Neo-Conned! Again Read online

  WHAT THE EXPERTS ARE SAYING …

  ABOUT NEOCONNED AGAIN

  “Deconstructs the war on Iraq as part of the neocon blueprint for consolidating the American Empire.”

  —Marjorie Cohn, J.D.

  Professor at Thomas Jefferson School of Law; Executive

  Vice President of the National Lawyers Guild; and U.S.

  representative to the executive committee of the American

  Association of Jurists

  “Much more than just a critique of the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq, this volume effectively dissects broad aspects of U.S. foreign policy – both of the current Bush Administration and those administrations that preceded it. Contributions by academics and political figures, by former military and other U.S. security personnel and others document the increasingly imperial thrust of U.S. policy and the corrupting influence of that policy from Abu Ghraib in Iraq to the corruption of the media. The overall message of the book, however, goes beyond a concern about U.S. foreign and security policy. It also raises the fundamental question of the possibility of maintaining democratic institutions in the United States itself in the face of the lying, misrepresenting, and fear-mongering that has characterized U.S. policy.”

  —Roger E. Kanet, Ph.D.

  Professor of Political Science and Political Developments in

  Central & Eastern Europe, University of Miami

  “In the wake of re-election the Bush administration is busy rewriting history to suggest that any problems connected with the Iraq war are unavoidable by-products of U.S. willingness to employ its limited resources in the service of freeing an oppressed people and ridding the world of terrorism. The publication of Neo-CONNED! and Neo-CONNED! Again is perfectly timed to arrest this attempt to transform moral blindness and strategic incompetence into a fable of excessive self-sacrifice. This remarkable two-volume collection of essays and interviews provides the most comprehensive coverage of the war and its aftermath available anywhere. These books make it abidingly clear that divorcing power from accountability is an invitation to tragedy.”

  —George W. Downs, Ph.D.

  Dean of Social Science and Professor of Politics, New York

  University

  “Neo-CONNED! Again has appeared not a moment too soon. The Bush administration has become ever bolder in its efforts to invent a depraved and hostile world that needs liberation. It succeeds in its deceptions and cover-ups to the American people about the war in Iraq because contrary voices are silent, intimidated, or out-shouted. The superb essays in Neo-CONNED! Again by a stellar cast of scholars and policy intellectuals can help turn the tide against the Bush administration's crusade to help make the world safe for freedom.”

  —Lloyd Rudolph, Ph.D.

  Professor of Political Science Emeritus, University of Chicago

  “Neo-CONNED! Again contains many arguments against the war in Iraq, including that it has caused needless suffering and that it has worsened, not reduced, threats to U.S. and international security. Contributors include theologians, reporters, lawyers, military and intelligence personnel, and diplomats. Their aim is to frighten us awake, and they succeed.”

  —Jessica Stern, Ph.D.

  John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard

  University; Lecturer in Public Policy with the Belfer Center

  for Science and International Affairs; and author of Terror in

  the Name of God

  “The contrast between the richness and depth of these discussions and the coverage given to the Iraq war debate in our leading national media is especially striking.”

  —Hayward R. Alker, Ph.D.

  John A. McCone Professor of International Relations,

  University of Southern California

  “Neo-CONNED! Again is an important collection of articles converging from all over the political spectrum. Collectively they make a powerful case that neoconservative delusions of world domination are bad for Iraq, bad for Israel, bad for peace and prosperity, bad for our secular ideals and institutions, bad for the basic spiritual principles of love and justice, and therefore bad for America. It is particularly effective in undermining the immoral arguments they and their supporters have made justifying our violent and deadly intrusion into the lives of so many who have never done anything to harm us.”

  —Gus diZerega, Ph.D.

  Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Government,

  St. Lawrence University

  “Thank goodness somebody has the courage to publish such a collection of intelligent and truly patriotic condemnations of the insanity of the United States' criminal onslaught against Iraq. From the criminality of the onslaught itself, may as many minds as possible be further opened to the wickedness of the global plan behind it: the agents of the Antichrist are instrumentalizing the United States of America!”

  —Richard Williamson

  Catholic Bishop and Director, Seminario Nuestra Señora,

  Corredentora, Argentina

  “Neo-CONNED! Again looks behind the mask of lies and propaganda to reveal to Americans a clearer picture of what has truly gone on in befuddled and invasive Iraqi wars.”

  —Mgr. Raymond Ruscitto

  Catholic Priest, Kingsburg, CA

  “These two volumes, this compendium, is of enormous value, indispensable. No Catholic school, college or university library should be without it, nor anyone engaged in teaching the traditional Catholic faith and its doctrines on justice and peace. They bring together sound theology and trustworthy observation of fact from many sources not usually found in Catholic publications, like Naomi Klein, Robert Fisk, Noam Chomsky, and Michael Ratner. When the Catholic Church in the U.S. catches up with the worldwide Church, Light in the Darkness Publications will deserve an important share of the credit.”

  —Tom Cornell

  Editor, The Catholic Worker

  “An incisive series of critical interventions into the dreadfully misguided conflict in Iraq.”

  —Simon Critchley, Ph.D.

