Undercover Dispatches from a Dying Regime - Armed Madhouse

Can you say "home-grown facism"? We got to repair our method of law-making in this country. Big Money lobbyists are running this government and have been for too long. "By the people and for the people" has become a thing of the past. I hope you sell a billion of your book and maybe a few of them will see the light.

Greg Palast was trained in economics at the University of Chicago, but he is not a believer in the "Chicago School" of economics. Palast, an American from a working class family who (see the final chapter) strongly believes in the ideal of liberty established by our founding fathers. However, much of his work and positive notoriety has been done outside of the U.S. because the mainstream press here frequently finds it too controversial.

The most remarkable thing about his new book, Armed Madhouse, is the perspective on many of the world's problems not found elsewhere. Be clear, Palast is a partisan for the left, but his insights are quite different than those of the mainstream left or even of the left blogosphere.

Whether the topic is the meaning of "it's all about the oil," or about the realities of the "No Child Left Behind" law, Plast presents and documents a picture not found elsewhere.

Armed Madhouse is a great, entertaining, and very informative read.

Greg Palast is a great reporter. He's thorough, gives superb references and is a funny writer. Some of the things he exposes here are just jaw-dropping examples of voter fraud.

This is an excellent book that pulls you in, and strongly recommended for anyone interested in the nature of democracy these days. Great food for thought.

Sherlock Holmes and the Flying Zombie Death Monkeys

Great book!! Among other things, Palace gives a thorough explanation of the "WHY" of the firing of the Attorney Generals and what is behind the push by Republican senators to prosecute alleged voter fraud cases. Note: he did so, BEFORE the rest of the press turned the heat on Gonzalez. I do not know of any other book that is or has been way ahead of the press. So, please read it, it provides a rapid education what really lies behind the current madness in Washington.

Every rotten thing that you ever suspected was driving the inept Bush Administration's grab for power and money is highlighted and reinforced by Palast's brilliant, funny investigations. Palast continues to be [since his book "The Best Democracy Money Can Buy"] what we wished all journalists were!

And, where Bush is planning on taking us from there? Well, this book gives you the answers to those questions and a whole lot more. Greg Palast gets access to information that the fat cats would rather you and I never see. He has an uncanny knack for building relationships with those with access to the insider info and the inner workings of those who craft our foreign and domestic policy, who they are, who they work for, their motivations and their goals. This really is a must read book for all Americans regardless of political stripe. You owe it to your country to know how and why we are in the mess we're in in Iraq and a whole lot more. Buy it today. You won't regret it.

Other reviewers have highlighted the different subjects that Palast tackles - and enlightens - in this quirky but amazing book. Its principal merit is to bring clarity to topics, especially the political role of oil in today's world, that much of the mainstream media overlooks or else buys into the "standard line". And Palast seems to have the documentation to back up his theories (I love the hidden cassette recorder). This is a book that will leave you looking at the topics it examines with a new vision. So, add this to the list of "must read" books about today's world, and in particular the Bush World and America's big business/big finance interests worldwide.

Read it before Chavez is assassinated.

HIS ELECTION INVESTIGATION IS PAR EXCELLANCE! His Power Investigation should alert the Mainstream Press (Of Course It Doesn't, because it's simply in the public interest, which no concern for Corporate). The Oil expose is down & dirty! Gets to the WHY! But our intrepid friend dares not go where the true demons lie. Check my review of "Into The Buzzsaw"

There are few journalists with the guts of Greg Palast. In Armed Madhouse, Palast doesn't waiver from exposing the truth that the mainstream media is afraid to tell. Any American who cares about their country needs to read this book, especially the new chapter, which details the scheme to steal the 2008 elections, which is what the Alberto Gonzales attorney firings is really all about.

Greg Palast does it again. Using incredible dry wit and sarcasm, as well as impecable references and documentation, he paints a clear picture of just who controls the world's power and resources (read: corporations, corporations, corporations), how they hold onto that power, and the connections they have with the current White House administration. In addition, the connections are clearly laid out as to the immense suffering, poverty, and death toll the power brokers deal out. I could not put the book down. Highly recommended.

The book immediately looses credibility when he spends the first chapter supporting the Bush conspiracy theory of 9/11 blaming it all on Bin Laden. I couldn't continue and limit my reading to either real fiction or serious examinations of our world problems regardless of their "entertainment" value.

Read this book and learn what you can. Google North American Union in google video, Watch America Freedom to Facism, Watch 9/11 mysteries. Then decide for yourself how free we are in America, and where we are headed. If you are pissed off then get out and vote Ron Paul for President 2008 and help to get our country and our rights back.

