Is America an empire? Certainly not, according to our government. Despite the conquest of two sovereign states in as many years, despite the presence of more than 750 military installations in two thirds of the world’s countries and despite his stated intention "to extend the benefits of freedom...to every corner of the world," George W. Bush maintains that "America has never been an empire." "We don’t seek empires," insists Defense Secretary Rumsfeld. "We’re not imperialistic."Nonsense, says Niall Ferguson. In Colossus he argues that in both military and economic terms America is nothing less than the most powerful empire the world has ever seen. Just like the British Empire a century ago, the United States aspires to globalize free markets, the rule of law, and representative government. In theory it’s a good project, says Ferguson. Yet Americans shy away from the long-term commitments of manpower and money that are indispensable if rogue regimes and failed states really are to be changed for the better. Ours, he argues, is an empire with an attention deficit disorder, imposing ever more unrealistic timescales on its overseas interventions. Worse, it’s an empire in denial—a hyperpower that simply refuses to admit the scale of its global responsibilities. And the negative consequences will be felt at home as well as abroad. In an alarmingly persuasive final chapter Ferguson warns that this chronic myopia also applies to our domestic responsibilities. When overstretch comes, he warns, it will come from within—and it will reveal that more than just the feet of the American colossus is made of clay.Amazon.com Review"The United States today is an empire—but a peculiar kind of empire," writes Niall Ferguson. Despite overwhelming military, economic, and cultural dominance, America has had a difficult time imposing its will on other nations, mostly because the country is uncomfortable with imperialism and thus unable to use this power most effectively and decisively. The origin of this attitude and its persistence is a principal theme of this thought-provoking book, including how domestic politics affects foreign policy, whether it is politicians worried about the next election or citizens who "like Social Security more than national security." Ferguson, a British historian, has no objection to an American empire, as long as it is a liberal one actively underwriting the free exchange of goods, labor, and capital. Further, he writes that "empire is more necessary in the twenty-first century than ever before" as a means to "contain epidemics, depose tyrants, end local wars and eradicate terrorist organizations." The sooner America embraces this role and acts on it confidently, the better. Ferguson contrasts this persistent anti-imperialistic urge with the attitude held by the British Empire and suggests that America has much to learn from that model if it is to achieve its stated foreign policy objectives of spreading social freedom, democracy, development, and the free market to the world. He suggests that the U.S. must be willing to send money, civilians, and troops for a sustained period of time to troubled spots if there is to be real change—as in Japan and Germany after World War II--an idea that many American citizens and leaders now find repulsive. Rather than devoting limited resources and striving to get complex jobs done in a rush, Americans must be willing to integrate themselves into a foreign culture until a full Americanization has occurred, he writes. Overall, a trenchant examination of a uniquely American dilemma and its implications for the rest of the world. --Shawn CarkonenFrom Publishers WeeklyCriticism of the U.S. government's imperialist tendencies has become nearly ubiquitous since the invasion of Iraq began nearly a year ago, but Ferguson would like America to embrace its imperial character. Just as in his previous book, Empire, he argued that the British Empire had done much good, he now suggests that "many parts of the world would benefit from a period of American rule," as stability and a lack of corruption that could be brought by liberal imperial government would result in capital investment and growth. Similarly, he says, the British Empire acted as "an engine for the integration of international capital markets." The problems nations like India faced after the British left, he continues, could have been ameliorated if the colonization had been more comprehensive, more securely establishing the types of institutions that foster long-term prosperity. The primary shortcoming of America's approach to empire, Ferguson believes, is that it prefers in-and-out military flourishes to staying in for the long haul. His criticism of Americans as a people who "like social security more than they like national security" and refuse to confront impending economic disaster are withering, but he also has sharp comments for those who imagine a unified Europe rising up to confront America and for the way France tried to block the Iraqi invasion. The erudite and often statistical argument has occasional flashes of wit and may compel liberals to rethink their opposition to intervention, even as it castigates conservatives for their lackluster commitment to nation building. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Views: 18
Named after a goddess who turns her lovers to stone, an insular New England coastal town holds more secrets than it can keep...Torn from her hometown and her father as a child, Paige Waters' last memory of both is fraught with mystery and confusion. Now, sixteen years later, with both her parents gone, Paige returns to Alcina Cove, certain there is more to the painful story than she's been led to believe. The answers must lie within the community, buffered from the larger world by the sea; but when she finds the townspeople more reticent than ever, her only hope is the intriguing man who lives in her childhood home--if she can break down his reserve...A fisherman turned writer, Liam Gray is haunted by secrets of his own, some of which are deeply entangled with the closure Paige seeks. But as he and Paige grow intimate, their attraction building, Liam finds himself torn between truth and betrayal. Whichever he chooses will risk his future with Paige and cause... Views: 18
This is not a 100,000-word, minute-by-minute, blow-by-blow account of the 2011 Tour de France.This is not the story of Cadel Evans.This is not the story of Alberto Contador, Andy Schleck, or Bradley Wiggins.And it's not even the story of Mark Cavendish.(Although he is in it quite a lot.)This is the story of the lesser-known heroes; the Johnny Hoogerlands, the Thomas Voecklers, the hitchhikers, the maniac press drivers, Norbert Dentressangle and the greatest ever Tour de France.I was there. And this is what I saw. That is all.In this 20,000-word digital short, ITV's Ned Boulting, author of How I Won the Yellow Jumper, takes an honest and idiosyncratic look at the unforgettable 2011 Tour de France, when Mark Cavendish won the Green Jersey.probably Views: 18
ATAC BRIEFING FOR AGENTS FRANK AND JOE HARDY MISSION: To find the mastermind behind a possible attack at the Big Air Games. LOCATION: Philadelphia, PA. POTENTIAL VICTIMS: Top extreme athletes in the country. Thousands of spectators. SUSPECTS: There may be a group of extremists working together. There may be just one. Views: 18
Ten years ago, college freshman Eleesha Greene played a sorority game called "Come and Get Me". She was chosen for a night of seduction at the hands of Ross Maclean, the gorgeous quarterback of the college football team. The sex was supposed to be no strings attached, but that night young Eleesha gave more than her body. She gave her heart to the handsome athlete. Ross, his eyes set on the NFL, was not ready for a relationship. He left her the next morning and never looked back. The heartbreak of their parting left Eleesha with nothing but bitter memories of their time together. A decade later she is a vice president of a large communications company that is about to be restructured. A hired consultant is called in to recommend staff cuts. When he turns out to be none other than Ross Maclean, Eleesha goes into a tailspin. A sexual sparring match ensues, fueled by increasing passion. Ross made the biggest mistake of his life ten years ago. To fix it, he is going to play "Come and Get Me" again. And this time he has no intention of letting Eleesha go. Views: 18
General Chuck Horner was the right man in the right place at the right time. Combining a broad experience of all aspects of aerial warfare with a deep respect for and knowledge of Arab culture, Horner commanded the U.S. and allied air assets during Desert Shield and Desert Storm — the forces of a dozen nations — and was responsible for the design and execution of one of the most devastating air campaign in history. Never before has the Gulf air war and its planning, a process filled with controversy and stormy personalities, been revealed in such rich, provocative detail. Beyond that, however, Air Command is the story of two revolutions: of how a service damaged by Vietnam reinvented itself through vision, determination, and brutally hard work — in Horner's words, "We had to learn how to be an Air Force all over again" — and of how war changed fundamentally in the last decade of this century, not only in the new dominance of air power but in all aspects. It is a story of speed, accuracy, efficiency, decentralization, information, and initiative, as well as smoke, fear, courage, and blood. It is a front-row seat to a man, an institution, a war, and a way of war that together make this an instant classic of military history. Views: 18
