Average customer rating:
- Clearly written by a psychotic refusing to take his medication.
- A kindergarden kid could write better than this moron
- Lunatic Schizophrenic Ravings of a Deranged Conspiracy Fruitcake
- Barry Chamish... loon in a religious suit
- Let Justice Be Served
|
Who Murdered Yitzhak Rabin? 2nd Ed.
Barry Chamish
Manufacturer: Brookline Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Conspiracy Theories
| Current Events
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
International
| Current Events
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Politics
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
Leadership
| Politics
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
Murder & Mayhem
| True Accounts
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
Non-US Legal Systems
| Perspectives on Law
| Law
| Subjects
| Books
Similar Items:
-
The Last Days of Israel
-
Traitors and Carpetbaggers in the Promised Land: A Journal of Israel's Betrayal
ASIN: 1571290818 |
Book Description
Who murdered Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin? Was it a fanatic right-wing loner, or is the truth more sinister?
An amateur film of the assassination, as well as eyewitness testimony, documents that Rabin appeared unhurt from shots fired at the notorious peace rally. The same footage clearly shows a back door of Rabin's empty limousine slammed shut from inside before the Prime Minister was pushed into the vehicle. Who was waiting for him? And what happened during the limousine's abnormally lengthy detour en route to the hospital? The death certificate stated that Rabin was shot in the chest and that his spine was shattered. Why did the doctors later change their stories to fit the official tale, which has Rabin shot in his back at a distance?
Falsehoods are exposed and truth revealed in this tirelessly investigated exposé that proves beyond the shadow of a doubt the existence of shocking treachery that has altered the course of human affairs.
Customer Reviews:
Clearly written by a psychotic refusing to take his medication........2006-08-09
Chamish sees "writing" as a substitute for taking his meds. But no one else should waste a nickle on his lunatic ravings and subliterate "writing".
A kindergarden kid could write better than this moron.......2006-06-25
A kindergarden kid could write better than this moron
Lunatic Schizophrenic Ravings of a Deranged Conspiracy Fruitcake.......2006-04-09
Save your nickle. Chamish belongs in an institution. Not a single sentence in this book is truthful. If Chamish told you the sun were shining, assume that he is lying.
Barry Chamish... loon in a religious suit.......2006-03-22
Who exactly is this Barry Chamish? Is he a gifted historian, or a typical nutjob? Well, to see for yourself, check him out on the web. You will find that good 'ol Barry is one of the head honchos when it comes to the UFO conspiracy that the Antichrist will come back with aliens in UFO's guiding him. No, as others have said, Barry Chamish's book on the Rabin conspiracy (with more holes in it than swiss cheese) is an insult to intelligence.
Let Justice Be Served.......2006-03-22
Israeli author Barry Chamish has served both the Jewish people and the nation of Israel in an invaluable way by seeking justice for Yitzhak Rabin. He has clearly shown, beyond any shadow of a doubt, that the real killers of Yitzhak Rabin remain free and at large, many of them holding political office, and how the official government cover-up is shot through with holes.
Historians will see Mr. Chamish's work as an icebreaker in the Israeli courts of justice, refusing to take no for an answer when a growing number of Israelis are rightly demanding: REOPEN THE RABIN FILE.
http://kemplervideo.blogspot.com
Book Description
A former Chicago cop exposes shocking truths about the abuses of power within the city’s police department in this memoir of violence, drugs, and men with badges. Juarez becomes a police officer because he wants to make a difference in gang-infested neighborhoods; but, as this book reveals, he ends up a corrupt member of the most powerful gang of all—the Chicago police force. Juarez shares the horrific indiscretions he witnessed during his seven years of service, from the sexually predatory officer, X, who routinely stops beautiful women for made-up traffic offenses and flirts with domestic violence victims, to sadistic Locallo, known on the streets as Locoman, who routinely stops gang members and beats them senseless. Working as a narcotics officer, Juarez begins to join his fellow officers in crossing the line between cop and criminal, as he takes advantage of his position and also becomes a participant in a system of racial profiling legitimized by the war on drugs. Ultimately, as Juarez discusses, his conscience gets the better of him and he tries to reform, only to be brought down by his own excesses. From the perspective of an insider, he tells of widespread abuses of power, random acts of brutality, and the code of silence that keeps law enforcers untouchable.
Customer Reviews:
A courageous, sophisticated memoir with the soul of a novel........2006-11-06
Anyone who wants an inside look into the often-disturbing culture of inner-city policing should not hesitate to purchase this book. Mr. Juarez writes candidly and courageously about the problems and conflicts of law enforcement, but he also writes a moving account of his own personal journey. Stories of the author's upbringing in a working class, inner-city Chicago neighborhood are heavily drawn upon as Jaurez comes to analyze and ultimately question the morality of the entire criminal justice system, from the beat cop to the courthouse to the national agenda of the War on Drugs and War on Crime. The power of this book lies in the author's ability to take a sophisticated, broad view of the institutional prejudices of the American criminal justice system while providing deeply personal, and jarringly unfiltered accounts of life on the street.
This book is brutally honest and pulls no punches as it provides specific details of the underhanded practices of crooked cops: framing suspects, violent abuse, violent intimidation, theft, bribery, and vandalism. The book also details what seems like the very routine practice of falsifying reports to cover-up the offenses listed above, justify an unlawful arrest, or to guarantee a conviction. Mr. Juarez takes pains to emphasize that the overwhelming majority of the victims of such crimes are impoverished minorities. He even details how policies are emplemented specifically to avoid targeting middle and upper-class offenders.
Even though the officer exposes what seems to be widespread corruption and an institutional bias against poor minorities, I found it very fair. Juarez in no way exempts himself and provides numerous accounts of his own misdeads and his complicity in not speaking out when confronted with other officers' criminal acts. He also provides many examples of honest, hardworking cops and seems to conclude that the biggest problem facing criminal justice lies less with the individuals that make up the system than with the system itself.
