"The New War" by John Kerry (Freeper Book Review)

vanity | 7/17/04 | votelife

[votelife]

I purchased John Kerry's book, written in 1997 from Amazon.com. It's on sale for $4 so I bought it for some opposition research. The book is about Senator's view of the dangerous threats, as he views them, facing America. This book does a good job of present Kerry's shall we say, "nuanced" worldview and I highly reccomend you read it.

In Kerry's "New War" he talks about the new globalization of crime. This book is filled with allusions to how the new world a place where sovereignty is becoming a relic of the past whilte multilateralism is the one ideal that can save us from ourselves. Kerry says, "Crime has been globalized along with everything else except...our response to it."

In 1997 Kerry argues that three main threats facing the US are the new post-communist Russia, China, and Columbia. No doubt most conservatives readers would agree that these states represent threats to the United States and western civilization. However, what is striking is that this book only makes passing mention at the threat of militant Islam and the danger of the proliferation of WMDS.

The first chapter of the book shows Kerry's lack of moral clarity, or as Kerry would like to put it, his "naunce." Kerry writes that "what we didn't anticipate- what no one anicipated- was the globilization of crime." I guess somehow Kerry has failed to understand the danger and the threat the Soviet Union posed to our nation since WWII. He writes as if he has just discovered electricity by realizing that there are organized criminal interests conspiring against the United States. I guess the Korean war, Vietnam, the Soviets march into Afghanistan and Eastern Europe were all unrelated events which don't really suggest a "globilization of crime."

The book continues by pointing out that since many aspects of organized crime rose after the fall of the Soviet Empire. This is no doubt true, but Kerry fails to understand, much less appreciate the benefits the fall of the Evil Empire. Instead Kerry's worldview suggests he feels he must point out the problems with the demise of Soviet Communism.

Kerry accurately points out some of the new problems America is facing since the fall of the USSR. Crime for instance is on the rise. He talks at length about how elements of the Russian mafia have infiltrated the new Russia. He suggests the old KGB has become the new mafia and government. He says that the "new order tempts everyone to criminality." What is striking that Kerry recognizes the Russia is a very corrupt state with powerful elements of the KGB still wielding tremendous power that he doesn't seriously acknowledge the consequences of an Iraq, Iran, or N Korea getting the Soviet's old weapons.

Kerry recognizes the threat: "The greater danger remains the illicit sale of nuclear materials and expertise to outlaw states like North Korea, and, especially Iraq, which has any number of perceived enemies and real grievences." But Kerry's worldview lacks the courage, or for that matter common sense to deal with this threat: "Terrorist organizations with specific political agendas may be encourage by Yasser Arafat's transformation from outlaw to stateman, while those whose only object to disrupt society require no such "role models."" That quote alone shows Kerry's utopian belief that even the most hardened terrorist can be reformed.

Next Kerry tackles the danger China poses to our security. He points out the inherent corruption in red China, while he acknowledges that China is making modest, albeit slow reforms. Interesting, he unkowingly makes an arguemnt against gun control. He cites China for increasing our gun crime. "Chinese manufactures were able to flood world markets with cheap Saturday night specials. The situation got so bad that the United States was forced to shut down the entire legal trade, which was threatening to swap the Untied States with litreally millions of low-cost, disposable, use-'em-once-and-forget-'em guns, as well as billions fo rounds af ammunition. That matrket didnt' dissppoeaer when President Clinton criminiazlized it. It just went underground, causing enrormous heaaches for U.S. federal gun inspectors."

He concludes his analysis of China by saying that the U.S. is really unable to do much by ourselves, even in light of China's human rights abuses. He mentions the fact that China has Most Favored Nation status for trade purposes. In typical Kerry "I voted for it before I voted against it" fashion, Kerry doesn't let the reader know if he supports free trade with China. He says "we abhor human rights abuses but need multilateral actions to have a signficant impact on them."

Kerry than expounds of the drug trade, and how it is a major threat to our security. He talks at lenght about Columbia's drug production as well as other states including Pakistan and Afghanistan.

What is truly scary for the reader of this book, is not the lenghtly, sludging pace of the tome, but rather that it takes the view that terrorism is a criminal matter, not a matter of war. Kerry suggests that we need better cooperation between nations, and better international insitutions so we can apprehend the criminal terrorists. He comes across as foolish and naive at times, as when referring to Arafat as a "statesman" and sometimes deliberately deceiptful in his refusal to acknowelege that he fought the very policies that Reagan championed to dismanted Soviet communism.

Kerry also manages to show his disdain for the 2nd amendment with quotes like, "Individuals must be held accountable when they buy cocaine, guns, and the service of prostitutes."

He also gives weight to the blame America crowd by quoting the leftist terrorist Ted Kaczynski: "The Industrial Revolution and its consequences have been a disaster for the human race. They have greatly increased the life-expectancy of those of us who live in 'advanced' countries, but they have destabiliized society, have subjected human beings to indignities, have led to widespread psychological suffering (in the Third World to physical suffering as well) and have inflicted severe damage on the natural world." Kerry sympathizes with this view, without outright embracing it. After quoting from the Unabomber's manifesto, Kerry claims, "There is a general sense of displeasure with technology that accompanies its obvious benefits. It is shared by everyone who, saying, " I finally got a human on the line," is rebelling against that sense of cool impersonality that technology has infused into social and commercial relations."

But what might be most terrifying to Freepers considering John F. Kerry becoming Commander in Chief is that he fails to mention Osama bin Laden in his entire examination of the terrorist threat facing our nation.

[votelife]

I highly encourage all Freepers to pick this book up from Amazon.com and read it. It's only 4 bucks.

Comments greatly appreciated!

[votelife]

comments?

[votelife]

comments?

[votelife]

comments?

[votelife]

ping

[votelife]

shameless self bttt

[Bahbah]

"Yasser Arafat's transformation from outlaw to stateman...."

If John Kerry believes that this transformation occurred, he is a very stupid man, and a very dangerous one.

[KarlInOhio]

Yasser Arafat's transformation from outlaw to stateman

Wouldn't be the first time something like that happened. There was that angry young Austrian artist who spent about six months in Landsberg Prison and became a "statesman". Strange, they both have the same opinion about the Jews.

[votelife]

apparently this quote caused quite a stir in the Kerry camp, which he later, as they say in Senate/Kerryspeak, extended and revised.

[BenLurkin]

Who in their right mind would quote the Unabomber on ANYTHING?

[votelife]

or how about this Kerry gem from page 25: Some types of terrorists are, of course, fairly pure. The Unabomber was not out for personal gain; he only wanted to make his point, feel his power, take his pleasure."

Unbelievable.

[votelife]

ping

[atomicpossum]

Kerry's most dangerous characteristic is the 'internationalism' he inherited from his father. He seeks power in US government, yet is dedicated more to subordinating US interests to international ones, to equivalence of different forms of government (US democracy being no better), and of disdain for the concept of the US as a special nation. As a president, he would be too willing to compromise to foreign interests, blunt US power, and represent, in effect, those around the world who envy US successes and wish to impede the US rather than enable their own successes.

[Arrowhead1952]

Kerry recognizes the threat: "The greater danger remains the illicit sale of nuclear materials and expertise to outlaw states like North Korea, and, especially Iraq, which has any number of perceived enemies and real grievences."

What is truly scary for the reader of this book, is not the lenghtly, sludging pace of the tome, but rather that it takes the view that terrorism is a criminal matter, not a matter of war.

But what might be most terrifying to Freepers considering John F. Kerry becoming Commander in Chief is that he fails to mention Osama bin Laden in his entire examination of the terrorist threat facing our nation.

---

Looks like F'ing may have some explaining to do. If he still thinks terrorism is a law enforcement issue, he is badly fooled. Let him try to get bin laden to surrender.

[votelife]

you say that very well. I understand it, but it's hard to articulate it. Good summary of Kerry's foreing policy views.

[votelife]

ping

[jveritas]

Great analysis.

[votelife]

thank you. Kerry doesn't like people to know what his views are. FR (and by extension the people and the media) need to be told.

[Graymatter]

Better you find out from your local librarian if they have a copy or can borrow one from another library for you. Then donate the $4 to the library.

Here in PA we have an inter-library loan system, you can request a book and the library will find it at another library and loan it to you at no charge. Meanwhile govt cutbacks have forced the local library to close on Saturdays. :(

Kerry and his publisher don't need the money, but I bet your library does.

[Congressman Billybob]

Read your review, and all the comments on the thread. Spot on. More evidence, if any be needed, that Kerry is a geopolitical moron who should not get near the White House without a visitor's pass.

John / Billybob