BOOMERANG!:
How our covert wars have created enemies across the Middle East and brought terror to America

Review by Anton Black--'Boomerang!' is a must read book for background on the "war on terrorism." It puts together concise information about U.S. involvement with countries that are key players one way or the other on a country by country basis. It has information covering the timeline in each country, which allows the reader to cross check between different countries during a given timeframe. There are three parts: 1: Enemy States, 2: Allied States and 3: Frontline States. The focus is on the Middle East, Southwest and Central Asia. Mark Zepezauer points out: "As astonishing as the crimes detailed in this book maybe, they exclude what the U.S. has done in Africa, Latin America, Southeast Asia and elsewhere."

The book begins by succinctly explaining the basis of decades of U.S. policy in the Middle East-maintaining disparate wealth and power in the world through dominating the world's oil supply. "States that don't have oil, such as Turkey, Israel and Egypt, are useful to us primarily for helping to keep in line those that do." (from the Introduction).

In the Enemy States section the book begins with chapters on Iran and Iraq. The now fairly well known (among anti-war people in the U.S.) stories of the CIA coup in Iran and the "October surprise" during the hostage crisis in Iran are covered. The following chapter (Iraq) covers dealings with Saddam Hussein of Iraq, including arms and WMD capability to fight Iran. The story of the first Gulf War is covered very well and concisely.

The next three chapters, Syria, Sudan and Libya, cover less widely known history which is integral to the whole U.S. role in the region. Concerning Syria, a researcher is quoted: "while Syrians had long been pro-American, our interventions there 'helped reverse a century of friendship.'" The role of oil in the shifting U.S. policies towards Libya and Sudan is gone into. Interestingly in Libya, the U.S. initially went along with and may even have encouraged Qaddafy's oil nationalization and initiation of price rises, which pushed forward the role and influence of OPEC. In Sudan these policy shifts have helped fuel a civil war which has taken millions of lives.

Friendly States covers Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Palestine, Turkey and Saudi Arabia. There is a lot of information in these chapters, ranging from the U.S. invasions of Lebanon to Bush family ties in Saudi Arabia. It is made clear that U.S. friendship with a state has nothing to do with friendship for its people.

Frontline States covers Pakistan, Afghanistan and the "Caspian Region: Previews of Coming Attractions". The background and the war on Afghanistan are covered well, basically material already known among anti-war people such as the history surrounding the pipeline negotiations. The book reports that Osama Bin Ladin was recruited by the CIA in Istanbul (Turkey) in 1979, which I have not seen elsewhere (p. 136).

The latest developments in the Caspian Region are covered, country by country. The afterward: "Ending the Killings Abroad-And Avoiding New Ones at Home" begins with a list of U.S. crimes and then goes on to the author's political solutions to all this. These are the "paths of diplomacy, peace, democracy, reconciliation and cooperation." He supports Rep. Kucinich's proposal for a Department of Peace in the U.S. government and the Worldwatch Institute's call for a Global Marshall Plan for the Third World. While these are good sounding ideas, I think the situation, as he himself outlines, calls for much bolder responses.