7 War Is A Lie
7 War Is A Lie
7 War Is A Lie
illusion of consent for endless destruction and slaughter. This updated version
of David Swanson's classic,War Is A Lie, dispels any notion that the Obama
administration has been more truthful or law-abiding than Bush and Co. On the
most critical issue of our time, 'hope and change' have meant only more
sophisticated lies, secrets and war propaganda, not a new commitment to peace."
Nicolas J. S. Davies, author of Blood on Our Hands: The American Invasion
and Destruction of Iraq.
"Five years ago, David Swanson let us all in on a little secret: Everything we
believe to be true about war is a big fat lie ... actually, a series of lies that are
intertwined and reinforce each other until the lies are the only thing we can see.
In this second edition of War Is A Lie, Swanson provides an epilogue describing
how the war lies have continued perpetuating war over the past five years,
describing one instance after another of unnecessary, immoral and illegal
military conflict. Still, Swanson is hopeful. He believes that war can be
eradicated by exposing the lies that nurture it, and through the coordinated
resistance of the world's citizens. If the global community will unite against the
war interests and reclaim the planet for the benefit of humanity instead of
profit, we can put a stop to the madness of war. Like John Lennon, Swanson
believes that 'War is over...if you want it.'" Leah Bolger, activist, veteran.
"This book is revolutionary, and certainly truth-telling in a remarkable and brave
way." Jennifer Van Bergen, author.
"A vital guide to understanding deadly propaganda, War Is a Lie maps out the
deceptive terrain where people fall into accepting perpetual war as necessary.
David Swanson has done the difficult work of making it easy for readers to
grasp the extent of the lies -- and the horrific consequences. With meticulous
research and moral clarity, this book could transform your view of war and the
real possibilities for peace." Norman Solomon, author, film maker, activist.
"I've been reading a bit of this book every night since I got it. The effect it's
having on me is hard to explain. Like I've been born into a cult whether or not I
want it, but now the lies are being washed away by the rain." John Bostrom,
peace activist.
"Activist David Swanson is well respected in the anti-war community as a man
who walks his talk in a bold, committed, solid way, that he is a principled leader.
Now we must add to that list of credentials authorship of an important, destined
to be classic book. 'War Is A Lie' addresses the web of lies, the taboo subjects,
the false claims, the mythic messages that are hollow and empty and it lays
waste to them." Rob Kall, journalist, radio host.
"If decisions to go to war were really made on the basis of reason and facts,
rather than greed and power, David Swanson's brilliant new book would put a
stop to them. Those of us who know David understand that he writes quickly and
eloquently, speaks honestly and powerfully, and follows a logical point all the way
to its conclusion. He has a philosopher's mind with a computer's precision. And
he always maintains a justifiable moral outrage at the lies of the war criminals -calling out their crimes, detailing their carnage, poking holes in their excuses.
Reading 'War Is a Lie' is like reading Mark Twain's 'War Prayer,' only in book
form." Steve Cobble, political strategist.
"While Americans elect leaders whom they trust are honest, truthful and really
care about the kids they send to kill for our country, War Is A Lie reveals
decade after decade the sordid side of our history that our elected officials
lie us into war with stunning and embarrassing regularity and are little concerned
about the harm to innocent civilians, much less to members of our own military."
Ann Wright, peace activist, author, veteran.
"Swanson offers an incisive examination of the rationalizations, justifications,
and outright lies that have led the United States, and other nations, into battle.
And he shows the personal cost to the current generation of combatants
returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan." Cynthia Wachtell, author.
David Swanson has taken the mantle of AJ Muste, who had the guts and the
audacity to declare World War II to have been unnecessary and wrong. Swanson
takes Mustes argument further to make the audacious claim that all wars are
not just unnecessary, but a crime. Dave Lindorff, journalist, author.
"War is a Lie is a must read for anyone who wants to break the centuries-long
cycle of a perennially war-waging United States. In this carefully researched
book, Mr. Swanson exposes the falsehoods that a willing government sells to a
gullible public to gain support for one unnecessary war after another. The profit
motives, power plays and perennial chest-thumping, that have all been given more
importance than human lives, are exposed in all their ugliness. This book should
be required reading in every high school history class in the country." Robert
Fantina, author, peace activist.
"It was a Republican U.S. senator, Hiram Johnson of California, who is credited
with coining the phrase: 'The first casualty when war comes is truth.' ... Were
he serving in the Senate now, Hiram Johnson would go to the floor of the
Senate, hold up a copy of David Swansons essential new book and demand that
the chamber and the whole of the American people recognize the reality of its
title: War Is a Lie." John Nichols, journalist, author.
"In War is a Lie David Swanson carves himself a monumental task: to prove the
truth of this in every historical instance for which background is available. He
accomplishes his task, with a weight of evidence which can only be described as
devastating. Swanson sets forth a deceptively simple yet provocative thesis:
War is never the only choice, and always the worst one." Ralph Lopez, peace
activist.
"David Swanson writes in the tradition of Howard Zinn. He always goes for
clarity, both in his relentless orchestration of the facts and his ethical
vision. War Is A Lie is as clear as the title. Wars are all based on lies, could not
be fought without lies, and would not be fought at all if people held their
governments to any reasonable standard of honesty. The book is easy to
understand, easy to read, if you have the will to face a vast array of facts that
hold the United States government to a reasonable standard of honesty."
