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Western Terror: From Potosí to Baghdad
Western Terror is a book of essays and political commentaries by Andre Vltchek that revisits many complex regional conflicts on our planet, including in the United States, Iraq, India, East Timor, Indonesia, and Latin America.
- GenresHistory
304 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2006
64 people want to read
About the author
André Vltchek
30 books40 followersAndré Vltchek (Russian: Андре Влчек, [ɐnˈdrɛ ˈvɫ̩t͡ɕɛk], December 29, 1963 – September 22, 2020) was a Soviet-born American political analyst, journalist, and a filmmaker. Vltchek was born in Leningrad but later became a naturalized U.S. citizen after being granted asylum there in his 20s. He lived in the United States, Chile, Peru, Mexico, Vietnam, Samoa, and Indonesia.
Vltchek covered armed conflicts in Peru, Kashmir, Mexico, Bosnia, Sri Lanka, Congo, India, South Africa, East Timor, Indonesia, Turkey, and the Middle East. He traveled to more than 140 countries, and wrote articles for Der Spiegel, Japanese newspaper The Asahi Shimbun, The Guardian, ABC News and the Czech Republic daily Lidové noviny. From 2004, Vltchek served as a senior fellow at the Oakland Institute.
Commenting on Vltchek's book Oceania, published in 2010, American linguist Noam Chomsky said that it evoked "the reality of the contemporary world" and that "He has also not failed to trace the painful — and particularly for the West, shameful realities to their historical roots".
Vltchek covered armed conflicts in Peru, Kashmir, Mexico, Bosnia, Sri Lanka, Congo, India, South Africa, East Timor, Indonesia, Turkey, and the Middle East. He traveled to more than 140 countries, and wrote articles for Der Spiegel, Japanese newspaper The Asahi Shimbun, The Guardian, ABC News and the Czech Republic daily Lidové noviny. From 2004, Vltchek served as a senior fellow at the Oakland Institute.
Commenting on Vltchek's book Oceania, published in 2010, American linguist Noam Chomsky said that it evoked "the reality of the contemporary world" and that "He has also not failed to trace the painful — and particularly for the West, shameful realities to their historical roots".
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 25, 2014
My main regret is that I'm not able to give this book the review it deserves. Western Terror was published in 2006 by Mainstay Press and I am the first to review it here on goodreads. Vltchek asserts his standing point early:
The rich world has common interests, and pursues them consistently and ruthlessly. The poor world that makes up the overwhelming majority of our planet, has common interests as well, but is effectively prevented from defending them. The United States does the shooting, and the rest of its allies carry, reload and hold the gun. Call it "partnership," "cooperation," or whatever word you choose--the outcome is the same: the world dictatorship is enforced by one group, not by one country.
This sound eerily similar to the forbidden book in 1984. But unlike Winston Smith, Andre Vltchek has traveled far beyond the city walls to report on the far-reaching atrocities that sustain a powerful center. Vltchek is a conscientious journalist who has dedicated his life to destroying the myth of Western benevolence. He does it almost entirely for a Western audience because the rest of the world need to be told about exploitation, they experience it and will most likely be directly murdered by it.
Western Terror is collection of Vltchek's essays written from his travel around the globe to the most affected areas. In his journalistic manner he introduces the people involved, aggressors and victims, and allows them to speak their stories in their own words. Likewise he lets the landscape speak for itself. Whether it is a poverty stricken American small town or a steaming war zone jungle in Thailand, each place tells it's own story. The later part of his chapters transition into an essay form in which Vltchek sews together the bigger picture. And it will all form together into a damning tapestry.
To achieve a permanent peace, we should probably demand that in case we decide to go to war, our elites and their children would lead the soldiers into battle. If they so strongly believe in the causes that we are "defending" all over the world, they should be ready to abandon their mansions and upscale houses, put on the uniforms and go into battle.
...If the "freedom," "democracy," but above all "free" trade, "open" markets and economic dominance are so sacred to our elites, let them fight for it. Let neo-cons and market fundamentalists form their own battalions and platoons. Let them train for the invasions in filthy ditches. Let them "spill their blood" for it. And let them also say: "those who are willing to join are welcome; those who want to leave are welcome to do so as well." If we would succeed in those demands, if participation of the elites in any invasion would become obligatory, it would lead to one and only one result: permanent peace on earth.
Yet for all the fire Vltchek brings, he is largely unheard. He experiences something far worse than censorship, for that implies one is at least heard and considered dangerous, he is ignored. The fact that this book only has 1 rating, which belongs to me, and 0 reviews painfully underlines our ignorance towards writers who expose our 1984 in the name of humanity.
Furthermore Vltchek has a very enjoyable and unique prose tempered by his encounter with numerous cultures. I hope this review attracts some new readers who in turn will bring more until this book gets the viewership it deserves. He is definitely a writer amongst other greats such as Noam Chomsky, Chris Hedges, Ralph Nader, and Gerry Spence.
The rich world has common interests, and pursues them consistently and ruthlessly. The poor world that makes up the overwhelming majority of our planet, has common interests as well, but is effectively prevented from defending them. The United States does the shooting, and the rest of its allies carry, reload and hold the gun. Call it "partnership," "cooperation," or whatever word you choose--the outcome is the same: the world dictatorship is enforced by one group, not by one country.
This sound eerily similar to the forbidden book in 1984. But unlike Winston Smith, Andre Vltchek has traveled far beyond the city walls to report on the far-reaching atrocities that sustain a powerful center. Vltchek is a conscientious journalist who has dedicated his life to destroying the myth of Western benevolence. He does it almost entirely for a Western audience because the rest of the world need to be told about exploitation, they experience it and will most likely be directly murdered by it.
Western Terror is collection of Vltchek's essays written from his travel around the globe to the most affected areas. In his journalistic manner he introduces the people involved, aggressors and victims, and allows them to speak their stories in their own words. Likewise he lets the landscape speak for itself. Whether it is a poverty stricken American small town or a steaming war zone jungle in Thailand, each place tells it's own story. The later part of his chapters transition into an essay form in which Vltchek sews together the bigger picture. And it will all form together into a damning tapestry.
To achieve a permanent peace, we should probably demand that in case we decide to go to war, our elites and their children would lead the soldiers into battle. If they so strongly believe in the causes that we are "defending" all over the world, they should be ready to abandon their mansions and upscale houses, put on the uniforms and go into battle.
...If the "freedom," "democracy," but above all "free" trade, "open" markets and economic dominance are so sacred to our elites, let them fight for it. Let neo-cons and market fundamentalists form their own battalions and platoons. Let them train for the invasions in filthy ditches. Let them "spill their blood" for it. And let them also say: "those who are willing to join are welcome; those who want to leave are welcome to do so as well." If we would succeed in those demands, if participation of the elites in any invasion would become obligatory, it would lead to one and only one result: permanent peace on earth.
Yet for all the fire Vltchek brings, he is largely unheard. He experiences something far worse than censorship, for that implies one is at least heard and considered dangerous, he is ignored. The fact that this book only has 1 rating, which belongs to me, and 0 reviews painfully underlines our ignorance towards writers who expose our 1984 in the name of humanity.
Furthermore Vltchek has a very enjoyable and unique prose tempered by his encounter with numerous cultures. I hope this review attracts some new readers who in turn will bring more until this book gets the viewership it deserves. He is definitely a writer amongst other greats such as Noam Chomsky, Chris Hedges, Ralph Nader, and Gerry Spence.
July 3, 2015
Great book, horrible though in terms of its topic matter being super grim, but it's a necessary read imo
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews