Current Events Books

Roger Daniels's 1962 book The Politics of Prejudice: The Anti-Japanese Movement in California and the Struggle for Japanese Exclusion is a must for all voting-age citizens. Why a must? Because at first glance this book seems like obscure, dark history of a time almost now forgotten and because of the little attention devoted to pre-Pearl Harbor treatment of Japanese immigrants (Issei)and Japanese-Americans (Nessei). More importantly, it is a book that speaks of our national character and grows timeless in its treatment of immigration which of course is hardly a new phenomenon.

It is almost like walking into a timewarp! Substitute "Japan" for "Mexico" or "Latin America" and substitute "Japanese" for "Mexican" or "illegal alien" and you'd think Professor Daniels had written this book last night! The Tancreados, the Jim Gilchrists--even the more wishy washy Schwarzenegger-types of the period are all there! (Even Fabian socialist and Lenin-admirer H.G. Wells bought into the "Yellow Peril" paranoia.) Exclusionist groups like FAIR, the Minute Men and legislation like the Sensenbrenner bill, were all present a hundred years ago! The book also covers key propagandists like the Rupert Murdoch of a century ago: William Randolph Hearst. Nothing new under the sun, eh?

This is a slight book, crammed with information. The only problems are the tiny print (for my myopic eyes) and the lengthy footnotes. Also, once in a while, Professor Daniels slips into obscure early 20th century California politics, but that said, I would purchase used copies and mail them to choice legislators. Would that work?

Trotsky was mistaken. History DOES repeat itself (for those who didn't learn from it the first time, anyway, as the ancient Greek philospher said.)

Great facts and opinions about Japanese internment in the United States; everyone should read

Nice and short (not "long and boring" like many history books!) -- a very thorough examination of the causes of the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. Professor Daniel's book is beautifully written and should be read by anyone who is interested in the topic!

The best part of this book is its organization. As a reader,having no background in subjects of politics nor Japanese American History, I was able to clearly understand the point of view of those people who were against Japanese immigration and how their actions effected the decisions to use internment camps for the Japanese American people during WWII.

I throughly enjoyed this book and learned a great deal from reading it. Although it details Hackney's battle in the "Culture Wars " of Clinton's presidency, it provides great insight into: faculty governance, campus politics,the role of the presidency in a modern day university, dealing with the press and media, navigating complex , highly charged issues and the management of perception.

Hackney is an excellent writer and has a fair share of wisdom

The Politics Of Presidential Appointment: A Memoir Of The Culture War by historian Sheldon Hackney (University of Pennsylvania) is a politically charged testimony of the so-called "Culture Wars." The former president of the University of Pennsylvania, Sheldon Hackney tells of how his nomination to become President Bill Clinton's chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities touched off heated fire from right-wing conservatives. Polarized opinions and the deleterious fallout from vehement accusations from both the left and right sides of life issues are considered in the sobering and insightful account. Enhanced with a Foreword by Vernon Jordan, The Politics Of Presidential Appointment is a welcome and illuminating contribution to contemporary Political Science reference collections and reading lists.

This is a many-faceted book, written in extremely compelling and sympathetic prose. You cannot help but feel for Hackney as he describes the hell he went through to be appointed, or the absurd politics surrounding his confirmation. It is sad to see that members of the U.S. Senate, on both sides, would take to the floor and condemn a man they didn't bother to learn about for actions they knew only the smallest amount about. Regardless of Prof. Hackney's sins, the circus was ridiculous.
Still, though, the issue of Hackney's sins cannot be ignored, and he certainly does not. As much as this is a memoir of the "Politics of Presidential Appointment," it is also Hackney's long-awaited public defense of himself against his many (justified) detractors. And it is this portion of the book that is dissappointing self-serving and one-sided. It is unfortunate that, 10 years later, Hackney still defends his coddling of the enemies of free speech and newspaper thieves, and his defense of speech codes, though in fairness he writes that he no longer believes in codes.
On the whole, this is a good book that I'd recommend, but if you are not familiar with the events at Penn that led to Hackney's unfortunate Senate experience, I strongly encourage you to read "The Shadow University" by Alan Kors and Harvey Silverglate, which presents the other side of the story as is an even better book.

Dr. Hackney's riveting account of the way in which the mobilized right wing of America tried to prevent him from heading the National Endowment for the Humanities is a chilling case study of the lengths to which Clinton haters went to discredit the president. It is also a touching account of how a brave and honorable man withstood the calumnies heaped upon him. A must read

I own a previous edition of this book. Facinating information about each campaign. You think 2000 was bad? Take a look at 1876 or 1824. I'd offer more in this review, but it's 4 am and I need to get back to sleep.

This book reminds me again just how much fun the study of history can be. The basic facts of Presidential elections from the beginning to today are solid historical accounts. But they also include the tidbits of electoral trivia that go on in each election, but that are often obscure or unnoticed. This book is both informative and entertaining. I plan to give it as a gift to my opthomologist who is also a history buff. As a retired history professor I look forward to chatting with him during my annual examinations.

Presidential Campaigns: From George Washington To George W. Bush by Paul F. Boller, Jr. is a lively, informative, and often surprising history of American presidential election campaigns. This is a complete chronological history of from the unanimously concented ascent of General george Washionhton, to the divisively contested Gore vs. Bush recall scandal. Presidental Campaigns is a superbly written and presented political history that, in these politically divise days of presential electioneering, deserves as wide a readership as possible among the electorate.

You wouldn't have recognized the election of 1789. There were no primaries, nominating convention, rival candidates, campaign speeches, or debates on public issues." (All quotes are direct from the book.) Yet the will of the people was perfectly expressed. Everyone simply agreed that Washington had to be the President. Four years later they had political parties, but both of them picked Washington. That was the end of the smooth sailing.

In 1796 Adams and Jefferson remained on friendly terms with each other, but had their supporters do a lot of name calling (sound familiar?). By 1800 Adams was calling Jefferson ... well, read the book. Suffice to say, the American way of politics was in full swing, has continued unabated until now and shows no sign of making significant changes in the future.

I must say that I do miss the rum. When Washington was running for the Virginia House of Burgesses in 1758, there were 391 elgible voters. Washington gave them 160 gallons of rum. It's kind of a wonder just how they could vote.

This is a delightful book. I remember taking American History in college, and that was pretty dull. This reads like a novel, full of interesting anecdotes while conveying the facts as well.

This book is wonderful for ages 7 and up. Our family members are all becoming Presidential scholars. Can't stop reading it.

I am teaching a high school extra-curricular class this semester on the history of U.S. presidents and wives. This book has proven wonderful! Loads of information and each formatted the same for easy referencing. Great buy!

Quotes from Raiders of the Lost Ark aside, I recently became alot more interested in American history. I guess after years of complaining about politicians and where I stood on issues, I kind of wanted to know at least a little of what I was talking about. So I stumbled upon this book,and at a great price no less(cue audience going OOOOOHHHH with fake surprise)! Anyway, I eagerly awaited it and when I recieved it, couldn't believe how extensive it is. It covers every president up to Dubyah and basically reads like a school textbook-which I think it was. It is a very large book and not only focuses on the Presidents and their administrations, but important people behind the scenes and even family members. I learned alot that I didn't know(or couldn't retain from school) and it allowed me to view alot of these men in a different light. It is truly a fascinating read. The one drawback is the fact that it is basically a textbook makes the writing very dry and sort of fact by fact history. This really isn't too much of a problem though because i really wanted something unbiased and informative. This is by no means a way to become an expert on any on of these people, but a great way to get started by learning a little about all of them.

The price tag for The Presidents Fact Book: A Comprehensive Handbook To The Achievements, Events, People, Triumphs, And Tragedies Of Every President From George Washington To George W. Bush is a bargain for a weighty, sweeping survey of American presidential biographies as presented by Roger Matuz in over 700 pages of detail: any high school, college or general public library collection with an interest in Presidential history and biographies will appreciate this review of the lives and times of all the nation's presidents. Included are not only biographical sketches, but boxed details on key historical figures of their times, first ladies, and lesser-known presidential facts.

Lewis Lapham's notes reveal the perspective of a deeply informed man on the current republican mess, written with elegance and brillance.
"How does one reconcile the demand for small government with the desire for an imperial army,[...] match the warmhearted currencies of "conservatism compassion" with the cold cruelty of "the unfettered free market", know that human life must be saved from abortionists in Boston but not from cruise missiles in Baghdad?"
The essays cover the whole affair, from the rise of conservative propaganda to the last proofs of incompetence(or crimes) of the Bush administration.
An instructive, captivating, refreshing critic worth to be read.

Lapham's monthly essays for Harper's were always some of the best writing of the magazine. This collection from the last four years touches on "Empire" only as a basic theme for the unending expansion of American militarism and loss of demestic freedoms. Lapham is an acute observer, bringing his usual brilliant insights into the American political, social and international scenes. The book will make you think, will remind you of missed opportunities caused by the Bush Administration's actions and give you a perspective on what the American nation may be like in just a few years. Highly recommend.