Charles M. Young, journalist.
"Swanson's penetrating analysis of the lies behind wars, backed by his extensive
historical knowledge, shine a light not only on the destructive wars but on the
irrational, delusional thinking and propaganda that starts and prolongs them and
leads to so much death, destruction, and suffering." Jay Kvale, peace activist.
"David Swansons new book has given me a fresh perspective on a topic Ive
dedicated my life to: Americas war culture and its ever-nuanced fall out.
Economic collapse, pollution, dependence on fossil fuels, even global warming: you
cant begin to fathom our predicaments until you conceive of the American war
monster. Swanson rips away the public relations/advertising of this military
industrial giant to show its true cancerous colors. Read slowly, America. This is a
powerful mirror for those still clinging to our media distortions. Its an
indictment of a culture grown dependent on, and distorted by the machinery of
violence. But there is a compassion, an empathy to the authors tone. We are all
victims, Swanson argues. We are a people kept blind to the true costs, the
human tragedies, by the never ending lie of war." Charles Bivona, writer,
professor.
"It's been a week since I finished War Is A Lie, and I can't stop
thinking/talking about it.... Everyone in my life is getting a copy for their
birthday this year and I'm composing a letter to the editor of every major
paper in Idaho. Thank you for rocking my world." Kim Mazik, peace activist.
"This book is a nonviolent assault on the acceptance and justification of war, of
all wars. For those of us who already are familiar with the uncountable
arguments supporting Swanson's position, he was successful in compiling them in
a very readable work which also serves as a reference book. For those of us who
more or less blindly accept our culture of militarism, I am hopeful that the
exposure to the clear, compelling, evidence-based debunking of general war
myths and lies laid out by Swanson will open new windows of understanding."
Patrick Hiller, conflict transformation scholar, on the Governing Council of the
International Peace Research Association, the Steering Committee of World
Beyond War and Director of the War Prevention Initiative by the Jubitz Family
Foundation.
No one has worked harder than David Swanson to free the U.S. from the grip
of militarism. His recently updated book War Is a Lie, brilliantly exposes just
our profound addiction to war. I hope it jumpstarts a conversation about how we
can achieve enduring peace. John Horgan, science journalist, author, The End
of War.
"In War Is a Lie, David Swanson underscores a vital point that has been ignored
by far too many people who hoped President Obama and the Democrats would
bring about a break from the disastrous policies of the Bush years: 'we can't sit
in elected officials' offices demanding peace while promising to vote for them,
no matter what they do - not if we expect to be heard.' He shows how
Democrats historically -- and President Obama today -- are part of the toxic
bipartisan consensus that sustains repeated military intervention, at enormous
and mounting cost to the world. And he importantly reminds us that it will take
mobilize, active, engaged popular movements to change a status quo that will lead
to only more wars." Anthony Arnove, author, Iraq: The Logic of Withdrawal.
"When you signed my copy at the Charlottesville, VA reading/signing you asked
me to let you know what I thought of War is a Lie. I just finished reading it.
Excellent, comprehensive and well written. Great manual for spotting the lies
and countering arguments for war. Just what I needed after a discouraging
campaign season to get me charged up and back in the peacemaking game. Thanks
for broadening our knowledge and telling what needed to be told." Harry Davis
"Well, here we are in the 21st century of the Common Era, and given the violent
history of the past decade, evidently the arguments about the disutility of
warfare still need to be made, again and again and again... Depressing, really. But
thank goodness David Swanson has taken up the effort. Buy the book!" Helena
Cobban
"I am less than halfway through the book - and - I am learning so much! I
consider myself very well read, a student of history, TV-free for over 14 years,
etc. etc. - but - your book is a revelation. I've known for decades that the
history we were fed in school is nothing but propaganda and lies, but the
information in your book takes that to a whole new level. I have told people to
read your book and that I rate its importance, for what it reveals about the
mendacity of scholars, historians, the liberal class, politicians and propagandists,
up there with Zinn's People's History. I'm serious about that - I don't say it
lightly. Thank you for writing this book. I hope sales are going better than you
expected. I am telling people about the book and making sure that when Im
reading it in a public place people see the title. Ive had a couple people approach
me, so Ive been happy to tell them about such an important work. My husband is
an artist and focused on his work (landscapes in oils) but I read him a lot of
things that I read and last night while he was making dinner, I read excerpts
things he didnt know either. He wants me to read him more which I will happily
do! Ive been reading it at lunch and in what little free time I have in the
evenings and weekends which isnt much. My proverbial hat is off to you, David.
Im really impressed. Of course, I thought it would be another good and valuable
addition to 'left' literature, but it is proving to be much more than that to me. I
strongly feel the facts you have revealed are intrinsic to Americans
understanding of our real history history which is forgotten, deliberately
hidden and covered with the propaganda masquerading as history in our schools.
I have an awful feeling that your book may not have a wide readership which it
certainly should because of how books are marketed these days and the
problems inherent within the publishing industry. Im doing what little I can do
alert people to its value and importance. And Im not even quite halfway through
yet!" -- Maria Allwine
David Swanson is one of the greatest peace strategists alive today. You will
find War Is A Lie to be engaging, insightful, inspirational, and useful. -Michael D. Knox, PhD - Chair, US Peace Memorial Foundation