  Professor of Philosophy, Department of the Graduate Faculty,

  New School Universiity

  “In the two volumes of Neo-CONNED!, editors Sharpe and O'Huallachain have pulled off a tour de force: they have brought together a dazzling compilation of essays and essayists in which the whole is actually greater than the sum of the parts. The first volume, Just War Principles: A Condemnation of War in Iraq, provides a thoughtful assessment of the U.S. invasion of Iraq by eminent scholars and practitioners of religion, philosophy, and ethics. With authors drawn from all parts of the political map, this volume explores the 'just war' tradition and its interpretation and application in the case of Iraq. The second volume, Hypocrisy, Lawlessness, and the Rape of Iraq, looks at the war in Iraq from myriad political viewpoints, including but not limited to the clash between modern international law and outdated policies of empire, the role of economics, the military campaign, the intelligence failures, and the question of how to meet the new danger of terrorism. Combined, the two volumes provide food for the mind, the heart, the soul, and the day-to-day political activity of any responsible citizen. A must-read for just about everyone – educators and academics, journalists and political wonks, and people of faith.”

  —Randall Caroline Forsberg, Ph.D.

  Director, Institute for Defense and Disarmament Studies

  (idds.org), specialist on alternative security policies, former

  adviser to Presidents Bush (41) and Clinton, and co-founder

  of the Nuclear Weapon Freeze Campaign

  “This fascinating two-volume work presents a comprehensive, highly informative critique of the background and motivation of the U.S.-sponsored war on Iraq. The coverage is broad, ranging f
rom detailed refutation of the administration's rationale for war, to evaluation of the war from a just war perspective, to reactions from military participants and intelligence specialists, and to an evaluation of the influence of Leo Strauss, eminence grise of the neoconservatives. Future historians will frequently consult this important book; thinking Americans should read it now.”

  —Ambassador Jonathan Dean (ret.)

  Former Ambassador heading U.S. Delegation to NATO

  Warsaw Pact Negotiations on Mutual and Balanced Force

  Reductions; and adviser on International Security Issues,

  Union of Concerned Scientists

  “The war in Iraq was a very unnecessary war falsely sold to the American people by a small minority called neoconservatives, who really are not conservative at all. This war has led to massive foreign aid, contributed to huge deficit spending, placed almost the entire burden of enforcing UN resolutions on our taxpayers and military, and has greatly expanded federal power. Worst of all, it has caused death or very serious injury to thousands of young Americans. These books hopefully will be read by many thousands and play an important role in helping make sure that our nation is never again so eager to go to war.”

  —John Duncan

  U.S. Congressman (R-Tenn., 2nd district)

  “Neo-CONNED! and Neo-CONNED! Again are two books that are a must read for anyone that wants to gain a deeper understanding of just what this nation is currently faced with under the leadership of the Bush Administration and its bevy of advisors. Light in the Darkness Publications has brought together a diverse group of some of the nation's best and brightest thinkers, representing just about every political and ideological background one can think of. The end results are two of the best books I have seen disseminating how this nation was neoconned into invading and occupying Iraq. It is the diversity of writers, from Republicans on the right, to liberal Democrats on the left that gives Neo-CONNED! and Neo-CONNED! Again their force and power. Both are essential for any and all who want to gain a better understanding of just what has been done in our names.”

  —Jack Dalton

  Co-editor, Project for the Old American Century

  (www.oldamericancentury.org)

  “Careful study of the essays collected in Neo-CONNED! and Neo-CONNED! Again will deter the phony use of traditional Catholic Social Teaching to excuse modern warmongering.”

  —Kathy Kelly

  Authoress, producer, and Secretary, Voices in the Wilderness

  “Why the war on Iraq is wrong and how we got into it is described from many points of reference in this fascinating, readable and useful collection. One group of contributions, 'The Professionals Speak,' should be read by all interested persons, whether for or against the war. The contribution to this segment from Col. W. Patrick Lang, USA (ret.), is mandatory reading for its convincing evidence of impeachable offenses.”

  —Howard N. Meyer

  Civil rights and peace historian, and author of The World

  Court in Action

  “As a wife and mother, I was one of only two deputies in the Berlusconi government to vote against the deployment of Italian troops to Iraq. The extensive documentation provided in these two volumes, along with the tremendous misery conferred unjustly upon too many Iraqi, Italian and American families since – especially the women and children – confirms daily my belief that my vote was the correct one. Unjust war never leads to freedom and justice, but rather to dead, wounded and orphaned – and huge profits for the weapons industries.”

  —Alessandra Mussolini

  Member of the Italian Parliament (1993-2004) from Naples

  for Alleanza Nazionale; Member of the European Parliament

  (2004) from Central Italy for Alternativa Sociale; and

  member of the European Parliament's Freedom and Justice

  Committee

  “Despite having several Jewish contributors, Noam Chomsky, Immanuel Waller-stein, Jeff Steinberg, and others, these two books will no doubt attract the toxic smear of 'anti-Semitism' – a smear which as Pat Buchanan reminds us, as have many others, is designed to nullify public discourse by smearing and intimidating foes and censuring and blacklisting them and any who publish them. For that very reason, Light in the Darkness Publications is to be commended, as are their contributors, for bearing witness to the grave crimes committed in our name. Americans, particularly those who claim to be Catholic or Christian, who truly claim to love their country owe it to themselves and their children to read these books. If they do so with an open mind, they will be disinclined to align their patriotism and religion with the designs of the neocon establishment.”

