VIDEO: john perkins author of "confessions of an economic hitman"

[Gato Moteado]

this is a google video, so i couldn't post it in the video forum, but it's a 3 part video that everyone should see.

i haven't read his book yet but it's been recommended to me by so many people i know.

please check it out:

PART 1
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3968544393356669182&q=John+Perkins+and+VFP+National+Convention&hl=en

PART 2
http://video.google.com/url?vidurl=http%3A%2F%2Fvideo.google.com%2Fvideoplay%3Fdocid%3D3848716298990404813%26q%3DJohn%2BPerkins%2Band%2BVFP%2BNational%2BConvention%26hl%3Den&docid=3848716298990404813&ev=v&esrc=gvpl&usg=AL29H21s1hkuiYrkVMapyOscdora4g_pTQ

PART 3
http://video.google.com/url?vidurl=http%3A%2F%2Fvideo.google.com%2Fvideoplay%3Fdocid%3D7969424888680179897%26q%3DJohn%2BPerkins%2Band%2BVFP%2BNational%2BConvention%26hl%3Den&docid=7969424888680179897&ev=v&esrc=gvpl&usg=AL29H20IVofmBJh-N2YPzDTBLclZ09_XHQ

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. did he talk about himself as a shining prince?

His book reads as though the world revolves around him, but only with his permission. Some interesting parts, but . . .

No way could I watch the video after reading his book.
I'd recommend looking for it in a library, and not purchasing it.

[BonnieJW]

2. I heard him on Randi Roads

and he sounded rather regretful about his past life. I'm guessing by your post that his book does not come across in that tone at all.

[welshTerrier2]

3. Perkins' view of Iraq is dead on the money

i read "Confessions of an Economic Hitman". Yeah, the book had some problems; so what. It also gave a very clear insight into exactly how the US has been building its empire. I think Perkins' made a mistake using an almost autobiographical vehicle to explain the complexities of the subterfuge he was involved in. It took a very real and very serious topic and detracted from the main message because Perkins turned it, at least partially, into a Hollywood movie script and a soap opera.

But, nevertheless, his underlying message is devastating. Our government lies and destroys and assassinates and does whatever it wants all for the benefit of multi-national corporate interests. Don't waste time attacking Perkins as the messenger. Focus on the truth his message contains.

Thus far, I've only watched Part I of the three videos linked to in the OP. If you haven't read "Confessions", give Perkins a careful listen. The nonsense I thought his book contained has been stripped away and the raw message is left exposed for all to clearly see. In the first segment of the video, Perkins painted a "no escaping it" picture of exactly why we are in Iraq and exactly what the past relationship between Saddam and the US government had been. It ain't pretty, that's for sure.

If you've heard the term corporatocracy tossed around but were never quite sure exactly how it works or what it means, you'll have a painfully clear picture after watching the video. All the big names are there including Halliburton and Bechtel. Empire is always sold as being for the national benefit and in the interest of the American people. Here's a hint: it's not. This is not about "protecting America's strategic interests"; it's about money and profit and greed for a very, very narrow segment of the US population.

Even now, even among progressive Democrats, we see a buy in that "we can't just leave Iraq because we have STRATEGIC INTERESTS in the region." Someone sure does; unfortunately that someone is not the American people. The pursuit of empire has killed thousands in our military and maimed tens of thousands more. The pursuit of empire has bankrupted our treasury and stripped our critical domestic programs down to the bare bones. The pursuit of empire has made the US an outlaw nation that stomps on global interests like reducing CO2 emissions, waging peace, building alliances, wiping out hunger, reducing nuclear stockpiles and on and on. This is not about "hating America"; this is about hating those who have sold out the values we as Americans believe in.

The corporatocracy has had a stranglehold on our government for far too long. You won't hear your little Democratic candidates spending much time talking about that. Frankly, battling the stranglehold is everything. When you're part of the problem, you're not part of the solution. All the nonsense about primary campaigns fails to address the most central issue: the American people have no control over their own government. Do we need a revolution? We sure do. Can it be done peacefully? I hope so. I'll get back to you on that one.

Thanks to the OP for posting the links to the videos. They're a must see.

k&r ...

[Tellurian]

4. Is there anything new in the videos we haven't heard about

or whats already been discussed up thread?