Book Description
An unprecedented account of life in Baghdad’s Green Zone, a walled-off enclave of towering plants, posh villas, and sparkling swimming pools that was the headquarters for the American occupation of Iraq.
The Washington Post’s former Baghdad bureau chief Rajiv Chandrasekaran takes us with him into the Zone: into a bubble, cut off from wartime realities, where the task of reconstructing a devastated nation competed with the distractions of a Little America—a half-dozen bars stocked with cold beer, a disco where women showed up in hot pants, a movie theater that screened shoot-’em-up films, an all-you-could-eat buffet piled high with pork, a shopping mall that sold pornographic movies, a parking lot filled with shiny new SUVs, and a snappy dry-cleaning service—much of it run by Halliburton. Most Iraqis were barred from entering the Emerald City for fear they would blow it up.
Drawing on hundreds of interviews and internal documents, Chandrasekaran tells the story of the people and ideas that inhabited the Green Zone during the occupation, from the imperial viceroy L. Paul Bremer III to the fleet of twentysomethings hired to implement the idea that Americans could build a Jeffersonian democracy in an embattled Middle Eastern country.
In the vacuum of postwar planning, Bremer ignores what Iraqis tell him they want or need and instead pursues irrelevant neoconservative solutions—a flat tax, a sell-off of Iraqi government assets, and an end to food rationing. His underlings spend their days drawing up pie-in-the-sky policies, among them a new traffic code and a law protecting microchip designs, instead of rebuilding looted buildings and restoring electricity production. His almost comic initiatives anger the locals and help fuel the insurgency.
Chandrasekaran details Bernard Kerik’s ludicrous attempt to train the Iraqi police and brings to light lesser known but typical travesties: the case of the twenty-four-year-old who had never worked in finance put in charge of reestablishing Baghdad’s stock exchange; a contractor with no previous experience paid millions to guard a closed airport; a State Department employee forced to bribe Americans to enlist their help in preventing Iraqi weapons scientists from defecting to Iran; Americans willing to serve in Iraq screened by White House officials for their views on Roe v. Wade; people with prior expertise in the Middle East excluded in favor of lesser-qualified Republican Party loyalists. Finally, he describes Bremer’s ignominious departure in 2004, fleeing secretly in a helicopter two days ahead of schedule.
This is a startling portrait of an Oz-like place where a vital aspect of our government’s folly in Iraq played out. It is a book certain to be talked about for years to come.
Customer Reviews:
Arrogance is not Wise.......2007-10-17
This book is quite well written, and shows the folly of arrogantly trying to rebuild Iraq after the war without having done the necessary homework on that country and with very selfish and dubious motives on the part of the Bush Administration. Nicely written book, informative and objective to the last page.
An outstanding book about the incompetence we have shown in Iraq.......2007-10-11
Any book has bias and I do not doubt that Rajiv Chandrasekaran, a journalist for the Washington Post, saw some things in Iraq in a bias way. Still, this book is a MUST read for anyone to better understand just where we went wrong in Iraq. At times, I felt I was reading a PJ O'Rourke or Carl Hiaasen book about government bureaucrats ruining yet another program. At other times, I just shook my head in disbelief and some of the arrogance and absurdity of the people put in positions of power in Baghdad. As I read the book I realized that it is no wonder that the Iraqi people are tired of us.
The author points out that many Americans were put in positions of power and authority with no real expertise or understanding of Iraqi culture or Islamic culture. Resumes from neoconservatives were all that was needed to head up programs so loyalty meant everything. The drawback, of course, was that people with no real idea of what the heck they were doing ended up bungling up everything they touched.
This book reminds me that our nation needs to stop and think of what our role is supposed to be. George Marshall, creator of the genius Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe, is spinning around in his grave right now as the incompetence in Iraq makes me wonder what happened to real leaders in our nation. Bremer? Rumsfeld? Cheney? Clueless. This book points that out with the evidence and it's a chilling reality of the mistakes we are making on an hourly basis in that nation.
Pretty close to the truth...sorry to say.......2007-10-09
I was working at the CPA during the time the author covers in his book. I think I may have been at some of the meetings he describes. He captures the sense of the CPA, a bunch of well-intentioned, hard-working people without much of a clue about how to run an occupation in an Arab country. These were heady times and we believed we were birthing a new democracy. Few of us were equipped to pull it off and the split between DoD and the rest of the US and coalition governments doomed us from the start.
I was there!.......2007-10-06
I did a tour at the American Embassy in 2006, after the events recorded in "Imperial Life." It was fun being able to read about details of the Republican Palace, then go to that particular feature and see it for myself. More importantly, I could put what I read into context, both in the Embassy and in Iraq itself. Even though the CPA no longer occupies the Green Zone, the isolation of the military and state department staff from events occurring around us was similar to what happened to the CPA in "Imperial Life." Most staff (military included) rarely leave the the Green Zone making the average non-Iraqi resident unaware of what goes on beyond the walls. If you want to understand what living in the Green Zone is like, and why progress is slow in Iraq read this book.
Timely information.......2007-09-23
"Imperial Life" is honest, first hand, information. The author has a good grasp of the subject, of the surroundings and above all, of reality. He is able to pick up the essentials and deal with them without exaggerating his importance or his role. He is a well informed man, as he should be. The book is very well put together, and a pleasure to read. It is above all, timely. This means, regretably, that its importance shall pass, as the events he decribe will give in time place to "new improved" versions. The importance for historians to come and to serious readers will not be diminished.
Average customer rating:
- Calculations are only as good as your numbers
- Pants on fire?
- Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed.
- Very Interesting
- History as Science Fiction
|
History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Anatoly Fomenko
Manufacturer: Mithec
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Chinese
| Ethnic & National
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Irish
| Ethnic & National
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Japanese
| Ethnic & National
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Women
| Specific Groups
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Augustine, Saint
| ( A )
| People, A-Z
| Biographies & Memoirs
| Subjects
| Books
Doctors & Medicine
| Humor
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
Lawyers & Criminals
| Humor
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
Love, Sex & Marriage
| Humor
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
Assyria, Babylonia & Sumer
| Ancient
| History
| Subjects
| Books
Early Civilization
| Ancient
| History
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Ancient
| History
| Subjects
| Books
Historiography
| Historical Study
| History
| Subjects
| Books
General
| World
| History
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Asian American
| United States
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Asian American
| Poetry
| United States
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
French
| Erotica
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Victorian
| Erotica
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Epic
| Poetry
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
German
| Poetry
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Russian
| Poetry
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Spanish
| Poetry
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Chinese
| Classics
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Conspiracy Theories
| Current Events
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
War on Drugs
| Crime & Criminals
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
| Books
English (All)
| Dictionaries & Thesauruses
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
Arabic
| Foreign Language
| Dictionaries & Thesauruses
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
Armenian
| Foreign Language
| Dictionaries & Thesauruses
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
Czech
| Foreign Language
| Dictionaries & Thesauruses
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
Greek
| Foreign Language
| Dictionaries & Thesauruses
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
Hungarian
| Foreign Language
| Dictionaries & Thesauruses
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
Japanese
| Foreign Language
| Dictionaries & Thesauruses
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
Korean
| Foreign Language
| Dictionaries & Thesauruses
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
Norwegian
| Foreign Language
| Dictionaries & Thesauruses
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
Persian & Farsi
| Foreign Language
| Dictionaries & Thesauruses
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
Polish
| Foreign Language
| Dictionaries & Thesauruses
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
Portuguese
| Foreign Language
| Dictionaries & Thesauruses
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
Romanian
| Foreign Language
| Dictionaries & Thesauruses
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
Russian
| Foreign Language
| Dictionaries & Thesauruses
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
Swedish
| Foreign Language
| Dictionaries & Thesauruses
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
Turkish
| Foreign Language
| Dictionaries & Thesauruses
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
Science
| Dictionaries & Thesauruses
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
Online Research
| Genealogy
| Reference
| Subjects
| Books
Native American
| Earth-Based Religions
| Religion & Spirituality
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
General
| History & Philosophy
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
History of Science
| History & Philosophy
| Science
| Subjects
| Books
Magic & Wizards
| Fantasy
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
Sailor Moon
| Popular Characters
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
Pilates
| Exercise & Fitness
| Health, Mind & Body
| Subjects
| Books
History
| Fashion
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
All Titles
| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
| Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2 (Chronology)
-
History: Fiction or Science? Astronomical methods as applied to chronology. Ptolemy's Almagest. Chronology III
-
Discovering the Mysteries of Ancient America: Lost History And Legends, Unearthed And Explored
-
Before the Pharaohs: Egypt's Mysterious Prehistory
-
They Cast No Shadows: A Collection of Essays on the Illuminati, Revisionist History, and Suppressed Technologies
ASIN: 2913621058 |
Book Description
Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.
Customer Reviews:
Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03
Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.
Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19
Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.
Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09
There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.
For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.
Very Interesting.......2007-03-07
It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.
History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10
Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.
I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.
Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.
Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.
I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.
This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.
Book Description
In this moving sequel to Even Now, Emily Anderson falls deeply in love with a young Army reservist who is about to serve in Iraq. At the same time, Emily’s parents seem on the verge of losing all they had gained. Will heartbreaking tragedy be the turning point for all of them?
Customer Reviews:
Love It!.......2007-08-31
This is the first book I have read by Karen Kinsbury and I love it. I found it difficult to put the book down. Its a love story that will make you cry.
A Tear Jerker that's worth reading........2007-08-06
This book, a sequel to Even Now, caused me to shed more tears than when I first read Black Beauty as a child. Yet, I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys an excellently written love story. It is a little slower than some of Kingsbury's other books, but it was definitely worth the read. I appreciate how the book illustrates the fact that most of our news reporters never show the good side of our troops' presence in Iraq. I feel the characters are realistic, and the story believable. Keep your tissues handy, you'll need them.
Unbelievable.......2007-07-21
Ever After by Karen Kingsbury is mainly a book of supporting the war and its servicemen. I completely support the war and agree totally with Karen's arguments, but I've heard them all before so it left me looking for how good the story was. The relationship between Justin and Emily was just too perfect that you couldn't identify with them. Justin is too perfect in all aspects that you couldn't connect with his character. Emily seemed more believable because you saw the determined way about her when she found her parents in Even Now. Also, it left you thinking they are perfect for each other, but when Justin dies all that love between each other seems wasted. Although Karen tries to make it a point that his death caused Joe (his best army buddy) to find Emily and become closer than friends. Well if Emily and Joe were meant for each other, than why'd Emily have to spoil her purity by kissing Justin earlier?
When Emily and Joe become close friends it all happens too predictable and quickly after Justin's death, even though it says 18 months later it really takes only five pages. Although I have to say at least Joe is a little easier to identify with because you saw his weaknesses, his emotional side.
Lauren's conversion to a right state of mind is about the only thing I liked about this book, besides the support for the troops. Though through the whole book you question why Shane still loves her when she can be such an annoying person.
The teen center is very unbelievable because the teenagers there can act like 16 or 10. Their attitude changes from completely emotional to acting like a tough-guy. Karen didn't show how much an impact Justin did on them when he was alive so it was hard to believe they would cry over his death. Plus, why would a nineteen year-old (Emily) spend time with teenagers maybe one or two years younger when they're depicted as near gansters? They call her "pretty mama" or "hot mama", I would most likely stay clear of them.
Though I have to say, I'm glad someone stepped up to support the war and its servicemen when there are so many who are blindly disagreeing.
5-star story.......2007-07-15
The novel raises important questions about both sides of the war issue, and gives thoughtful and thought-provoking responses to each side. It helped me to try to approach people with opposing views more considerately and lovingly. I believe reading this book would build bridges of understanding, no matter what one's opinion of war might be.
Gold Medallion Award Winner.......2007-07-10
Ever After was just awarded the BEST CHRISTIAN BOOK OF THE YEAR, Gold Medallion Award! Congratulations Karen!
-Rose Andrews
Product Description
`History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2` is the second volume of the most explosive and astounding tractate on history ever written - however, every theory it contains, no matter how unorthodox, is backed by rock solid scientific data. The book is easy and pleasant to read; it is well-illustrated, contains hundreds of charts, graphs and illustrations, copies of ancient manuscripts, and countless facts attesting to the falsity of the chronology used nowadays. You will be amazed to discover: - That the chronology universally accepted today and taken for granted is simply wrong; - That ALL methods of dating of ancient sources and artefacts known today are erroneous or non-exact; - That there is not a single document that could be reliably dated earlier than the XIth century; The Author refers to the Middle Ages as the Antiquity and proves mutual superimposition of the Second and the Third Roman Empire, both of which become identified as the respective kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Furthermore, he asserts that the famous reform of the Occidental Church in the XI century by Pope Gregory Hildebrand was the reflection of the XII century reforms of Byzantine emperor Andronicus who in his turn identifies with Jesus Christ. The Trojan war counted by Homer happened only as late as of the XIII century A.D. and the great poet actually lived in XIV century A.D. No stone in history of Antiquity is left unturned. Literally. This book is the beginning of a major correction to the chronology we live with.
Customer Reviews:
Check and see.......2007-06-21
I don't care what other people say of this book. Those affirmig it's fake, they hadn't ever read it. Or have some special reasons to do so. "Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see..." This book won't make you feel comfortable. It'll make you feel free. It'll make you feel you're "not the only one" to feel you'd been lied to for centuries.
Suprise! Suprise!.......2007-03-22
Here is a serie of books which turns "the whole world" upside down. I learned a lot of it and I hope that a new book from A.T. Fomenko will follow very quick. A absolute must for everybody who is interested in history or even a little bit from it.
Prescient St Augustine?.......2006-02-05
We can so far divide the New Chronology into the following three parts:
a) The verifiable theory that proves consensual chronology wrong with the aid of astronomy, statistics and mathematics;
b) The new chronology hypothesis based on a new understanding of known historical facts and the most likely logical explanation of the most obvious inconsistencies inherent in the official version of history;
c) The history conjectures, that is experimental historical reconstructions based on assumptions that the authors believe to make sense in the light of their research and linguistic parallels - void of ironclad factual support to date.
Fomenko's theory complies with the most rigid scientific standards as a whole:
It gives a coherent explanation of what we already know.
- It is consistent: independent lines of inquiry all lead to the same conclusion.
- The predictions it makes are confirmed empirically.
Fomenko goes by the following axioms:
- Chronology is the basis of history;
- Human evolution has always been linear, gradual and irreversible;
- The "cyclic" nature of human civilization is a myth, likewise all the gaps, duplicates, "dark ages" and "renaissances" that we know from consensual history;
- The accumulation of geographical knowledge as reflected in cartography is a gradual and irreversible process;
- The chronological distance between a given manuscript and the events described therein is proportional to the amount of distortions it contains;
- There is no "useless" information in authentic ancient sources.
Why the mainstream historians do not shower mathematician Academician Dr.Prof Fomenko with thanks and laurels?
The Russians:
Because Fomenko asserts that there was no such thing as the Tartar and Mongol invasion followed by three centuries of slavery, providing a formidable body of documental evidence to prove his assertion. The so-called "Tartars and Mongols" were the actual ancestors of the modern Russians, living in a bilingual state with Arabic spoken as freely as Russian. The ancient Russian state was governed by a double structure of civil and military authorities. The hordes were actually professional armies with a tradition of lifelong conscription (the recruitment being the so-called "blood tax"). Their "invasions" were punitive operations against the regions that attempted tax evasion. Fomenko proves that Russian history as we know it today is a blatant forgery concocted by a host of German scientists brought to Russia by the usurper dynasty of the Romanovs, whose ascension to the throne was the result of coup d'état, charged with the mission of making their reign look legitimate. Fomenko proves Ivan the Terrible to be a collation of four rulers, no less. They represented the two rival dynasties - the legitimate rulers and the ambitious upstarts. The winner took it all! Over some 30 years of controversy, Russian historians have made a most remarkable transition - they were initially accusing the young mathematician Fomenko of anticommunist dissident activity and attempts to deface the historical legacy of Soviet Russia; nowadays the middle-aged mathematician is accused of adhering to "pro-communist Russian nationalism" and defacing the proud historical legacy of Great Russia.
The Westerners:
Because Fomenko blows consensual Russian history to smithereens, successfully removing a crucial cornerstone from underneath the otherwise impeccable edifice of World History. Fomenko adds insult to injury, wiping out one by one the Ancient Rome (the foundation of Rome in Italy is dated to the XIV century A. D.), the Ancient Greece and its numerous poleis, which he identifies as the mediaeval crusader settlements on the territory of Greece, and the Ancient Egypt (the pyramids of Giza become dated to the XI-XV century A. D. and identified as the royal cemetery of the Global "Mongolian" Empire, no less). The civilization of the Ancient Egypt is irrefutably dated to the XII-XV century A. D. with the aid of the ancient Egyptian horoscopes cut in stone. He was the first one to decipher and date all such horoscopes, coming up with mediaeval dates in every case. English historians rage at the suggestion that the history of Ancient England was de facto a Byzantine import transplanted to the English soil by the fugitive Byzantine nobility. To reward the English historians who consider themselves the true scribes of World History, the cover of the present book portrays Tintoretto's Jesus Christ crucified on the Big Ben.
The Chinese:
Because Fomenko wipes out the Ancient History of China outright. No such thing. Full point. The compilation of the so-called Ancient Chinese History is reliably datable to the XVII-XVIII century only. It is perfectly recognizable as the Ancient European history, reworked and transcribed in hieroglyphs as yet another historical transplantation, this time performed on the Chinese soil by the loving Jesuit hands. The Chinese are the next in line to go berserk. Chinese history is inevitably bound to get both more ancient and more eventful, proportionally to the growing involvement of China in the world affairs. Chinese historians will keep on finding valid proof of prehistoric Chinese spaceflights until the Politburo orders them to shut up.
The Arabs:
Too bad. Islam with all its key figures is datable to XV-XVI century A. D. Arabic historians may find consolation in the crucial historical role of the Ottoman Empire in the XVI-XVII century. The trouble is that this empire was initially a Christian state, with Hagia Sophia identifiable as Temple of Solomon, according to Fomenko! We can only guess if the acquisition of Alexander the Great (a Macedonian and a Christian) as the founder of the Muslim World Empire will make Fomenko's theories more acceptable to the Arabic mainstream. He certainly does not spare any holy cows at all, claiming The Stone of Qa'Aba in Mecca to contain the lost Arch of the Covenant.
The Divinity:
Despite of reiterated statement that his theory is all about chronology and not Religion, Fomenko stirs up a whole condominium of wasp nests. His collection of anathemas, fatwa, and other condemnations from all parties concerned is already considerable. Little wonder, considering that the history of religions à la Fomenko looks as follows: the pre-Christian period (before the XI century and JC), Bacchic Christianity (XI-XII century, before and after JC), JC Christianity (XII-XVI century) and its subsequent mutations into Orthodox Christianity, the Catholicism, Islam, Buddhism, and so on.
According to Fomenko we know strictly NOTHING about the events that predate the X century A. D.
St Augustin was prescient when he spoke unto us: "be wary of mathematicians, particularly when they speak the truth."
Something of a disappointment.......2005-09-09
After having read the first volume of this expected series of 7 volumes I was triggered by the thesis of these authors that ancient Greek and Roman history did in fact take place in the Middle Ages. So I started studying medieval history of the Middle East - also known as Islamic history - to find out if the opponents of the ancient Greeks and Romans - the Acheamenid Persians, Sassanids, Scythians, Egyptians, etc. - also have their duplicates in medieval history. My search was disappointing: none of the many medieval Islamic dynasties seemed to correspond to the ancient middle eastern rulers.
However, I did find a close correspondence between Herodotus' Persian kings and medieval events:
- the defeat and capture of an Anatolian king - the Lydian Croesus - by the Persian conqueror Cyrus is identical to the defeat and capture of another Anatolian king - sultan Bayezid - by the Asian/Mongol conqueror Tamerlane;
- the Persian conquest of Egypt by the cruel tyrant Cambyses reds almost exactly as the Ottoman conquest of Egypt by Selim the Grim (note the nickname!);
- Darius the Lawgiver of the Persian Empire looks very much alike to Sulayman the Magnificent, the Lawgiver in Islamic history;
- Xerxes, whose main claim to fame is to be defeated by the Greeks at the naval battle of Salamis, looks like Selim II (the Sot) whose main claim to fame is to be defeated by a Spanish-Italian alliance at the naval battle of Lepanto.
I should have expected Fomenko et al. to arrive at similar conclusions, however, they claim that the Persian kings are the alter egos of the Angevin kings of Sicily whose biographies do not contain the exploits of the Persian kings.
The similiarities I indicate lead to the conclusion that Herodotus must have written his Histories at the close of the 16th century. But this is extremely late, given that Herodotus is "the Father of History", so therefore all other "ancient" histories must have been fabricated even later. Yet, the founders of modern chronology - Scaliger and Petavius - laid their foundations also at the close of the 16th century and had the full corpus of ancient histories already at their disposal.
It seems to me that Fomenko has to address these inconsistencies, maybe in the forthcoming 5 volumes?
Another critique of their book is that the correspondencies between different rulers are often based on a superficial comparison of the biographies; upon a more thorough comparison many details appear that do not correspond at all.
Finally, the authors rely heavily on the works of Gregorovius (1821-1891!!) - his medieval histories of Rome and Athens - as the source of medieval history; these works are - at least in the West - hoplessly outdated and have been superceded by more up-to-date works (for instance, Julius Norwich's trilogy on Byzantine history is not even cited).
Romulus courts Helen, Paris founds Rome, Moses goes to Troy.........2005-07-30
If you agree with Fomenko that Roman chronology is basically the foundation of the entire edifice of global chronology; you would also certainly agree that despite its numerous gaps and inconsistencies, Roman history is the best-documented field of ancient history, and thus a reference scale. But how well is the actual date of the Eternal City's foundation known?
Firstly, Rome is supposed to have been founded by the Trojans who had to flee after the fall of Troy. Some claim Rome to have been founded by Aeneas and Ulysses shortly after Troy had fallen; others are of the opinion that there was an entire dynasty that ruled for 500 years between the fall of Troy and the foundation of Rome.
Well, that's just an innocent 500 years long misunderstanding compared with what heretic Fomenko says, asserts, proves in his second volume: Second Roman Empire, Third Roman Empire, Biblical Kingdom of Israel, Biblical Kingdom of Judah, Holy Roman Empire are stories about basically same events, written from different points of view at different times. The underlying events have actually taken place during xii-xv cy. These histories have been written and perfected by multitude of highly talented humanist and clerical writers of xiii-xvi cy disguised as "ancients" with glorious names like Homer, Pluto, Thucydides etc..Chronology 2.0 beta..
Historians are kindly invited to report the bugs.
Book Description
“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.”
–Psalm 23:5
There are some places where you just don’t expect to find God. For the men of the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, downtown Baghdad was one of those places. Moving into the heart of Iraq and ever deeper into enemy territory, they found themselves face-to-face with the ruthless Iraqi Republican Guard and Fedayeen militia. But when the smoke cleared, God’s touch was clearly visible.
Serving as a chaplain to the U.S. Marines, Lieutenant Carey Cash had witnessed the miracles that began in the desert of northern Kuwait, and found their culmination in one of the fiercest battles of Operation Iraqi Freedom. With vivid detail and gripping emotion, Lt. Cash gives a firsthand account of this amazing story–how the men of an entire battalion found God in the presence of their enemies.
Customer Reviews:
Absolutely amazing book.......2007-10-15
This is an absolutely amazing book. As a follower of Christ and a military officer, I highly recommend this book. I am buying a copy for a friend who is deploying, praying that he will also experience the Presence of God in the mist of otherwise terrifying circumstances as Lt Cash and the 1/5 Marines did.
Truth Revealed.......2007-07-08
Thanks to Lt. Cash for his service and his real life account of God's presence in the midst of war. It's encouraging to read and to know that God truly provides in the midst of our enemies. His story sheds light and truth on the real everyday trials of the war; on the frontline as well as the behind the scenes of the war. This book is refreshing to read, in that it is truth being lived out and responsibly reported. If you want truth, hope, and encouragement I highly recommend this book.
Great Book.......2007-05-16
This book is a pretty good book. This book is about a chaplain's experience with a Marine Bn during the initial invasion of Iraq. The book flows really easily from page to page. A person will get lost in the tales. It is told in such a way the reader will almost feel the fear, heat, and the excitement of victory.
The book is a good picture of the war from the Battalion level. Most books are from the soldier level. While that is important this book adds something to that picture. It tells a little of the complexity of moving 800 people down the road to fight the enemy. The author was a chaplain. At that level he would have had a great deal of freedom to move around to see events. Few staff officers would have his unique perspective of seeing so many soldiers in the heat of battle.
The author does offer a religious perspective from the ground level. This is something the book offers that most books don't. A reader can see how violence and death can focus a person's perspective on things eternal. The book shows that a person's thought on things eternal is never as clear as it is in battle. The Christian will really love his stories of faith in individual Marine's life. Those stories really clearly paint the picture of how the hand of God helped those Marines and can help each of us. The author also does properly accent his points with the right scriptures from the bible.
I think most readers will enjoy this story no matter what their religious perspective. It has something for everyone.
Should be Required Reading for schools/colleges and Congress.......2007-05-03
This has got to be the best book I have read. I have read a lot. This book captured my attention and only sleep made me put it down. The reality of war is shared first hand along with the Presence of God amidst the war. It is not blood guts and gore, but true reality told in a spiritual Christian way. Since the start of the war on terrorism in 2003 we have seen and heard many negative stories, it is finally heart soothing to read something positive and quite inspiring for those who have lost or doubt their faith in this war.
Must Read for Parents and Spouses.......2007-01-12
This book was given to my brother, an Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran, as a Christmas gift. He could not read it because the memories were still too fresh and too disturbing. So he let me have first crack at it. I have since bought numerous copies and given them away to Marines, their wives, their parents and military supporters in the civilian community. At least one of those has gone on the buy multiple copies to share also.
This book is so powerful because it shares the amazing presence of God witnessed by American warriors in Iraq. I particularly like how the book is structured so that the author, a navy chaplain shares a Bible story with the reader and then parallels it with a similar first hand experience his Marine had in Iraq. If you wonder if prayer matters, this book will forever convince you that prayer makes a difference. Buy the book. Read it. And share it with others.
Book Description
In April 2003, after a month of heavy bombardment, Baghdad fell under coalition forces' control. The forces established the Coalition Provisional Authority and in the heart of the city, an 8km square mile "Green Zone" was formed to maintain order until the new Iraqi government became a reality.
This title focuses on the lives of those soldiers whose task it was to bring stability to the area, primarily recounting the experiences of Task Force 1st Armored Division (TF 1AD) ("Old Ironsides"). The division's first operation, dubbed Iron Dig, was intended to verify the death of Saddam Hussein by finding his remains in a bombed restaurant in Baghdad. This was the first of many operations that combined combat and intelligence skills in attempts to capture or kill significant numbers of former regime leaders that were thought to be responsible for the remainder of attacks on coalition forces.
This unique theater of operations severely tested the troops on many levels, both personally and professionally, as not only did they have to deal with living and fighting in extremely high temperatures, poor standards of living, and little respite, but also their operations became the center stage of a controversial debate surrounding the occupation.
Discussed are the soldiers' personal experiences from recruitment, specialist training, and weaponry; to the aftermath and effects that the conflict had on them. The author, Ken Estes, uses interviews and recently declassified material to offer a full and accurate insight into this controversial theater of war.
Customer Reviews:
It's an important guide for any who would understand the progress of U.S. military efforts in the region........2007-04-10
Kenneth W. Estes' US ARMY SOLDIER: BAGHDAD 2003-04 charts modern war experience in showing how Baghdad fell under US control and how stabilization attempts were made. It's an important guide for any who would understand the progress of U.S. military efforts in the region.
Book Description
âThey also serve who only stand and wait.â
âJohn Milton, âOn His Blindnessâ
Their husbands went to war in Iraq; they went to war in their living rooms. Shared Courage is the story of one woman’s experience as the wife of a Marine officer serving during Operation Iraqi Freedom. A colorful, sometimes heartbreaking, always inspiring account of how military life affected one family, it is also the story of an entire community of Marine wives--the family of the American forces.
Michelle Keener describes the trials and triumphs of keeping a military family together--from her wedding to her husband’s assignment to 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines (the famous âMcCoy’s Marinesâ) and the birth of a daughter in the base hospital. She brings to poignant life the uncertainty she and other Marine wives experienced; their fear in the face of media reports of the advance on Fallujah, one of the war’s most harrowing battles; the gut-wrenching knock on the door, with a Marine in dress blues standing on the front step; the coming together in shared grief over the loss of a friend’s husband; and eventually, the elation of having one’s own husband return home safely.
With this book, Keener gives a voice to all military wives--those who receive little notice and no medals, and yet sacrifice in countless ways. Even as they stood and waited, these wives also served.
Customer Reviews:
A Truly Enlightening Story.......2007-09-08
As a Marine mom, I thought I knew all the ups and downs of a deployment. This book helped me realize that, although we are close to our children, they do not tell us everything. They need to be brave. Using your own experiences as a microcosm in a world of heartache and fear can be risky and daring. It is not easy to be a learning experience for others. Thank you, Michelle, for your bravery. Your husband, colleagues, and all military families should be proud that someone spoke for those left behind. I learned a great deal from Michelle's writing and am sure others will also. I highly recommend this book. You will laugh, you will cry, you will come to understand the humanity and emotions of the "war" at home and the courage it takes to support, to wait and to hope.
My Learning through Her Sharing.......2007-08-21
I love reading a book in which I get to know the characters. In this case, the "characters" are genuine, real people. Michelle opens herself in order to show others the difficult situation of the deployment of a spouse. I had no idea it was so complex. I have a new understanding and empathy toward those families who have loved ones in combat zones. I truly appreciate their sacrifice.
What I learned from this book was how to approach this spouse: With a sincere "Thank you." They truly did sacrifice so that I could live in peace.
Thank you, Michelle. Thank you to all who served by going or staying home. I'm deeply indebted to you all.
This book is fun to read, and helpful as well.
Saved me.......2007-07-21
My husband of a year and a half left for his third tour...second to Iraq. This has been so difficult and I really feel like I have no where to turn. My husband's grandparents bought me this book and sent it to me from Virginia; where they saw the newspaper article about Mrs. Keener. I couldn't put the book down. I'd read it at night with a flash light while our baby was asleep. I cried through an entire chapter and finished in just a few weeks. I really wish there were more books like this because I've got 4 more months and I need something good to read!
great help.......2007-07-19
For any military wife going through a deployment, or entering their life in the service through teher spouse, this book is perfect. The author gave me some great laughs and tears but helped me to better understand what I was going through. She also gave me great ideas for my husband who is about to go on his first deployment and how to cope while he's away. I recommend this book whole heartedly.