  —Anthony S. Fraser

  Editor, Apropos, Scotland

  “I am in total agreement with the contents of Neo-CONNED! and Neo-CONNED! Again. Since 1982 I have been trying to warn people about what goes on behind the scenes in the quest for a New World Order dictatorship. Wherever there is war, the participants are merely pawns acting out their planned part in this programme. I hope and pray that these books will be the instruments, therefore, that will save at least some lives from the slaughter that is coming. At Fatima in 1917, the Mother of God prophesized everything that would happen if people did not turn away from sin – and the countless wars that have taken place since are the result. Let every man and woman who reads these books do whatever is possible so that Good may triumph and Evil be overcome.

  —Deirdre Manifold

  Irish Catholic authoress, lecturer, publisher, and radio

  personality

  “Clarification and de-mystification about Iraq and U.S. foreign policy come together in these two volumes. Whoever reads this collection of papers will get a compelling picture about one of the great tragedies of our time.”

  —Hans von Sponeck

  Former UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq

  “The United States began by creating a new enemy: Islam. Then, they initiated campaigns against both Arabs and Muslims based on the excuse of 'Islamic terror.' They claimed that Islam was at the root of terrorism. They humiliated millions of men and women using the weapons of propaganda, psychological warfare and manipulation. The primary beneficiary, Israel, applauded all this. In the evolution of its foreign policy – and in spite of the opposition expressed by several governments – the United States has benefited greatly from the complicity of what may be conveniently called 'the international community.' Huge numbers of servile news media have carefully hidden from sight all the lies. Today what makes this illegal war even more appalling is to watch the U.S. shamelessly use for its own ends an election held under duress being presented as a step towards democracy. The only possible response is that numerous voices are raised – like those in these volumes – which denounce the cowardice of those who govern us, protest against these crimes, and break the silence. The time has come for people throughout the world, who overwhelmingly opposed this war, to insist that accounts be settled with these criminals and their allies.”

  —Silvia Cattori

  Independent journalist, Switzerland

  “American foreign policy is forced to conform to Zionist pressure-group ideology, which dictates to politicians and policymakers to further Israeli imperialism in the Middle East. Nowhere is this more evident than in the current Iraq war and no better illustration of this ideology is presented than the two volumes, Neo-CONNED! and Neo-CONNED!Again. The Iraq war should be viewed not as a singular event, but as a greater and expansive Israeli-Palestinian crisis. President Bush has the power to end the reign of terror right now if he is willing to break clean from the stranglehold of the Zionist lobby. Politically, it is a hard choice, but ultimately a sensible and realistic one that would bring about true peace and justice in the Middle East.”

  —Brig. Gen James J. David, USANG (ret.)

  Georgia Army National Guard and graduate, U.S. Army's

  Command and General Staff College

  “Truly a unique contribution in intellectual diversity and
critical thinking that gives full meaning to the patriotic tradition. Together the two volumes constitute a direct challenge to the jingoists who seek to monopolize the discourse on violence, in particular war and terrorism. The breadth and depth of the analysis puts its value far beyond the Iraq situation.”

  —Beau Grosscup

  Public speaker on terrorism and author,

  The Newest Explosions in Terrorism

  “These two volumes carry with them both breadth and depth. At the heart of the chapters lies a concern for the justice (or want of it) of wars. I have nowhere come across a finer set of analyses of theories of just war from which scholars and activists might quarry useful material for dealing with war and its old and new weapons in our time. Alongside the central concern there are fine individual studies: Robert Fisk's historical piece on the original putting together of Iraq in the wake of the break-up of the Ottoman Empire offers almost incredible parallels with the present war; Stephen Sniegoski's linking of the neoconservatives, Israel, and 9/11 is carefully chronicled; several chapters take up the issue of Christian Zionism as well as the tensions between conservatives and liberals within the American Catholic Church. Several authors demystify the 'war on terror' construct, and they show that the issue of weapons of mass destruction was dishonestly and carelessly used. Overall, these volumes deal thoroughly with the impact of the neoconservatives on American and global politics but they also provide reflections that transcend those immediate concerns.”

  —James M. O'Connell, Ph.D.

  Professor Emeritus of Peace Studies, University of Bradford,

  England

  “That a Catholic press is publishing this compendium of arguments against the unjust war against Iraq is an indication of the power of the current hegemonic order where too many mainstream presses continue to roll over. With contributions from left and right, religious and secular, military, and civilian, Neo-CONNED! and Neo-CONNED! Again are more than valuable resources, they are valuable weapons for fighting against the neoconservative drive for empire.”

  —Jodi Dean, Ph.D.

  Associate Professor of Political Science, Hobart-William

  Smith Colleges, Geneva, N.Y., and author, Publicity's Secret: