits that he understood completely that he was the initial 'hit man,' albeit through the economic subterfuge built into his proposals. Then after thirty-some years of doing their bidding, cashing in, and looking for more, he finally found his conscience, and wrote this book in spite of the threats against him should he do so. And now, at age 60, he wants us to believe he has finally awakened to the humanity of the world; that he finally 'gets it.' Though I might be less skeptical had he not accumulated and kept so much wealth that he now resides in one of the most affluent places in America. And that his new-found values motivated him, not to give to charity, but to write a for-profit book. I happen to agree that the U.S. government is becoming ever more beholden to international corporations. I just don't find that notion particularly new.Show Less