A Courageous Write, An Honest Story.......2007-06-22
Courage takes many forms and this is one of them! Michelle illustrates and highlights the daily acts of courage demonstrated by those "left behind" as they face everyday challenges armed with only love and hope. Each story is an example of courage in the face of fear; fortitude in the face of trepidation. These women act despite their fears and show strength when they feel weak. They face alone what most couples face together while supporting each other at home and loved ones half-a-world away. Michelle's courage and skill in writing this book, openly and honestly, is to be applauded and commended.
Customer Reviews:
Prayer in action.......2005-12-30
God Saw Them Through is a fascinating, inspiring, and convicting story about the answer to prayer for soldiers in warfare written by Thomas, the father of one of the marines in 2/8. Sometimes the military abbreviations overwhelm, such as one paragraph which includes the following: CO, XO, H&S Company, TAC CP (though definition is given), assistant S2, assistant S3, Main CP (definition given). Thomas gives all of the definitions at least once, but it can be confusing to those who are not familiar with military rankings and abbreviations. He also includes a helpful glossary, organizational charts, and some maps though a few more would be helpful.
Regardless of the difficulties of the abbreviations, the message comes through clearly. God answered the prayers of thousands on behalf of 2/8. Thomas records how more than once individuals back home were awakened to prayer just before 2/8 was going into battle and that God laid specific requests on their hearts that He answered through their prayers. This has been one of the most inspiring books about prayer that I've read in a long time.
Probably men and women with a military background will appreciate the style and content more than those of us who lack the background. This is a story that men in particular can enjoy. The first chapter bogs down a little with the introduction of the 2/8's leadership, but persevering through it pays off. Men and teenaged boys interested in the military might enjoy finding this book in their Christmas stocking.
God's miraculous answers to prayer in keeping the marines safe during firefights will inspire anyone, military or not, to pray. -- Debbie W. Wilson, Christian Book Previews.com
A Batallion to Iraq and Everybody Came Home.......2005-07-07
There are only eighteen infantry battalions in the U.S. Marine Corp. This is the story of one of them through combat in Iraq in 2003. Commanded by Lt. Col. Royal Mortenson whose philosophy of command includes statements such as :It is fine for the Marine to be able to run three miles in eighteen minutes, but it is better to be able to run one mile in seventeen minutes carrying a wounded Marine on your back."
Lt. Col. Mortenson trained his battallion, took it to Iraq, into combat and brought them all back alive. To Lt. Col. Mortenson, a hearty well done. You deserve your subsequent promotion.
The author is the father of one of the young Marines that went to Iraq and back. He believes that the Christian faith of his son and of the rest of the Marines in this unit was responsible for the Lord returning all of these young men home. Who can say that he is wrong?
Inspirational Story.......2004-12-25
If you are a Christian and believe in the power of prayer, you will find the factual stories in this book very inspirational. Glenn Thomas has done a marvelous job in telling the story of the 2nd Battalion, 8th Marines during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Once you start reading, you won't be able to put the book down.
Book Description
War-Worn Faith
You want the flare of your faith to burn as intensely as a fire on the battlefield. That means digging into God’s truth regardless of the chaos raging around you. These devotions are written by a man who had considered war something that someone else always did, and was then himself deployed to Iraq as a company commander. From the frontlines of the blackest days and in the face of inexplicable suffering, you’ll discover the heart of the question, âWhy, God?â and its often unsettling answer. Because in war, as in contemporary America , reality involves struggle, trial, and triumph. Let God meet you in the midst of life’s nonsense to find the peace that is a crucial part of His impeccable plan.
Why, God?
War screams the same questions whispered in everyday life. The battlefield explodes with the same tenacity of emotions that wretch our souls. Smoke fills the air just as doubt clouds our minds.
Are you on the frontlines of war overseas? Or perhaps your battle is personal, deep within. These devotions, penned by Captain Chris Plekenpol while on the battlefield in Iraq, expose the depths of inexplicable suffering as well as the heights of incredible victory in God.
Through every adversity and in any circumstance, you will find a still voice reminding you of God’s sovereigntyâ¦in war and peace.
âFaith forged in the crucible of combat! Chris Plekenpol is a warrior and he has compiled a great guide for victory in the battles we all face.â
Oliver L. North
Host of âWar Storiesâ on Fox News and author of The Assassins
âThere is no theory here. Just the battle-tested insights of a soldier who has learned to trust his heavenly Father in the valley of the shadow of death. You are going to love this book.â
Andy Stanley
Pastor, North Point Community Church
âAmazing encouragement from the heart of the battle!â
Louie Giglio
Passion Conferences
Story Behind the Book
âI began writing devotionals as both a preparation for seminary and as a ministry tool during my service in Korea . At first, I sent them only to a few people. Then, as I wrote more frequently, I received e-mails requesting my devotions. I continued writing during my deployment to Iraq , tackling such issues as life in combat as well as the triumph of God in the battle. My purpose in writing this book is to further God’s work in my life by ministering to others through my experience in the heart of the battle.â âChris Plekenpol
Customer Reviews:
Amazing.......2007-09-24
This book was great. The author did an amazing job of relating what he experienced in war with everyday life and scripture. Having a son in the Marines made this book hit home. Highly recommended
This book changed my life.......2007-08-07
"Faith in the Fog of War" is the only Christian book to draw me in and make me take an ugly look at my life. Given to me right after my Dad died, I skeptically skimmed it and found myself unwillingly riveted immediately. Plekenpol's writing is raw, yet full of imagery and metaphors that make his story come to life. The structure of the book has a grace that naturally leads one to examine one's own situation whether one wants to or not. I certainly didn't at the time, but am so glad I succumbed to the power of this man's prose. As he likes to say "it's not about making bad people good, it's about making dead people alive!" I can certainly tell you I was dead and didn't even realize it until I read this. It changed my perspective on even the most fundamental principles regarding God and how to live, not to mention what it actually means to be a "Christian." Plekenpol will rock your world with guerilla Christianity the likes of which you have never seen. So strap on your combat boots and get ready for the walk of your life!
Excellent book.......2007-05-04
This is an excellent book. It's very engaging, with lots of material but not too lengthy. He shares some great stories from his experiences-some hilarious, some horrifying, and some heartbreaking, but he shares spiritual and Biblical insight into all of them. You don't need to be in the military to appreciate this book and his stories. It can be read from cover to cover in a day if you feel like it, or you can read a chapter a day to make it somewhat of a devotional. Either way it makes for great reading.
