John Perkins – Confessions of an Economic Hit man – Review

Since the end of WWII, American imperialism has been on a steady and successful march, according to John Perkins, not with guns, soldiers and bombs, but through economic manipulation, political subterfuge and enormous intimidation.

What Perkins calls the "corporatocracy", a closely networked collusion of government, powerful banks and corporations, (MAIN, Bechtel Group, Halliburton, World Bank, WTO, NSA, CIA and The U.S. Department of Treasury) have infiltrated numerous key third world countries, (Colombia, Indonesia, Argentina, Panama and Ecuador) especially targeted for their abundance of natural resources (oil) or their particular military geographical strategic advantage, hoodwinked to accept enormous loans under the guise of vastly improving the country's infrastructure, creating massive debt, thus, the country is forever beholden, economically held hostage by the creditor, (U.S.) and bullied, intimidated to the extent where the few wealthy benefit while the majority of the country's population suffer in poverty.

Perkins was hired by MAIN, with one primary objective, which was to justify to a particular country borrowing billions of dollars for engineering and construction projects that would be eventually funnelled back to MAIN, because the country would not be able to pay back the loan.This made the country an easy target for unusual favours, such as military bases, U.N. votes, oil and natural resources. 

Perkins was known secretly in this trade as an EHM, economic hit man, inflating economic forecasts on huge construction and engineering projects, with the single intent of bankrupting the particular country. 

The man was trained specifically for this task, evidently battling with his conscience for over

thirty years until a few major world events, such as 9/11, caused him to break away completely.

This book certainly reads like a good Robert Ludlum novel. Perkins' first training came from a smart and attractive woman known as "Claudine", meeting secretly at her apartment, and learning the strategies of an EHM, skilfully inflating economic forecasts on projects to foreign government officials, ensuring billion dollar investments, knowing full well that the country would be in debt in a matter of a few years. "Claudine" goes on to say:

"We're paid - well paid - to cheat countries around the globe out of billions of dollars. A large part of your job is to encourage world leaders to become part of a vast network that promotes commercial interests...we can draw on them whenever we desire - to satisfy our political, economic, or military needs." (P.17)

Perkins cites many examples throughout the text, including the Saudi Arabian Money Laundering Affair connecting the United States to a country that give terrorists asylum, yet will continue to keep the money and oil flowing, making the wealthy richer and our gas tanks full. Even more disturbing are the examples of Argentina, the illegal invasion of Panama, and lastly, the invasion of Iraq, where now the Halliburton Corporation (Vice President Cheney once was CEO) has the contract to "rebuild" this war torn country.

This is an honest account from a man whom was threatened and bribed not to write this book, but could not stand his raging conscience after recent terrible world events that could lead to further crisis.

My gut impression, after turning the last page, is that Perkins is not out to become famous, make more money or seek political office, but a man whose conscience required him to tell this story.

This book is both enlightening and terribly disturbing, but a necessary read for all those concerned about the world situation, and where it is possibly leading.