As said in the title of this review, this memoir reads like a page-turing novel. Even given the disturbing details of misdeads and injustice, there were strong elements of an uplifting nature in this memoir as well. The author's own personal journey is inspiring and admirable. If only more of us had the courage to take an honest look at ourselves and the shortcomings of the institutions that surround us, we would find our culture in a better place. One can only hope this book might inspire others to that calling.
the truth is crazier than fiction!!!.......2006-09-16
this book is wild. the author joins the police force and discovers a world of privilege and violence. he often uses these things to his advantage, though he isn't violent and racist like many of the other cops. then he ends up getting fired for a really dumb reason (although he probably should have been fired for not doing his job earlier!)
overall this book shows a police force that keeps down minorities and punishes people for stupid things like smoking pot. also they use force in a completely inappropriate fashion for their own pleasure. the one that sticks out in my mind is when they come across a homeless guy trying to stay dry, and they totally ruin his day for no reason except cruelty. another time, a couple of cops destroy these black guys' nice car just for the hell of it. it's pretty obvious where the likes of NWA got their lyrical inspiration! whether you think the author is immature or not isn't really the issue. by the way he handles his romantic relationships, it's pretty obvious he was immature! but he was also a good guy surrounded by a bunch of jerks who enabled each other in their "brotherhood," much like A STREET GANG. ironic, huh? as for judging the police force, well this book was written a while ago. it's possible things have changed a lot since then. i don't know. these cops certainly aren't the calm, super-rational, protocol-following types you see on the show "cops," that's for sure. there are good and bad people in any profession. there are great cops. of course regardless of what kind of job the police are doing, many laws and societal changes need to take place in america, instead of basically arresting people for being poor and the author addresses that this book is full of drama and interesting stuff. i enjoyed it.
honest hard hitting account.......2005-12-18
I want to thank Mr. Juarez for writing such and honest hard-hitting account of his years as an officer in the Chicago Police Department. You have shown that anyone who puts on the badge must confront not only the bad actors in our society but also the demons
nestled in one's own psyche. This is cautionary tale with a deeply redeeming ending; a must-read for anyone who is considering a career in law enforcement.
An honest look at the individual's contribution to a damaged system........2005-09-23
The storyline itself is enough to make a compelling read: ex-cop lays bare his once-secret past while exposing the prejudices of a flawed justice system. But Juarez's memoir is more than a salacious tell-all. It's an honest accounting of his own role within this system, and shines a desperately needed spotlight on the lack of personal accountability within our civic institutions.
Juarez has been called selfish and jaded by members of his own department for describing in intimate detail the brutal beatings, racially-motivated harrassment, theft and drug use rampant within the Chicago PD. But what these critics fail to acknowledge is that Juarez places these personal experiences against a framework of documented descrimination within the department and without. The juxtaposition of his detailed, in-your-face narrative against these statistics reveals how each of us bears responsibility for the larger status quo.
While the transition between chapters occasionally calls attention to the fact that this is his first book, Juarez's unflinching honesty, vivid descriptions, and educator's insight reveals an American system with real problems that must be addressed. It comes at a time when our country is in dire need of self-reflection, and it offers a fantastic example of how each and every one of us contributes, for better or for worse, to our larger community.
Hard to Believe: A Chicago Cop Actually Tells the Truth.......2005-08-30
This book confirms all the horror stories told in the ghettoes of Chicago about the city's biggest and most brutal gang. This is gang is unlike any other in the city, however, because it works for the prosecution, so its violence is usually deemed legal. It is the CPD.
Juan Antonio Juarez's true narrative of the life of a Chicago cop may shock the middle class. The abuses he describes, however, are well known to any kid on the street in Humboldt Park, Pilsen, ABLA Homes, or any other part of the city where the privileged fear to tread, and the poor are forced to live. When the victims of police misconduct tell their own stories, their accounts are often dismissed because they "lack credibility". By chronicling the abuse of power that he both witnessed, and participated in, while on the force, Juarez has done us all a great service.
I especially appreciate this book because during the same years that Juarez was working for the police department, I was teaching in many of the same hard-hit neighborhoods. Among my students the corrupt and brutal practices of police were so well known and despised, that I recall even some of my Irish-American and Polish-Americans students, whose own fathers were cops, gladly joining a picket line at city hall to denounce the racism inherent in Chicago law enforcement.
I'm personally thankful that Juarez exposes the corrupt practice euphemistically referred to as "the power of the pen." To the Chicago cop this does not mean the art of rhetorical persuasion, but rather systematic falsification of police reports and in order to intimidate and convict anyone who dares to question their actions or who is simply unfortunate enough to get in their way. I applaud this, not only because the police have threaten me for speaking out, but even more so because I have known people who were beaten as badly as Rodney King for merely asserting their own constitutional rights or the rights of their children. Inevitably, the victim was labeled the aggressor and charged with "disorderly conduct" or "mob action" as a cover for police violence. The police sadistically taunted and harassed one woman I knew because she dared to complain when they gunned down her unarmed son and then created a preposterous story to blame the kid for his own death.
Because of my own experiences, Juarez's descriptions of the abuse the cops inflict on the people they are supposedly paid to protect did not surprise me, his account of the vast privileges heaped on the even the rookie beat cop in exchange for favors, however did surprise me. If one were to draw out Juarez's argument to it logical extreme, then the Chicago cops function as the strong arm of a racist and totalitarian political machine.