A modern Isaiah.......2007-02-15
Chris Plekenpol's second book, has the refined characteristics of a growing author, and as Isaiah did years before him, he is forcing open the eyes and ears of men. His ability to connect the dots of everyday Christianity in an out of the ordinary type of world, has allowed him to reach many who struggle daily. His remarkable insights and understanding of scripture are linked flawlessly to the changing and often dangerous environs in which he lived for a year. Having witnessed many of the events in this book first hand, beside Chris, I have seen his bravery on the battlefield and off. I recommend this book, for everyone who ministers the word of God, and especially those who want to read a harrowing account of Christianity on the front lines.
Faith in the Fog of War: Stories of Triumph and Tragedy in the Midst of War.......2007-01-10
A number of months ago I heard and interview with Chris Plekenpol on a Radio Station in Beaverton Oregon. The interview was quite compelling. It made an impression upon me enough to buy the book. I am not an avid book lover but this book was hard to put down! I felt that I was walking beside each soldier and experiencing the countless emotions they experience daily. The book isn't long and drawn out yet it has a number of short chapters that cover various experiences and exposes the reader to a number of raw emotion that each soldier feels. This book is a must read!
Book Description
"Hillary Clinton Nude: Naked Ambition, Hillary Clinton and America's Demise" is a blockbuster literary exploration of the most controversial politician in America. Stripping away the veils of imagery which mask the imperfections of Hillary Rodham Clinton, "Hillary Clinton Nude" presents a non-partisan yet passionate case against a second Clinton presidency. Author Sheldon Filger has written a bombshell of a political book, conveying a warning to the American people of the dire risks to the nation's continuity should the former First Lady succeed in fulfilling her ultimate political ambition. More than just another Hillary Clinton book, "Hillary Clinton Nude" is a sobering commentary on the state of American politics in the new century, and the influence of money, image making and celebrity power in the debasement of meaningful political discussion in the United States. Democrats, Republicans and independent voters will discover much to reflect on in this incisive and revealing book. The 2008 presidential elections may be among the most decisive in America's post-war history. Do not go to the polls without arming yourself with the knowledge found in Sheldon Filger's incisive book, "Hillary Clinton Nude."
Customer Reviews:
SOBERING WARNINGS.......2007-06-15
Sad, but true : Hillary Rodham is a menacing presence on the American political landscape; and so books like this serve as important warnings to all Americans, and to all freedom loving people on earth. This book, presented as fact, is strikingly similar to a book of fact-based fiction in that both are clearly intended as "warning calls" (or "sobering warnings") about Hillary; but the other book, entitled THE EMPRESS PROJECT, goes farther in its analysis and shows how a foreign power (Red China) is meddling covertly and dangerously in domestic American politics and using a home grown American citizen as its political "proxy". Is the message of THE EMPRESS PROJECT true? Is the message of this book by Sheldon Filger really factually correct? Maybe readers should read both, reflect on both, and draw their own conclusions.......The Empress Project
IS HILLARY ELECTABLE?.......2007-04-20
One of the main reasons that George W. Bush was elected president was because of the country's guilt that they had elected Bill Clinton instead of Bush Sr. It was the country's way of recognizing that they made a tragic mistake by voting for Bill Clinton. The election of Bill Clinton's wife would be a travesty for the country because it is so shamefully obvious that Hillary used her position as First Lady to justify her husband's shameful behavior and ran for Senator of NY just to position herself to run for President. The Clintons have no shame. I hope that the American people will not fall for them a second time. We need a true leader that will serve the American people well.
Noel Serrano
Essential insights, but with some weaknesses.......2007-01-01
Like another reviewer, I was contacted by author Sheldon Filger and invited to read and review "Hillary Clinton Nude." This is a valuable addition to the shelf of books about HRC. While it has a number of significant weaknesses, this volume also has significant strengths. It's up to the individual reader to decide how best to balance the two.
Perhaps paradoxically, "Hillary Clinton Nude" is both passionate and dispassionate: passionate in the strength of the language, in the author's commitment to his principles and beliefs, and in his conviction that the election of President Hillary Rodham Clinton would be an unmitigated disaster for the United States. At the same time, though, Filger is dispassionate in that he -- unlike many other writers on HRC -- is not a member of the fabled "Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy." In fact, the vituperation Filger directs at Hillary is rivaled only by the scorn he directs at George W. Bush. "Hillary Clinton Nude" cannot, therefore, be dismissed as a GOP hit-piece or a brief on behalf of some other, competing, presidential candidate.
The author makes a persuasive case that lacking any demonstrable skills, training, opinions, or even basic understanding of the vital issues of economics and international relations, the only thing HRC can build a presidential campaign on is nostalgia for her husband's years in office. As Slick Willie's most attentive student, Hillary is mastering, Filger argues, the Clintonian Method of obfuscation, name-calling, smoke-and-mirrors, and (especially) a highly selective use of history, including but not limited to outright lies about facts, situations, and people.
Sheldon Filger is committed to setting the record straight, and so devotes considerable ink to laying out the facts about half-forgotten Clintonian scandals like the White House travel office firings, Hillary's commodities-futures windfall, Pardongate, and of course, Monica and impeachment. Of course, Filger thereby leaves himself open to the Clinton-defenders' time-tested charge that he is "obsessing over old news" while HRC herself is focused on the future. Given Filger's thesis of the importance of Clinton-nostalgia to HRC's own presidential hopes, however, I think he's done exactly the right thing.
As I said, however, this book also has a number of weaknesses. Some of them, I admit, are matters of taste. But there are substantive omissions as well.
For one thing, Filger's prose is, if not purple, certainly redolent of lavender: "Given the constellation of storm clouds gathering on the horizon of the new century, having a mediocre and politically ambitious megalomaniac figure making the key decisions of state is an alignment with catastrophe. It is also a rash gamble with history. If, indeed, the contemporary world resembles the apocalyptic dynamics that existed in the summer of 1914, then the admixture of nuclear armaments portents [sic] a cataclysm that will be vastly more devastating to humanity" (p. 179).
