I would guess other book-lovers here already read "Shock Doctrine" from Naomi Klein?

[vixengrl]

I just finished it today--actually, the bits that linked up the torture and the way all of the "nation building" in Iraq was about "nation-creating" and really remaking the Iraqi people through the humiliation and destruction, and, just like so many moments in the course of this book, there were times I just saved my place, put the book down, and felt a little sick, because it was just plausible and disgusting.

I don't think I was surprised by her conclusions or narrative. But I think it was kind of meaningful, like, more real to me, to see in print in a paperback book that at least someone was going to say that the whole war was a way of effacing a culture, and putting up a really sucky mall. That the land of the black-headed people of Sumer, the land of the Akkadian invasion of Sargon, the land of Shinar from the Bible, the place where writing, where a lot of our folklore, came from, the place of Ishtar mourning her lover and where they spoke of a flood before the Old Testament was written, where Gilgamesh sent a whore to civilize Enkidu, where....

I like archeaology, I hate the Iraq War. I like the Iraqi people, I hate what we did to them. I like to think America is about spreading democracy, but I also know our leaders have mistaken an incompatible form of laissez-faire capitalism for democratic freedoms, and just don't get the difference. I long ago cynicaly accepted as a punch-line that the war was for Halliburton, KBR and the multinational oil concerns.

I just didn't anticipate that I'd not only see it well-drawn out in writing, or that I'd want to shove the book away every few pages. I didn't expect that in Iraq they already know their lot is a joke that no one laughs at. That more than "sectarian violence", some of the unrest has to do with revolt at the way democracy and freedom were always just words--imposition and corporate contracts were always the name of the game.

I really recommend this book. A lot of blame gets heaped on ecomomists--Milton Freidman especially, and Jeffrey Sachs, who doesn't seem such a bad fellow now from what he posts at Huffpo. The real issue to me is the so-called elected representatives of the people, who come to represent various corporations' interests instead of the people that they should serve. It was a lot to take in.

Anyone else have a comment on this book?

[shirlden]

1. Me too

I normally read a book in 2 to 3 days. It took me a full six weeks to read this one. I would read until my stomach churned and then put it down. I too am a student of history and lover of archeology. I have shed many a tear over what we did to the "Fertile Crescent"
I still recommend that everyone read this book...........it is not so much an eye opener as it is putting structure to the mess we have made of the world and other people's lives.

[Democracyinkind]

2. One of those books that gives you the eerie feeling that we are facing systemic wrongs...

.. not genuinely political ones...

[OffWithTheirHeads]

3. I read it about a year ago.

Now I'm watching it applied to us.

Some people need their heads lopped off.

[abluelady]

4. I Did Find it Very Frightening

Being what's going on today. I think Rahm Emanual made a statement about crisis being a good time for change. I can see the other side using her theories against us.

[amyrose2712]

5. I am reading it now, page 320. Taking me long to read too.

I am marking this post to read after I am finished. It is already extremely frightening and infuriating.

[scholarsOrAcademics]

6. reread

its on the list to reread.
/www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=209x6636#6636
6636, The Shock Doctrine: the rise of Disaster Capitalism, N.Klein
Posted by scholarsOrAcademics on Wed Jul-16-08 09:57 PM

Just finished reading it. A quick note now, more later.
The endorsement by Chalmers Johnson is worth noting.
"Naomi Klein's expose of neoliberal economics is certain to be sensational She rips away the 'free trade' and globalization ideologies that disguise a conspiracy to privatize war and disaster and grab public property for the rich few. Klein's is a long-needed analysis of our headlong flight back to feudalism under the guise of social science and 'freedom.'"