Book Description
The grim days of Cromwell are past. Freed from the structures of the Protectorate, London seethes with new energy, but many of its citizens have lost their livelihoods. One is Thomas Chaloner, a reluctant spy for the feared Secretary of State, John Thurloe. His erstwhile employer recommends Thomas to Lord Clarendon, but in return demands that Thomas keep him informed of any plot against him. But what Thomas discovers is that Thurloe had sent another ex-employee to White Hall—and he is dead, purportedly murdered by footpads near the Thames. Thomas volunteers to investigate his killing, but instead he is dispatched to the Tower to unearth the gold buried by the last Governor. There, he discovers not treasure, but evidence that, whomever is in power, greed and self-interest are uppermost in men's minds. And that his own life has no value to either side.
Book Description
The grim days of Cromwell are past. Freed from the structures of the Protectorate, London seethes with new energy, but many of its citizens have lost their livelihoods. One is Thomas Chaloner, a reluctant spy for the feared Secretary of State, John Thurloe. His erstwhile employer recommends Thomas to Lord Clarendon, but in return demands that Thomas keep him informed of any plot against him. But what Thomas discovers is that Thurloe had sent another ex-employee to White Hall—and he is dead, purportedly murdered by footpads near the Thames. Thomas volunteers to investigate his killing, but instead he is dispatched to the Tower to unearth the gold buried by the last Governor. There, he discovers not treasure, but evidence that, whomever is in power, greed and self-interest are uppermost in men's minds. And that his own life has no value to either side.
Customer Reviews:
Complex story of intrigue in Restoration England........2007-03-03
This book is set right smack in the middle of Restoration England, a little written understood time in English history. The year of this book is 1662. This is the first in a brand new espionage series that Ms. Susanna Gregory has begun. I am a long-time reader of the Matthew Barholomew series, and have loved Ms. Gregory's writing for a long time, and was very excited to begin this new series of hers. Thomas Chaloner is a great character, and I look forward to reading more of him. The book is long and quite complex, and it's a bit difficult in places to keep straight, but it will keep you guessing right up to the end. You will find that as you read you will find yourself at times as confused as Thomas is as he tries to stay alive. He does not know who to trust as he he tries to unravel what he thinks are three unrelated mysteries. Ms. Gregory's depiction of of life in England when Bonny Prince Charley (Charles II) is welcomed back to England after the repressive era under Cromwell is spot-on. It is a compelling tale of mystery, intrigue, betrayal and a whole new "nest of vipers". No one does villains like Ms. Gregory. I look forward to reading more of this fascinating era.
A Change of Scenery.......2006-08-02
A change of lead character, a change of century and a change from Cambridge to London. Will it work, is it too much too soon. The reader need have not fears Miss Gregory carries it all off with consummate ease. The book is still beautiful written, the character are strong and soon become like old friends and the author proves that she is as knowledgeable about restoration London as she is about 14th century Cambridge.
England at last has a monarch back on throne, Charles II is ensconced in his Whitehall Palace and the dreary, drab days of Oliver Cromwell are fast fading to a distant memory. The capital is starting to breathe again after the stifling days of the Protectorate. But those difficult days have left their mark on the Londoner's, many have lost their means of employment. One such man Thomas Chaloner has become a spy for John Thurloe, the feared Secretary of State.
Thomas has recently returned from the Low Countries and is in desperate need of employment Thurloe has many enemies at court and recommends Thomas for a post with Lord Clarendon. In return he expects to be kept informed of any plots against himself.
While there Thomas finds out that Thurloe has already sent one of his ex-employees to the court and the man is dead, supposedly by footpads.
Thomas begins to uncover the greed and corruption that is rife among the men of power and soon finds that his own life has little value in the court of Charles.
Gregory's new sleuth just gets better..........2006-03-24
Pseudonymal Susanna Gregory finally takes the step of having a new character and a new setting. However, it is the familiar gripping plots, eloquent style and descriptive powers, taut narrative and fine characterisation that remain. Her Matthew Bartholomew Chronicles are a fine example of the medieval murder mystery and it is fair to say she ranks alongside Ellis Peters at the top of the genre.
So, Thomas Falconer, a.k.a Tom Heyden, disgraced clerk, recently returned from his career in Holland, desperately seeking a reference from the old Parliamentarian power, Thurloe, and finding himself immediately embroiled in a chase through the streets of Restoration London hunting the killers of a delivery boy, Storey and Snow, hired incompetent thugs of Kelyng, a fanatical royalist and hunter of regicides.
Very quickly, Chaloner finds himself serving three masters. The first is Thurloe, the ex-Parliamentarian, with his sister Sarah and brother-in-law Dalton, who asks Chaloner to discover who murdered John Clarke, a spy he had recommended to Chaloner's second master. This is the Lord Chancellor, Lord Clarendon, who also commissions him and his aide, the military man who fears the entire animal kingdom, Evett in another search for the hidden gold of the Tower of London that was placed there by the regicide Barkstead. This brings him into contact with Wade and Robinson who previously had assisted excavations in the Tower. His third master is to be Dalton, employed as a clerk.
Before long Chaloner is embroiled with the Brotherhood. A collective of the Leybourn brothers, his mendacious ex-master, Downing, Livesay (who was blown up), Ingoldsby, Barkstead (the executed regicide) and Hewson (who was murdered by Kelyng's men at the very beginning. Their plan to prevent the extremes of royalist and parliamentarian and the talk of the original seven men who tried to prevent the Restoration leads Chaloner into a murky plot of political intrigue where the phrases praising the son of God and number seven figure prominently.
Thrown into the mix is his personal life as his relationship with Metje, his Dutch lover, causes issues with his landlord, North, his wife Faith and Temperance, his daughter. To this home brew is added the fanatical Preacher Hill who's fire and brimstone faith is causing no end of vandalism to their local church.