I read a lot of books on the Bush administration, but this one puts it all together in one big context and timeframe: from the manipulation of the 2000 election to Iraq; players, victims and an outlook for 2008.
Well investigated.

Greg will take you beyond where you would go with Michael Moore. This is information that's hard to come by in the current media world, Mother Jones, The Nation, Atlantic Monthly all included. Greg is not affraid to tell it like it is and go where other journalists fear to tread. Hat's off to Greg for this book. I'm eager to dive into his next selection!

As is usual for Greg Palast his diligent research makes the unbelievable truth believable. When the murderous cheating that takes place in the heights of the high stakes game of American politics is so audacious that people can literally nor believe that the Bush administration, or any human for that matter, could possibly be doing what they evidently are doing Mr. Palast comes to our rescue by presenting not only convincing evidence that you should believe your eyes and ears but makes clear the motives, rationalizations ("political philosophy") and methods behind them. He does this in a way that is entertaining enough to counter the soul numbing depression that comes with this knowledge.

Be ready to have your eyes open. He was preaching to the choir as I read about the trashing of the constitution by the Bush administration but it was the inside information about the oil industry that raised my cackles.

Written in a very conversational style that I enjoy.

Palast conducts a lot of research and investigation, so you know he is telling the truth. I've watched some of BBC news bits, and it's fun watching the conservatives freak when confronted by him.

His analysis of the Iraq war, and the two competing camps (neocons & Big Oil) really cleared up for me the various events that have happened there. This book should be "required" reading.

Greg Palast heads a thorough investigative team that exhaustively documents every detail of his writing. There is truly a class war being waged against all but the wealthiest who must work for wages or survive on disability with a crumbling health care safety net like this reviewer.

Anyone who gives a fig about fairness and accuracy of the U.S. voting system and what is left of any social justice here in the states will treasure this book.

This book should wake anyone up to the reality of the way their government works. I didnt need waking up because it's common sense to know that they don't work for us but against us. Go read his other books too. Go watch Terrorstorm - A History of Government Sponsored Terrorism, go watch 9/11 Mysteries - Part I: Demolitions and finally go watch America: Freedom to Fascism [...]

Other reviewers have highlighted the different subjects that Palast tackles - and enlightens - in this quirky but amazing book. Its principal merit is to bring clarity to topics, especially the political role of oil in today's world, that much of the mainstream media overlooks or else buys into the "standard line". And Palast seems to have the documentation to back up his theories (I love the hidden cassette recorder). This is a book that will leave you looking at the topics it examines with a new vision. So, add this to the list of "must read" books about today's world, and in particular the Bush World and America's big business/big finance interests worldwide.

Read it before Chavez is assassinated.

The author has great investigative instincts and ability. Why his findings have not come out in the mainstream press in a timely fashion is the mystery that cries for explanation.

The United States is in debt to this author!

Mr. Palast's book Armed Madhouse is really entertaining as well as very informative! It is a must read for sure. Many books trying to get out information are as boring as watching paint dry but this will educate you and make you laugh out loud at the same time. I would highly recommend this book.

Greg Palast has done it again. This should be required reading for every candidate running for president, and also all congress critters. Anyone who cares how we got into the fix in which we find this country should read this and take it to heart.

Armed Madhouse is one of the most striking books I have ever read. If it were not written by a journalist, one could easily classify the book as fiction. Shades light on the basic motives of the Middle East conflict.

"Armed Madhouse" is scary and funny. One the few investigative reporters still on the beat finds pests under rocks no one else is turning over. Palast's great sense of humor is the only thing that keeps this from being depressing. My one complaint is that there are not enough footnotes. However the original source material is often provided as a photocopy of the original.

Greg Palast is our contemporary Edward R. Murrow. Singlehandedly he has done more to shine the light of truth on critical issues of the day than the corporate media put together. A must read for those who want to take our country back.

According to the author President Bush is best buddies with Osama Bin Laden, the war with Iraq was intended to keep Iraqi oil OFF the market and oil prices high and all trade barriers were removed by the US occupying power in Iraq thus flooding the country with imports and destroying the local economy.

This should be required reading, at least for the castrated lap dogs of the US media. Palast shows them how it's done, digging up the awful truth and letting the public in on the dirty secrets. I wish more reporters were doing their constitutionally protected jobs.