"Between my fingers and my thumbThe squat pen rests.I'll dig with it."Selected Poems 1966-1987 assembles the groundbreaking work of the first half of Seamus Heaney's extraordinary career. This edition, arranged by the author himself, includes the seminal early poetry that struck readers with the force of revelation and heralded the arrival of an heir to Gerard Manley Hopkins, W. B. Yeats, and Robert Frost. Helen Vendler called Heaney "a poet of the in-between," and the work collected here dwells in the borderlands dividing the ancient and the contemporary, the mythic and the quotidian. Gathering poetry from his first seven collections, Selected Poems 1966-1987 presents the young man from County Derry, Northern Ireland, who "emerged from a hidden, a buried life" in Death of a Naturalist (1966), with his cherished poems "Digging" and "Mid-term Break"; the poet of conscience "as bleak as he is bright" in "Whatever You Say Say Nothing"... Views: 18
In 1964, a young Australian girl, Linda Carr, is trying to track down the wreckage of the Liberator bomber in which her father died when it crashed in North Italy in 1944 during World War Two. She employs the help of Jack Kirby, a British Mosquito fighter pilot who was on operations in the area when her father died. He is now a motorcycle racer competing in the Isle of Man TT, but he is finding it hard to adjust to life during peacetime. He too was shot down during the war and spent some time helping the Italian partisans on the ground so he knows a great deal about Nazi brutality, betrayal, corruption and the settling of scores that was the partisan's life in Italy at the time. He also fell in love with Francesca, one of the partisan leaders, and he is keen to find out what happened to her and renew their affair. However, what they uncover is more dangerous and complex than either Linda or Jack could ever have imagined.About the AuthorRob Ryan was born in Liverpool. He has written for The Face, Arena, Conde Nast Traveller, Esquire and the Sunday Times. He is currently Writer at Large for GQ magazine. He lives in North London with his wife and three children. Views: 18
THE GAME IS ON... She's equally comfortable in silk and heels or khakis and boots -- but it's Raine Ashaway's sheer nerve and gut instinct that have made her a name in the dinosaur hunting world. Her family's famous archaeological firm, Ashaway All, hasn't hurt, either. Until Raine is thrust into a mysterious contest for a priceless opal fossil and the competition seems as intent on destroying her family name as he does beating her to the bones. Raine's not about to let the sexy, deceptive man known as Kincade win this round. But when the game turns deadly, the two rivals might just have to work together or lose everything, including their lives.... Views: 18
From School Library JournalGrade 5-8–Harriet's new neighbor, Annie Smith, has moved to New York City to live with her aunt and uncle. When Harriet befriends her, she discovers that there is more to the girl than meets the eye, including her persona as new classmate Cassandra D'Amore. She also learns that Annie is hiding a lot of secrets. By making her a partner in her spy escapades, Harriet hopes to learn more about this unique person. All she knows is that Annie comes from Boston, is well read, and that she is in love with an older man. Frustrated, Harriet becomes a double agent and spies on her own colleague. She discovers that Annie has been lying about her life, which leads to an explosive climax. The characters lack spark and personality, and the plot is slow and repetitive. Except for the protagonist's familiar name, there's not much to interest readers here.–Amanda Conover Le, St. Johns County Public Library System, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From BooklistGr. 4-7. Harriet the Spy is back, and Gold does a credible job of maintaining the special character and her crusty charm. Still attending a private Manhattan school, Harriet is fascinated with a new student, Annie, who has a zillion marvelous aliases. Harriet's best friend, Sport, has a tongue-tied crush on Annie, and Harriet herself is rather taken with this mysterious girl, who has secrets that Harriet feels compelled to uncover. Annie turns out to be a natural spy, and as she joins Harriet in her efforts to uncover the mystery of the Korean grocer and a Christmas tree lot, Harriet tries to figure out what Annie herself is hiding. Fans of Fitzhugh's books will be pleased by the continuity of character development, but careful readers will miss the slyness of Fitzhugh's wry prose. Still, those meeting Harriet for the first time may be inspired to pick up the earlier titles. For more about the series, see "Reflections on Fiction Spin-offs: Should Harriet Spy Again?" in the December 1, 2002, issue of Booklist. Debbie CartonCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved Views: 18
