America's Other War: Terrorizing Colombia

by Doug Stokes, Noam Chomsky (Introduction)

This controversial book maintains that in Colombia the US has long supported a pervasive campaign of state violence directed against both armed insurgents and a wide range of unarmed progressive social forces. While the context may change from one decade to the next, the basic policies remain the maintain the pro-US Colombian state, protect US economic interests and preserve strategic access to oil. Colombia is now the third largest recipient of US military aid in the world, and the largest by far in Latin America. Using extensive declassified documents, this book shows that the so-called "war on drugs", and now the new war on terror in Colombia are actually part of a long-term Colombian "war of state terror" that predates the end of the Cold War with US policy contributing directly to the human rights situation in Colombia today.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

168 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2004

Reviews

[Vivek Singh · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are a fan of reading academic clusterfuck which can be explained in less than ten pages, then this book is for you.

[Cruz · Rating 5 out of 5]

America’s Other War is a great introduction to US policy in Latin America and Colombia. The first few chapters can serve as a good resource for those getting to know US policy in the region. That being said the rest of the book can feel a bit dated.

[Ben Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sickening and eye-opening

[John Fowler]

Not your typical textbook description of post-WWII American policy. Stokes contends that the U.S.'s reasons for getting involved in South American politics was not to contain communism during the cold war, nor was it to curve cocaine use during Reagan's presidency. And as the war on terror takes place within Colombia, Stokes argues that this is yet another façade so the U.S. may gain support to secure an abundant oil supply.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

Is it wrong of me to love revisionist history so much? The first half of the book is mostly touching on U.S. policy in Latin America as a whole. When he does get into Colombia, it becomes interesting, but doesn't get deep enough for someone new to the country. Blending it with the other book on Colombia that I've already read, though, makes for a decent read.