Blowback by Chalmers Johnson - Essay Example

Chalmers Johnsons ‘Blowback’ Chalmers Johnsons ‘Blowback’ Chalmers Johnson believes in his book, Blowback, that enforcement of American hegemony all over the world is some form of global empire. He notes that whereas the traditional empires controlled their subjects by forming colonies, America has developed a vast system of several military bases around the globe where it has strategic interests since World War II. The writer applauded the dissolution of the Soviet Union, which he had believed was a menace. He confesses in the ‘Blowback’ series that he was a cold warrior and believed in the defeat of the Soviet Union (Johnson, 2000). However, Chalmers regretted the political awakening of the United States after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. He notes that instead of the Unites States demobilizing its defense forces, it accelerated its reliance on military operations for solving its economic and political problems. The result of this militarism as evident in the actual domestic defense is increased terrorism against the State and its close allies. It has resulted to the loss of core democratic values at home. It has become the cause of actual disaster for the America economy. This task looks at the author’s main arguments in the ‘Blowback’ and the information he uses to convince his readers on his position. It covers what ‘Blowback’ covers well in my opinion and the portions of the series I believe are misplaced and misleading. In addition, the assignment uncovers some elements of style the author uses to develop his work. It looks at the rationale of the writer’s main argument and dissects the logic and clarity of his argument. Chalmers supports the notion that America is hated around the world. He supports this by purporting that the concept of “blowback” means more than retaliation against the things the American government has done in and to foreign countries. The concept refers to retaliation against several other illegal operations the country has carried out abroad. The operations have been kept secret from the public. This implies that when the retaliations come as it did in 9/11, the American public is often unaware and cannot place the events in context. Therefore, the public tends to support all acts that the government places to lash out against the perpetrators. This prepares grounds for further blowbacks, as the American public joins the enmity created by its secretive government. Supporting the idea of enmity of the American society perpetrated by the militarization, Chalmers gives an example of the Okinawa Military Base in Japan. He notes that US military occupies 20% of the island (Johnson, 2000). The brunt of US military personnel deployed to Japan has more than its share of crime. After a revelation of a rape in 1995, United States Commander complained that the three Marine Officers could have hired a prostitute for an amount they spent on renting their car. Chalmers observes that the military base is still a safe haven for many illegal activities by the military. Defense Intelligence Agency and Green Berets, Marine Cops and the Air Force do act that they can never dare do in the United States. The American de facto strategists increase American hegemonic power in the all-important Asian region use it. Occupation of the military forces of America of South Korea for half a century turned Washington into a partner in crime of a series of military and civilian dictators. Chalmers details the United States complicity in the brutal hush-up of protests in the capital city of Kwangju. Most Americans remain in the dark about the happenings in Kwangju at the time and the role of American government and the military in it. In fact, the American public knows more about the brutal manner in which Chinese government quelled the Beijing protests in 1989 than they know about their own government’s brutality in South Korea (Johnson, 2000). These acts have earned America countless enemies all over the world in deed. Despite the ugly state of enmity, that militarization has brought upon America and its people, Chalmers has a view that the aims of American World Empire are much better than the objectives of previous empires (Johnson, 2000). The vast array of strategic commitments of the American government through the army in the past decades may not have been as a result of attempts to exploit other nations for economic gain and dominating them military and politically. The author argues that although the nation has often engaged in imperialist exploitation of other countries particularly in the Latin America, it has tried to liquidate several such commitments. The causes of American imperial overstretch today are not akin to those of the past empires. Instead, its imperial strategies closely resemble those that caused the downfall of the Soviet Union. The Romans’ military strategies in Gaul, for example, had the sole reason for economic exploitation of Gaul as well as political dominance. There were no tangible reasons for Roman military intervention in these places. The American military intrusion, however, takes a more convincing approach, often with an excuse for placing military troops. Most of the time, it is for the pretense or reason of furthering the fundamentals of human rights in the regions. Although what becomes of these endeavors are ugly and often demeaning the sovereignty of these nations, the American strategies usually achieve a few positive objectives in addition to their hidden agendas. Furthermore, there is an argument that the core reason for American economic woes is the undesirable military camps all over the globe. The expensive network of military bases across the world is a mistake. US system of military bases in Japan is problematic and this has made economic relationships between the United States and East Asia undesirable and weak. The author points out that in addition to causing local economic woes, the military intervention has created economic problems in other nations like Japan by supporting corrupt leaders. Blowback articulates the role of American government in the quandaries of other parts of the world in an insightful manner. The author provides a dissection of the role of America in the East Asian woes in a way that compels the reader. In particular, I like the manner in which the author unearths the hidden truth of the positions the American military took in massacres in South Korea. Whereas it is important to be in support of the government for actions it takes in protecting its citizens against its civilians, Chalmers’ book offers American citizens with a different perspective of the government. The manner in which Blowback dissects the hatred for America and the American people by other nations gives insightful reflection of the way forward for prevailing issues such as terrorism. I like the author’s revelations that make readers realize that terrorism against the United States and its allies is a creation of the American government. American government is responsible for stopping terrorism by avoiding situations that would lead to retaliation. However, I would criticize Chalmers’ Blowback for concentrating on the influence of United States in world affairs using only military intervention. He talks little of the soft power that the nation has employed in changing lives of millions across the globe. Concentrating on the military bases alone provides incomplete view on the role of America in changing the world. Although USA has conquered the world using the military, several other non-military based organizations penetrate interiors of the world to offer various kinds of help to the vulnerable. There are organizations that look at their influence on humanity from humane angle; a viewpoint not affected by need to dominate. These are American organizations and are crusaders of the American dream. It is unfortunate that Blowback totally disregarded them. Furthermore, as much as it is agreeable that the Adventist of American foreign policy is furthered at a steep cost for the country in more than economic terms, there is little rationale in the author’s claim that the military industrial complex and executive power grabs had undermined the democratic republic. The author erroneously claims that the outline of the government in Washington during George W. Bush’s term bore no resemblance to whatever is outlined in the constitution (Johnson, 2000). This is tantamount to claiming the end of America, a supposition that is greatly disputable. The truth is, America risks losing its democracy as it struggles to keep its empire, but the structures of the nation are as intact as constituted in the 1787 constitution. Language use in Blowback is simple and straightforward. The author uses language that is easy for every reader to understand. The series contains little professional jargon that could prevent unprofessional readers from understanding the concepts in the book. Additionally, he structures his publication in a way that inspires readers to want to know more. This has improved communication between the author and the audience. The series is meant to enlighten all Americans on the role of their government in misdeeds abroad. This is information that needs to reach all citizens first-hand without interpretation. The author manages to ensure this by use of the right language elements, style and diction. Johnson Chalmers’ series is logical and easy to understand. He arranges the events he has for his audience in a logical manner than increases the readers’ awe to know what is next. He starts his series by giving detailed account of the relationship between the fall of the Soviet Union and the establishment of the American empire using the military troops that were never recalled home after World War II. It then goes ahead in a chronological manner to show how the country has garnered more enemies than friends, each time giving informed evidence and instances. The author goes through the series of events and reasoning to the end of the series where he proposes dismantling of the empire. Using this logical chronology, evidence-based claims and right language and writing style, the author manages to successfully support and convince his audience on his thesis that America has earned more enemies than friends with its militarism. Reference Johnson, C. (2000). Blowback: The costs and consequences of American empire. New York: Metropolitan Books. Read More

 

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