In true Gregory style we are taken on a trail that twists and turns alarmingly at time as we are thrown red herring after red herring, ghostly clue after tantalising glimpse of fact until we are thoroughly confused. Only then is Chaloner allowed to locate the keystone to the mystery and a lot of questions resolved themselves rapidly as we uncover not a dastardly plot to kill a restored King, but a tale of terrible familial revenge and hidden treasure. With our shockingly fiery conclusion, Gregory wraps us to a neat end but opens us up to a series that will rival Bartholomew's fourteenth century Cambridge in plot, characterisation, sleuthing prowess and historical craftsmanship. It is no surprise to find in the author's note that all the characters bar our hero are based on real people and the society and politics described very close to the truth. What this isn't is a repeat of the hugely successful Bartholomew series and we can only eagerly look forward to a new sleuth from the pen of an author at the height of her genre.
Book Description
This book raises and answers the question when, why, who, and what is the Conspiracy.
Customer Reviews:
Let the truth be told and read!.......2007-10-04
All of his books are supported by extreme measures that are evidentiary. He is always straightforward and inclined to share his analizations with his people so that they can be more aware of the system and the strategies that are used to destroy African American males. You should read it.
Recommended to Everyone raising boys of color.......2007-07-17
This is my 3rd purchase of this book. I originally purchased the first 3 books (the series) in the early 90's, never read the books, raised a black male during this time and I am so sorry I didn't read it then. My now 28 yr old male-child is wandering thru life not knowing how to get to where he wants to be. I have since read the books!!
I recently purchased the second copy for my son to read and the third copy for my cousin who has 3 boys...13, 16, & 23yrs old. She has done everything for them, thus enabling them to be forever dependent on her.
This book is for everyone raising boys of color and even boys of the underclass. Dr. Kunjufu raises our consciousness to the unequal system created for our children, which sets them up for failure and to be non-productive citizens. His insight into the various methods used in this conspiratorial system will make you say "Ahhh" and raise your eyebrows, because we have seen these methods in action and without knowing it, have become co-conspirators in the implementation process.
As well, many of us are single mothers (like I was) with no idea on dealing with or raising male children. I didn't have brothers, nor male cousins my age, and no father. I was at a disadvantage with my son. Dr. Kunjufu outlines the behaviors we should tap into with our boys and how to foster for their wholistic growth. He discusses boundaries and expectations which are distant or unclear subjects for many of us, but so vital for our children's development.
If we want to do anything......something RIGHT NOW to help guide our boys (and girls) to be positive, productive citizens, Dr. Kunjufu's books are a must in your library. However, do read them when purchased or shortly thereafter!!!!
A Must Read.......2007-05-21
I bought this book about a year ago and it is very relevant to what is going on with our black boys today. Our black boys are falling behind and it is all around us. I enjoyed reading this book and hope that we can take a turn in the right direction for not only black boys but the black family in general.
Bottom line Black men need to spend more time with Black boys!.......2007-05-13
The book states that a woman can not raise a man. Of course she can love him , nurture him and bring him into adulthood. He will be an adult male, but he will not have the qualities of a man. There are significant moments between men and boys that help shape the boy into a man. A woman does not have these moments. Someone asked me why are these men leaving their children behind and my answer to them was that no man showed them how to be responsible for their children. These adults males were raised by women. The book makes this point clear with countless examples and studies. The man does not need to be the parent. He may be an older brother, cousin, neighbor, etc. Men have a responsibility to boys and they must commit to its fulfillment.
Required Reading!.......2006-07-30
I've read the complete series. The "Countering the Conspiracy to Destroy Black Boys" series is REQUIRED reading for all parents of African-American children. The information contained within this series is priceless. I was especially impressed when Dr. Kunjufu talked about parents who need advocates to help them navigate through public school systems, as they relate to SPECIAL EDUCATION and their children! Parents, arm yourselves. Buy the entire series. Read the entire series. And, be enlightened by this highly annointed and practical body of work!
Average customer rating:
|
Assault on the Left: The FBI and the Sixties Antiwar Movement
James Kirkpatrick Davis
Manufacturer: Praeger Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
1945 - Present
| 20th Century
| United States
| Americas
| History
| Subjects
| Books
1960s
| 20th Century
| United States
| Americas
| History
| Subjects
| Books
General
| 20th Century
| United States
| Americas
| History
| Subjects
| Books
Vietnam War
| Military
| History
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Vietnam
| Asia
| History
| Subjects
| Books
Southeast Asia
| Asia
| History
| Subjects
| Books
Conspiracy Theories
| Current Events
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Politics
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
Radical Thought
| Ideologies
| Politics
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
Activism
| Politics
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Political Science
| Social Sciences
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
Socialism
| Political Doctrines
| Political Science
| Social Sciences
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
Human Rights
| Constitutional Law
| Law
| Subjects
| Books
All Amazon Upgrade
| Amazon Upgrade
| Stores
| Books
History
| Amazon Upgrade
| Stores
| Books
Law
| Amazon Upgrade
| Stores
| Books
Nonfiction
| Amazon Upgrade
| Stores
| Books
All Titles
| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
| Stores
| Books
ASIN: 0275954552 |
Book Description
The New Left was founded in 1962, and as a social and political protest movement, it captured the attention of the nation in the Sixties. By 1968, the New Left was marching in unison with hundreds of political action groups to achieve one goal--the end of the war in Vietnam. Under J. Edgar Hoover's direction, the FBI went from an intelligence collection agency during WWII, to an organization that tried to undermine protest movements like the New Left. Hoover viewed the New Left as a threat to the American way of life, so in an enormous effort of questionable legality, the FBI implemented some 285 counter-intelligence (COINTELPRO) actions against the New Left. The purpose of COINTELPRO was to "infiltrate, disrupt, and otherwise neutralize" the entire movement. In truth, the FBI intended to wage war on the antiwar movement. In this real-life spy story--J. Edgar Hoover and his G-Men, wiretaps, burglaries, misinformation campaigns, informants, and plants--Davis offers a glimpse into the endlessly fascinating world of the Sixties. Kent State, Columbia University, Vietnam Moratorium Day, the 1968 Democratic National Convention, the Cambodian invasion and March Against Death are all examined in this riveting account of the longest youth protest movement in American history. This is the only book devoted entirely to the New Left COINTELPRO, and the first one written after the declassification of more than 6,000 counterintelligence documents that reveal the true nature and extent of the FBI's Assault on the Left.