As another matter of taste, I wasn't thrilled by the cover illustration by Molly Crabapple. It makes it too easy for critics to dismiss the whole book as an unattractive hit piece while ignoring the substance within. Certainly, I'm not going to leave this just sitting around on my desk at work.
Among the substantive topics Filger doesn't address, one key one is Hillary's alleged "move to the center" in the Senate. It seems obvious that this is part of Clinton's decades-long effort to disguise her true radicalism, but it will also be a centerpiece of her presidential campaign. A discussion of this question would seem to be in order.
Most fundamentally, I did not come away from this book with a clear idea of whether Filger believes that, deep down in her soul, Hillary really *believes* in anything more than her own ambition. For the vital distinction, I've always believed, between Pudge and Ruffles (wish I could remember who coined those nicknames) is that whereas he is an opportunist with no firm beliefs, Hillary is a true ideological warrior.
Other writers, from Barbara Olsen to R.E. Tyrrell, have done great work tracing Hillary's growth as what Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn described as a "Christian Social Romantic." In this understanding, HRC's Methodist upbringing was filtered through the tactical genius of Saul Alinsky to create a person driven by a true spiritual fanaticism. I think this is the only real explanation for HRC's distinctive drive, her determination not just to confront, but ultimately to destroy, anyone who disagrees with her or opposes her utopian vision: she sees them, in a very real sense, as fundamentally, theologically, evil. I believe that this is the key to understanding Hillary Clinton. I'm not sure, though, whether Sheldon Filger agrees.
Finally, I need to point out that this book lacks footnotes, endnotes, bibliography, and index. Clearly a lot of research went into preparing this, but it is impossible for a reader to track the author's sources.
This is a quite long review because I appreciate the author's request for my opinion of his work. What Sheldon Filger has produced is a strong, well-argued, and unquestionably important book. With some work on what I consider the book's shortcomings, a second edition could easily warrant four or even five stars.
The One Indespensible Book on Hillary Rodham Clinton.......2006-12-01
Of all the many books on Hillary Clinton, pro and con, this is the one essential read on the aspiring presidential candidate for thinking people on both the Right and Left. Devastatingly critical of Hillary Clinton, but without an ideological axe to grind, Sheldon Filger skillfully presents a case against another Clinton presidential administration that defies partisanship. Thoroughly researched and convincingly written, the author goes beyond the usual critique of Hillary. He identifies the critical challenges that America will confront in the next decade, than proceeds with an ironclad case as to why Hillary Clinton is intellectually and experientially ill equipped to provide the quality of leadership America must have in its next president. Reading like a thriller, this book presents a chilling scenario for America's future should Hillary Clinton be elected as president. Every thinking person, irrespective of their party affiliation, will find Filger's book a sobering and thought-provoking overview of what is at stake in the 2008 election.
A Thoughtful Look at a Serious Subject .......2006-11-08
In the interests of full disclosure, I was sent a copy of this book by the author and asked to review it. I'm glad he did becauise I probably would never have found it on my own. Books on Mrs. Clinton are plentiful. Some are hit pieces. Some are laudatory. This one is dispassionate and sobering.
Mr. Filger is no Right Wing writer (and therefore not a member of the vast Right Wing Conspiracy which was born from Mrs. Clinton's mouth in defense of her husband's filanderings).
One only has to read his take on the decision to go to war in Iraq and the execution of that war to understand that. George W. Bush, Richard Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld are fully filigreed by Mr. Filger concerning their involvement in what he clearly considers was an egregous error... "America's invasion of Iraq in 2003 was anchored in neocon delusions. Born of the ambition of a reckless and ignorant man, under the influence of a narrow minded clique of bloodthirsty noncombatants and propelled by outright deception of the American people, the enterprise was doomed to failure." Is that plain enough for you?
Filger then goes on to show how Mrs. Clinton manuvered herself to be in support of the war for political reasons and how she has since that time somewhat inartfully tried to extract herself from that position.
Chapter and verse follow which trace Mrs. Clintons attitudes, deceptions, duplicity and ambition. It is sobering and it is delivered in such a way that one has no doubt as to it's veracity. Likewise sobering is his warning that if Mrs. Clinton's political ambitions triumph, the demise of America is assurred.
His final warning is chilling..."Should the American people in their rightousness render a decision in 2008 that reverses the pattern of the past twenty years, renewal and revival await a long-suffering nation. If however, the people fail to exercise their constitutional and civic duty at the ballot boxes with discretion and wisdom, thus allowing Hillary Rodham Clinton to triumph, only ruination and national demise can follow in her wake."
It will be worth your time to see how the author arrives at this conclusion. You may agree with it or not, however he will make you think about the matter seriously. As we all should.
Post Script: I would have preferred a different title and a different cover. This is a serious book which appears somewhat frivilous in it's appearance. Just my opinion.
Books:
- Jane's Chem-Bio Handbook
- Japanese Destroyer Captain: Pearl Harbor, Guadalcanal, Midway - The Great Naval Battles As Seen Through Japanese Eyes
- Jewish and Russian Revolutionaries Exiled to Siberia, 1901-1917 (Jewish Studies)
- Julius Caesar (New Folger Library Shakespeare)
- Kaplan ASVAB, 2007 Edition: The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (Kaplan Asvab)
- Learning Perl, Fourth Edition
- Lone Star Rising: Lyndon Johnson and His Times, 1908-1960 Volume 1 (Lone Star Rising)
- Lost Triumph: Lee's Real Plan at Gettysburg--And Why It Failed
- Manchild in the Promised Land
- Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer (P.S.)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Diagonally-Parked in a Parallel Universe : Working Through Social Anxiety
- The Last Tycoons: The Secret History of Lazard Frères & Co.
- Great Leap Forward / Harvard Design School Project on the City
- Morgantina Studies
- Planet Earth: As You've Never Seen It Before
- The Leadership Practices Inventory
- The Cat Who Said Cheese
- Irving Gill and the Architecture of Reform: A Study in Modernist Architectural Culture
- Most-Popular 1-Story Home Plans
- A field guide to New Zealand native orchids
Fiasco: The American Military Adventure in Iraq
Hubris: The Inside Story of Spin, Scandal, and the Selling of the Iraq War
State of Denial: Bush at War, Part III
The Greatest Story Ever Sold: The Decline and Fall of Truth from 9/11 to Katrina
Cobra II: The Inside Story of the Invasion and Occupation of Iraq