This book is a must read for all Americans interested in the truth about the current Bush Administration's foriegn and domestic activities. Excellent investigative reporting by Greg and an easy and very informative read.

Although I have been an avid reader of the writings of Greg Palast, I have on occasion wondered about the accuracy of the sources cited in his research. Until now, I have not had an opportunity to verify the accuracy of his research.

In this book Greg, dedicates several pages to a subject I have been researching for a while: Peak Oil. On page 108, Palast provides a summary of his interpretation of Hubbert's 1956 world forecast for global oil production as follows:

"Sometime during 2006, we will have used up every last drop of crude oil on the planet. We're not talking "decline" in oil from a production "peak," we're talking "culmination," completely gone, kaput, dead out of crude--and not enough natural gas left to roast a weenie."

This is a clear misinterpretation of Hubbert's theory of oil depletion. "Decline" and "peak" are precisely what Hubbert was forecasting--and not in 2006, but around the year 2000, as shown in the graph reproduced on page 111. In addition Greg completely omits an accurate prediction made by Hubbert on the decline of production in the US starting in the mid 70s.

I would recommend reading "An Open Letter to Greg Palast" by Richard Heinberg at the Energy Bulletin for a thorough critique of this book.

The issue here is not what Palast chooses to believe about the subject of oil depletion. The issue is simply getting the facts straight and presenting a complete picture for the benefit of the readers.

you get the idea that something is being left out of the family portrait, maybe the crazy aunt in the attic. When I read that Larry Franklin had passed classified documents to "lobbyists," I realized that the omission is deliberate. Franklin passed classified documents to American Israel Public Affairs Committee. He was spying for Israel. You'd think that, in a book largely about what drives American foreign policy, Palast would mention the influence of Israel. You would think that in a book which talks a lot about neocons there would be a passing mention of Israel. There's not even an entry for Israel in the index.

According to Palast, neocons just love oil, privatized oil. That's what they get up for in the morning. Israel who?

This book is essentially pandering, poorly-written, thinly-veiled Marxism. While the thesis of Palast's book, that corporations have too much vested control in government, is not in dispute, Palast takes it too far and totally out of context, finding class war where there is none with the eye of a true Stalinist. His arguments are all biased towards the lower social stratum. At one point, he accuses a test of reading comprehension of being classist because it asks children the definition of doubles tennis. Nevermind that plenty of lower-income people play and/or watch tennis, and that the answer can be deduced by reading the paragraph whether one knows anything about tennis or not (that's the point of reading comprehension), Palast lets fly his antiquated Marxist ideas with misplaced revolutionary zeal. The whole thing reads like an overblown Rolling Stone article, with the aging hipster Palast trying to use trendy language to exploit the stupidity of youth. Furthermore, one need only read the acknowledgements to reveal the sordid company he keeps. He thanks Cynthia McKinney, the most racist congressperson since David Duke (thankfully not reelected by the good people of Georgia), that paragon of moral confusion, Michael Moore, and the vacuous Howard Dean, among others. Most of his "arguments" are simply guilt by association (look how so-and-so is connected with Bush). Unlike a tome such as David Horowitz's "Radical Son", which makes rational arguments against ideologies in an attempt to convince leftists of the error of their ways (and it's very convincing, I'm living proof), all Palast does is pander to people who already think Bush is the stupidest person on earth and all of the world's problems are caused by American action. If you don't already believe the things he says, these arguments are too thin to convince you. Finally, one need only read the favorable reviews of books like this and the scathing ones of works like "Radical Son" to see the difference. The former consists of half-baked, inane arguments while the latter is characterized by petty name calling. By contrast, most favorable reviews of libertarian and conservative books are lucid and relevant, as are critiques of leftist drivel like the one I just wrote.[...]

Greg Palast is an example of a phony "progressive" shill in that he poses as an uncompromising critic of the system--only to minimize or divert attention from the American Empire in general and its greatest crimes.

Despite all the partisan political bickering of the USA, American "progressives" like Palast are not much better than conservatives. They are two sides of the same coin, as is demonstrated by key issues that Palast addresses: the War on Terrorism, the USA's aggression against Iraq, and globalization.

His book, for example, offers the standard liberal "criticism" that the Bush Regime is manipulating the War on Terror for self-serving political ends and to destroy civil liberties.

This is true, but only a half-truth.

America's War on Terrorism in general is a Big Lie beginning with the events of 9-11.

This Big Lie has been promoted by not only the Bush Regime and Neocons but most of mainstream America including Democrats, Progressives, and the so-called American free press. Indeed, one of the greatest peddlers of this Big Lie is the organization that Palast himself works for: the BBC.

Like the rest of the Anglo-American media, Palast has for the past 5 years willfully denied, downplayed, or obfuscated the forensic, circumstantial, and historical evidence that suggests 9-11 was an American terrorist attack on its own citizens. American "journalists" would likely dismiss these issues as "Conspiracy Theory," but this evidence includes though is not limited to:

* The forensic evidence that raises questions about the collapse of the World Trade Center and the physical improbability that these buildings could collapse without the use of explosives in a controlled demolition.

* Physical evidence at the Pentagon that raises questions about what actually hit the building and how the hole created there appeared to be smaller than the wingspan of the "airliner" that allegedly punctured it.

* Circumstantial evidence that demonstrates the American Military trained some of the alleged 9-11 hijackers during the 1990s at places such as Maxwell Air Force base in Alabama and the Defense Language Institute in California.

* The historical evidence that Osama Bin Laden was (and is?) an American intelligence asset. Indeed, America has a criminal record of supporting Islamicist groups (including Bin Laden and Al-Queda) as geopolitical weapons against Communist and Third World countries during AND after the Cold War.

* This support includes the American-sponsored jihad against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan that was begun by the liberal Jimmy Carter in 1979 and continued by the conservative Ronald Reagan in the 1980s.

* It also includes American sponsorship of Al-Queda groups in the Balkans in the 1990s by the Clinton Regime. This support was crucial to America's crusade to dismember Yugoslavia and bring American-style "Democracy and Freedom" (i.e., American capitalist plunder and military subjugation) to that region.

This American attack on Yugoslavia, incidentally, was SUPPORTED by many Democrats and Progressives who try to pass themselves off as "Antiwar" activists today.

In short, USA sponsorship of "Islamicist terrorism" is a tradition of Imperialist America's policy for decades REGARDLESS OF WHETHER A DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN, PROGRESSIVE OR CONSERVATIVE REGIME IS IN POWER.

Thus, the threat is not just George Bush, the Neocons, or some Big Oil cabal, as Palast promotes as diversionary patsies. The threat is the global American Empire itself--a threat that many American super-patriots of course deny, as their own exploitative standard of living is based upon this US Empire.

Moreover, the politics of these "progressives" is primarily a disguised American imperialism. In the case of the American invasion of Iraq that Palast discusses, many US progressives oppose this war NOT because they oppose American aggression or the US genocide of over 100,000 Iraqi people. They oppose this war because they worry that the American military cannot win in this colonial "quagmire," that it costs too much in troops and money, or that US "military preparedness" (read: aggressive capabilities) has been weakened such that America cannot threaten or attack other nations in the future!

Another issue that Palast obscures is that the USA's War on Terror is really about expanding the American Empire on a global scale. This American Terror War goes hand-in-glove with the process of GLOBALIZATION, a topic that Palast also distorts. Contrary to the economic nationalist demagoguery pushed by many American anti-globalists, globalization does not just involve the expansion of multinational corporations, outsourcing, or "foreigners stealing our jobs."

It involves the globalization of an American/Western dominated capitalist system in the military, political, ideological, and economic arenas, since the collapse of Communism as an alternative system. In many ways, Globalization is Americanization. And American economic nationalists do not oppose the globalization of American capitalist domination; they only oppose the negative economic side effects of this process for their Empire.

The War on Terror in particular is a geopolitical pretext manipulated by America to:

1. Control oil/energy resources that countries from Europe to Asia rely upon.

2. Expand US military occupation of Southwest Asia and Eurasia.

3. Maintain the Dollar as the world reserve currency against the Euro and the ability of America to extort financial tribute from other nations (called "financial liberalization" or "revaluation" in American-Speak).

4. Expand the powers of the American police state.

5. Globalize American imperialist domination (or "American Values") over the entire planet.

9-11 was the Reichstag Fire provocation designed to accelerate these American ambitions.

Too bad a famous, well-heeled, globetrotting "muckraker" like Palast distorts and minimizes the substance of these issues.

But one shouldn't be surprised. American imperialism is supported by mainstream America from Liberals to Conservatives. This is exemplified by the Democratic Party's support for the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, the War on Terror, and threats against Iran, Syria, and North Korea.

This is why most American progressives, moderates, and conservatives alike refuse to fundamentally question the American Big Lies of 9-11 and "War against Terror."

It also reveals the nature of American "democracy" in its essence: It's the Best Lie that Money Can Buy.