Book Description
The cost of a bullet can be as little as eight cents. Assassination has long been more common than anyone (particularly anyone in government) likes to admit—it is the great-untold secret at the heart of the nation-state. As President George W. Bush continues to introduce Hollywood cowboy terminology like “dead or alive” and “bring it on” into our international political discourse, we are entering a new era of assassination where the “eight-cent option” has been given a new and disquieting legitimacy.
Belfield’ s darkly fascinating exposé of the business, its hired killers, and their paymasters, includes excerpts from CIA, Al-Qaeda, and Soviet assassination manuals. Placing the most important hits of our time in their proper historical context and examining the business from a remarkably objective yet honest standpoint, Belfield shows how assassinations, while posited by governments and the United Nations as random, isolated acts of violence, are in fact quietly sanctioned examples of ruthlessly strategic statecraft. He offers an eye-opening account of how Kennedy made the Vietnam War inevitable by the elimination of President Diem; and clear evidence of assassinations where the official version simply is not true, including those of Bobby Kennedy, Yitzhak Rabin, and WPC Yvonne Fletcher.
Customer Reviews:
American Ostrichs.......2006-01-31
This author, Richard Belfield, stepped on a few toes with this book, and as is always the case, an ostrich will cry out when someone tries to pull his/her head out of the sand.
Official documents from the U.S. government, formerly classified as Top Secret and Eyes Only for the President, were recently declassified, thanks to the Freedom of Information Act (http://foia.fbi.gov/). These documents indicate that between October 1960 and April 1961, in Cuba alone, the CIA introduced 75 tons of explosives in 30 secret aerial missions, and 45 tons of weapons and explosives in 31 Marine infiltrations. These materials were used to perpetrate 310 attacks with bombs, derail 6 trains, and set fire to 150 factories and 800 plantations. Between 1959 and 2003, more than 800 terrorist attacks were performed, including 78 bombings against civil populations and 61 airplanes hijacked. (Now you know why the U.S. government was not too keen on putting air marshals on planes. They would have been killing our own CIA agents.) These documents also linked CIA agent and Cuban exile, Luis Posada Carriles, with many terrorist attacks, including the bombing of a Cuban airliner in 1976 that killed 73 people. As for biological aggressions, the African Swine Fever Virus was introduced, forcing the sacrifice of half a million pigs. During the "Reagan and Bush Sr. administrations", the dengue hemorrhagic fever was introduced, affecting about 344,203 persons, with the record case of 11,400 who fell ill in a single day-July 6, 1981.
What nonsense!.......2005-07-18
I am the author of this book. There is not a single conspiracy theory in it. It is meticulously researched and heavily footnoted.
It is actually the case that after a serious of botched assassinations, the KGB were well out of the business by 1980. Don't just take my word for it. It is a matter of historical record. This is also the view of Professor Christopher Andrew of Cambridge University, England, who has written extensively on the subject and is the world authority in this area.
Your anonymous reviewer cites the case of the attempted assassination of the Pope. The facts are these: after a lengthy trial, the accused (who were Bulgarians not Russians) were all acquited as there was no evidence against them. I produced a TV show when we asked Clare Sterling what evidence she had against them. She admitted - on camera - that it was just a "hypothesis", which sounds like a conspiracy theory to me. There is a ton of evidence that she was a CIA propagandist. She is obviously a bit of a heroine to your reviewer but she is a genuine conspiracy theorist. When asked what had happened after they were acquitted, she replied that the very absence of evidence proved that the Russians had done it!
I then detail how the KGB got back in to the business, assassinating Dudayev, the Chechyn leader. So much for political bias!
As a matter of record, I do not implicate the CIA in the assassination of JFK. I make the point that he was a serious advocate of the use of assassination in foreign policy, that this is highly contagious and that the Agency was just one of a long line of people accused. I also make the point that though they plotted to kill him, it does not mean they actually did it.
As for Kennedy/Lumumba, the context here is the use of the word "removal" for assassination. The point is that the Kennedy brothers used it and that it was in widespread use in Washington in the two years before Kennedy became President. I might add that it is also clear from the Church Committee Report, which investigated this, that Kennedy was speaking to the CIA telling them to set up an assassination capability long before he formally took office. A meeting took place at Agency headquarters a week after his Inauguration Speech to establish an "executive action" capability. It was the third meeting of this informal committee.
As for his point about the use of the phrase Soviet Union. Well I could have used the correct title of Commonwealth of Independent States, but quite frankly I don't think many people would know what I was talking about. Calling them Russians is not accurate either. Similarly, I use the title MI6 for the British Intelligence Service even though their correct name is SIS. There are times when understanding is more important.
one sided, sensationalistic, and anecdotal.......2005-07-06
I don't know why I expected more from this book, but it's really not much more than a rehash of existing conspiracy theories. I had hoped he might try to pull together the common threads of all 20th century political murders, and perhaps develop a theoretical approach to the issue of assassination, but he doesn't really do this. He is much more interested in making sensational claims for which there is little evidence.
I was quite amused by the author's one-sided view of the assassination business. In his view, the Soviets tried to pull some incompetent assassinations in the 1950s, but then they pretty much got out of the assassination business after that. He ridicules Claire Sterling's theory that the Soviets were behind international terrorism and assassinations in the 1970s and 1980s (according to him, she was a "CIA propagandist" who fed the world "a steady diet of Cold War nonsense of plots and conspiracies"). But when it comes to American, British, and Israeli assassination plots, his standard of evidence is very different indeed. No dismissive talk of nonsense conspiracy theories there, no sir. In fact, he bends over backwards to connect the CIA or MI5 to every possible political murder and assassination attempt, including Sadat, Princess Diana, Pope John Paul II, the bombing of the La Belle disco, police constable Yvonne Fletcher, Mountbatten, plus of course the usual "biggies" (JFK, RFK, Martin Luther King Jr). So, the author has never met a CIA conspiracy theory he doesn't like, but the Soviets, Cubans, and other left-wing regimes are more or less completely blameless. Get the picture?
It's very difficult to share the author's outrage that the Special Air Service killed some IRA terrorists in Gibraltar in 1988. He spins a theory that MI5 somehow set up the SAS to do the deed... but who cares? The IRA guys might not have been holding guns at the time they were shot, but they were dirty and they deserved what they got. Similarly, I can't share the author's indignation that the US is in the "public assassination business" because it targets al Qaeda leaders with Hellfire missiles. Nor can I agree with the author that this makes the US morally equivalent to the people it is trying to kill.
The book is readable enough, but contains a number of egregious errors that an editor with some historical knowledge should have caught. For example, he talks about the Kennedy brothers "continually kicking" the intelligence community to kill Patrice Lumumba - but Lumumba was killed before JFK took office. He repeatedly refers to Russia in the 1990s as "the Soviet Union". Problems of this sort raise questions about the author's real understanding of his subject.
Customer Reviews:
A complete mess.......2004-04-02
I am only giving this even 2 stars because some of the stories in it are interesting. Enough so that you keep reading the book. But this book contains some of the worst writing I have ever seen. As other posts have mentioned, there are spelling mistakes everywhere. But what is worse is that the book follows no timeline, or formula so stories involving dozens of names of people become a confusing mess. It's pretty much a complete mess and it's hard to believe it got published in this form. To top that off the author seems to think he's the only person on earth who knows anything about bike gangs. His ego is massive. Since the book was written, half of this theories in this book about the future of the gangs have been wrong.
It's time for Yves to go back to school........2003-01-09
I am at a loss to guess how you can be a professional journalist when I managed to find several hundred spelling errors, not to mention your utterly dreadfull grammar. Not only is your book worse than the homework of my students, but it is the most boring thing since Moby Dick.
P.S. I use your books to show my students how NOT to write.
Questionable.......2001-07-03
How does Yves LaVigne know the exact weight of bombs that had gone off??
Highly Informative But Sometimes Tedious.......2001-03-27
A very thorough investigation into the bikers, the police, and the public. This book is something of a big deal up here in Canada because the upper rungs of the RCMP were embarassed by it revealing their sometimes reprehensible strategies. The RCMP brass reacted by coming down hard on the officer who leaked the information to LaVigne. Really a sad story because the officer is highly decorated and leaked the information only because he was fed up with being stifled in his pursuit of the bikers. Of course the main focus of the book is the bikers. It certainly shows illegal biker gang members for what they are; career criminals who will do anything for more money and power.
On the down side the book can be tedious. It largly consists of a frank description of events. More of an attempt should have been made to identify the important people and tell their specific stories throught the book. Instead what we tend to get is a constant stream of seemingly unrelated events.
Another sloppy piece of work.......2000-12-07
Here again LaVigne takes on the Hells Angels, and as with his other works the author's bias shines as bright and clear as the sun. In describing the recent war between Scandinavian chapters of Hells Angels and the Bandidos, and other conflicts between the clubs, he portrays the Hells Angels as cunning, calculating and devious adversaries to police, the civilian population at large, and other motorcycle clubs; but he downplays the Bandidos' role in the violence. Not surprising, considering how proud he seems to be to have had his picture taken with national officers, including the national president, of the Bandido Nation at Sturgis. Many times the author's writing style relies heavily on what seems to be quotes from newspaper stories covering various biker conflicts, which, in itself, becomes very tedious. LaVigne's journalistic ego never seems tire in telling the reader how he's traveled to this and that country as an expert in "motorcycle gang" politics and tactics advising various governments and police departments on how to handle this "problem." He also is quite proud of his theory that the Hells Angels all along have planned to and will absorb the Bandidos MC; how the Hells Angels bitter enemies in Canada, the Rock Machine Motorcycle Club will never become Bandidos; predicting this will all come to pass; etc. He continually states this WILL happen. Well, for all of LaVigne's "expertise," he is wrong: The Rock Machine just became a probationary part of the Bandido Nation, and it's now just a matter of time before they are fully accepted into the fold. This, and other misinformation, is indeed is a reflection of the author's inadequacy in the field of journalism. His hatred of the Hells Angels Motorcycle club clouds any sense of objective reporting on the subject.
Book Description
In a Colorado ski resort town, two doctors die under mysterious circumstances, while their deaths are reported as little more than a “tragic accident.” However, a local police detective named Scotty Corrigan is suspicious of the deaths. During his investigation, he contacts Mark Adams, a doctor in a resort town in Utah for help in the case. Unbeknownst to the police officer, Adams begins to do an informal investigation of the deaths on his own and discovers something more frightening than anything he has ever encountered before. Suddenly, he is propelled into a world where there is no distinction between right and wrong, good and bad, and where power and wealth determine everything—the world of corporate health care, where the bottom line is the dollar. He frantically turns to the only person he knows. When his information lands in the wrong hands in Washington D.C., a race begins between the pursuit of truth and justice—and his very own life.
Customer Reviews:
Hopkins is no author.......2007-04-11
Although the idea which the story is based is good, this book was extremely poorly written and should not have been published. Hopkins is no author
Paging Oprah's Book Club and Matt Damon!.......2004-07-31
This book is an outstanding adventure and suspense novel! When my neighbor from down the street, who authored this book, first told me about it, I had no idea what a page-turner this is! Oh my goodness! The truth is, they will no longer be our neighbors, starting next month, for he has now closed his medical practice in Park City, Utah, and they will be moving out of state. After reading the book, I wondered if they were going to have to go into the witness protection program! However, as he will be the first to tell you, although his life was threatened, the book is not meant to be a documentary. Parts are based on fact, but a generous portion is a product of his imagination. It is designed not only to entertain but to educate the public about, at least in his experience, just how much the business of providing medical care has changed---and not for the better, in his opinion, in terms of quality patient care. It's a novel, but like the song says, a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.
But be forewarned---it's an addictive page turner---with numerous plot twists. It begins with the deaths of two orthopaedic doctors from small resort towns who don't even know each other, but who have been caught in the same avalanche while attending a convention in Vail--which is later determined to have been deliberately set by someone. Who would do this, how, and why? And what about a series of other orthopaedic doctors who were victims of unusual --and fatal accidents? When Dr. Mark Adams of Park City, Utah is consulted by the Vail Police, he decides to look into the matters himself. In doing so, he unwittingly becomes part of a chain of events which mark him as a target. Will he survive? Read the book---and tell your friends about it too!
Oprah--this should beone of your Book Club selections--and Matt Damon--the role of Dr. Mark Adams would fit you to a tee! I can just see Christopher Walken in the role of the professional assassin. That's right, assassin. J Lo would be perfect for the character of the doctor's wife, who in real life is a real sweetheart who is also beautiful and Hispanic.
a fast moving, attention grabbing plot.......2004-07-27
Corporate America enters the medical field. Rather, Capitalism runs the medical field. In a profession that should be ruled by compassion and medical care, the practice has turned into a purely moneymaking scheme for some. And it is a deadly game of competition for money. Based on real life events, Mark Hopkins has written a book that is a real eye opener for every American.
An assassin is hired to kill two orthopedic surgeons at a conference in Vail Colorado. They die in an avalanche and it is initially chalked up to accidental circumstance. The local police don't get all that much to do most of the time and one officer, a former homicide detective from Chicago, has plenty of time to look into the recent deaths. Something just doesn't seem right. At the same time, Dr. Mark Adams is doing some investigating of his own. The two doctors that had died held the same beliefs as he, that corporate holdings should have nothing to do with medicine. He uncovers some very interesting information regarding a monster parent company that is making progress at taking over the entire medical practice of the country.
It seems that doctors who do not want to join the parent company are being killed off one by one in seemingly accidental tragedies. Mark sends an email off and eventually it comes to the attention of the FBI, CIA and the President. Can the truth be uncovered in time? Can someone put a stop to the insane empire that is being built of the basic needs of people for health care?
In a fast moving, attention grabbing plot, "Hospital Privileges" tells a story that every American needs to read in a way that is entertaining and thought provoking. A handful of typos and misprints do not detract from the author's good writing, though there are instances where the characters suddenly know facts without the reader being witness to the thought process of the situation. These are not major distractions and can be overlooked since the overall plot and conveyance of the story is well performed. I applaud Mark Hopkins, M.D. in his endeavor to provide a good read, and relay some disturbingly true events.
Review by Heather Froeschl of BookReview.com.
Book Description
The shootings in Pleasant Valley were fifty miles away, but at Central High a grief and crisis counselor is hired, security is increased, and privileges are being taken away.
No one knows why.
If you break the new rules the punishment is severe. And the rules keep changing every day.
School feels like a prison.
It's for their protection, yet fifteen-year-old Tom Bishop and his friends learn that things are far more sinister than they seem. Students and teachers begin disappearing.
There's no way to stop it.
Nationally best-selling and acclaimed author Francine Prose has written a haunting novel about what happens when protection goes too far and what it means to have freedom extinguished -- in the name of safety.
Customer Reviews:
"WHEN THE RULES CHANGE, WATCH FREEDOMS OOZE OUT THE CRACKS*.......2007-07-08
Better to live one's years in the pages of a young adult novel than to feel compression repeatedly build in the chest - - "after" being backed into a corner with the loss of inalienable rights to threatening authority.
The students of Central High (time unknown; place identified only as west of Boston) experience a menacing domino effect of toppled privileges in "AFTER" - the first Y.A. novel by Francine Prose. A student massacre has taken place fifty miles away and beefed-up security is accompanied by increasing tensions. The Smart Jocks Tom, Brian, Avery, Silas, & the most admired girl Stephanie and Teachers' Pet Becca react in different ways as one after another, rules change. "After" the imported grief counselor, Dr. Willner, puts his claustrophobic regime in place, the guys struggle to avoid anything that might land them on what appears to be a dead-end path to "impulse control" or an "adjustment facility" among other chilling possibilities. Previously the jocks had been concerned mostly with cultivating "the appearance of having a bad attitude".
Dr. Willner is drawn as a scary character who supplants the h.s. principal (picture a V.P. Cheney-type with eyes emanating death rays). Teachers and staff are not immune to his insidious threats or wild eyes, either. Reviewer mcHaiku, an elderly stoic, is easily persuaded that techno-watchdogs might be watching, and who could doubt the power of listening devices? Francine Prose, an acclaimed writer, is said to "put every word on trial for its life" [ASIN:0060777052 Reading Like a Writer: A Guide for People Who Love Books and for Those Who Want to Write Them (P.S.)]. Her cool eye and deliberate use of sparse language & use of exaggeration persuades readers, reluctant or not, paranoid or not, to continue reading this tale.
So what results from this stirred pot? We, too, watch freedoms ooze from cracks, and must do some thinking, whatever our ages, about how we need to stiffen our spines & exercise our communication skills in a continuous effort to protect what's left - - or we will be looking for an escape hatch, too. Thank you, Francine Prose. I'm sure you are much more interested in reviews coming from young people, but everyone needs a dose of provocative stories to remind them of that "ooze".
best book ever.......2007-06-06
The end is near.... Soon all schools will gradually get rid of all of their students and close the doors forever. I'm James Griffin and I read the book After By: Francine Prose.
There is a shooting at a school near Brian, Avery, Silas, And Stephanie everyone is so spooked and afraid that the administration of the school decides to step up security. The school decides that they will have random backpack searches metal detectors. And then all of a sudden students start to rebel and when they get in trouble they end up disappearing. And nobody knows where they are.......
For me the most exiting part of the book was when Brian and Stephanie sneak in the school at night and paint "where is Silas?" (One of the students who disappeared)
So remember. Being too cautious always leads to problems in the future.
I really liked the book and if you like mystery, suspense, and a little drama then you will too.
I loved it!.......2007-04-13
The book "After", by Francine Prose, is a gripping novel about a teenager named Tom, who's life is turned upside down, all because of a school shooting.
In the book, there is a school shooting at Pleasant Valley, about 50 miles from where Tom goes to school. Everyone starts to get paranoid and the school goes into safety mode. The biggest change is the school hired a grief and crises counselor, who didn't exactly make things better. Tom has to face the challenges at school and in his life if he is to stay normal.
One of the things I liked about the book was it had great characters. The story was told through Tom's eyes, and it showed his inner thoughts and feelings. It helped me like the book more and it should help you too. It also had a good story line. I always knew what was going on and I hardly got confused. If you don't like being confused, I would read this book. I also thought it flowed well. There was a clear exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. There wasn't one thing that I thought was left out.
The one thing I didn't care for in the book was the ending. I think it was rushed and I would have liked to have known more.
If you're ever in the library and you want a great book, get "After, and you won't be disappointed.
Great Book!!!.......2006-09-21
I've read this book two times it's great and it really did send chills up my spines everytime this book has the "big brother is watching " feel to it. but the ending was left with to many questions about what happen to Sillas, Avery, Tom, Tom's dad, Clara, Brian, Becca, and Becca's mom and dad. But all in all but this book is worth every penny
After: A Chilling Story.......2006-09-20
At a school fifty miles away called Pleasant Valley High School, three loners shot and killed many students and teachers. Tom, a student that attends Central High School, has his life changed forever on that day. At Tom's school, the rules were very lax; school was easygoing and everyone had a place to fit in. Tom and his friends, Silas, Avery, and Brian were known as the "smart jocks" at their school. What worries Tom is that the shooters killed the best looking, photogenic athletes, and at Central, Tom and his friends are those people. After the school shootings, security becomes a big deal. Overnight, cameras were installed in buses, metal detectors in school, and guards at the front of the school. Everyday, the students must wait in line before school as officials searched every inch of their backpacks. A new guidance counselor that the state of Massachusetts had provided is taking over the school. As the easygoing principal fades into the background, Dr. Willner, the counselor, scares all of the Central High students. Dr. Willner now handles all school issues and threatens students of sending them away. Hundreds of new rules are set in place that no one understands. The rules are being strictly enforced and if not obeyed, students are sent to an "adjustment facility". No one knew where the places were, and no one ever returned. Tom finds his world upside down. The school is brainwashing parents, students are banned from things they always assumed as rights, not privileges and even some of Tom's best friends are taken away. Silas, one of his friends that was taken away, hints to Tom about what is happening all over America. Silas says that the schools are taking over and shipping children to Correction Facilities. Tom also meets a student that attended Pleasant Valley at a basketball game, and he also tells a similar story. Tom knows he must tell his dad about the horrific events happening at Central. When Tom and his dad investigate the scene of Pleasant Valley High School, they find it empty, and as everyone were taken away quickly. Tom knows he must get away or risk being sent away as well.
I liked the book After because it was chillingly realistic. The thought that it could happen makes it a page turner. What makes the book excellent is that it makes you think about how your life is now and how everyone takes things for granted. The story is wonderfully written and keeps you wanting more. Although the book's abrupt ending contributes to its mysterious feel, you find yourself with lots of unanswered questions, almost in need of a sequel. The book isn't a cheery book, but I would definitely recommend this book. After is a book worth reading.
Books:
- Why Are So Many Black Men in Prison?
- Winter of the Ice Wizard (Magic Tree House 32)
- Witness to a Century: Encounters with the Noted, the Notorious, and the Three SOBs
- Women & Money: Owning the Power to Control Your Destiny
- Words of Wisdom: Daily Affirmations of Faith
- Y: The Last Man Vol. 7: Paper Dolls
- A Breath of Snow and Ashes (Outlander)
- A Dangerous Path (Warriors, Book 5)
- A Place of Safety: A Chief Inspector Barnaby Novel (Chief Inspector Barnaby Novels)
- A Savage Place
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- National Geographic Guide to the National Parks of the United States, 5th Ed.
- Hamlet
- Biotechnology for the Environment: Wastewater Treatment and Modeling, Waste Gas Handling
- Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy: Lab Dissection Guide
- Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology
- Human Side of Organizations, The
- Enemy Access Denied: Slam the Door on the Devil With One Simple Decision
- Newport Houses
- Building Type Basics for Housing
- The Damascened Blade