At the time of the US "mid-term" elections in the Autumn of 2006, the credibility of the Bush regime in that nation had reached nadir. The favouritism of its domestic policies and the false premise of its foreign wars prompted a belief in the need for "regime change". The exposure of the deceptions and illegal activities of the regime was largely due to such journalists as Lewis Lapham. Lapham lays bare the inconsistencies, evasions and falsehoods that Bush and his team have put forth during their time of governance. This collection of those columns makes dismal reading, but the information they present is invaluable. They are a requiem chorus of a once-admirable nation.

Lapham, who wrote the "Notebook" column for Harper's Magazine for many years, was an early detector of the direction the Bush coalition was taking. That direction not only disturbed him for its potential results, Lapham was also alarmed at the lack of attention US media gave the trend. The fundamental issue, Lapham argues, is the attempt to transform a democratic republic into a global empire. Underlying this change is a document published in 1993 by Pentagon "officials" - officials who later played major roles in the Bush administration. The paper defined the US as the sole superpower - a power with the means and will to strike anywhere on the planet. Inhibiting or challenging that will was tantamount to treason if domestic, or tending to "terrorism" if external.

The US would undergo a fundamental change resulting from the provisions of the document. "Terrorism" was already long in the US lexicon by the time the World Trade Center towers were struck. Yet, Lapham recognises that declaring a "war on terrorism" necessitates defining non-existent ideology, then countering its adherents. Because the WTC attacks were carried out from within the US, one tactic must be the close surveillance of the domestic population. Lapham asserts that the implementation of that policy is turning the US into a "quiescent police state". This new condition is exacerbated by the economic policies of the government which enlarges the chasm between corporate wealth and real income for the less well-off. He is clear that, irrespective of which individual is in the White House or which party that individual represents, it is the shift from the traditional ideals of his country that alarms him. He wants others to share his concern, since once those ideals are demolished, their reconstruction will be a long, monumental task shared by all citizens.

Lapham's keening is a lament for lost principles. His conclusion, that Bush must be brought to account for ignoring or violating his Oath of Office, may be an act of political redemption, but it will not shift attitudes in the US very much. Lapham seems convinced that by placing Bush on a sacrificial political alter will restore the past. He ignores the fact that the legislation enacted by the regime will remain on the books unless repealed or sharply revised. The thousands now employed by "Homeland Security" and other "anti-terrorist" agencies will need jobs somewhere. Nor is it likely that the elimination of one individual will reset the collective viewpoints of a nation committed to maintaining world hegemony. This reality may seem to give Lapham's essays a tinge of "Bushwhacking", but the blatant disregard of the regime for law and truth show how badly this collection was needed. The results of those mid-term elections may have been an encouraging glimmer, but they don't promise the level of restoration Lapham is looking for. [stephen a. haines = Ottawa, Canada]

Award-winning essay writer and editor emeritus of "Harper's Magazine" Lewis Lapham presents Pretensions to Empire: Notes on the Criminal Folly of the Bush Administration, a stinging indictment of the Bush-Cheney administration from its first days in Washington up to the present. Chronicling the presidency's abuses of power, and drawing upon the lessons of history to provide an ominous background to current events, Pretensions to Empire dissects the government's shameful incompetence in the wake of Hurricane Katrina; the copious, unwarranted domestic spying authorized by the president; and above all, the jingoism and pretensions to empire that prompted the administration's war in Iraq on shoddy intelligence. The resounding, passionate message is that the nation can no longer afford to tolerate George W. Bush or his cronies. Whether one agrees or disagrees with the author, his reasoning is compelling, measured, and completely accessible to readers of all backgrounds.

This book was written by the famous Italian statesman Niccolo Machiavelli in 1531. This book is a classic and I was pleasantly surprised that the content was not dated and the principles translate easily into the modern worlds of business and politics.
The author wrote this book as an instruction guide for governing princes in the 1500's when Italy was divided into city states and were being defeated by many foreign powers. I belive that the work is directed to Lorenzo de Medici by a letter included in the work and because at the end of the writing Machiavelli calls for a prince to unite and lead Italy against its oppressors.
The book is not unethical as I had imagined from my understanding of the ruthlessness of Machiavellian ethics. The author is only explaining tactics to use to maintain power in a kingdom or city state that are pragmatic for his time period.
Here are some examples from the book:
1. When conquering a territory keep the current laws and institutions in place, but eliminate all the family of the defeated prince.
2. When trouble is sensed ahead of time it can be easily remedied, if you wait for it to show itself, it is to late.
3. Whoever is responsible for another becoming powerful, ruins himself.
4. There is no surer way of keeping possesion than by devastation.
5. Men do you are harm either because they hate you or they fear you.
6. Violence must be inflicted once and for all, it must be over quickly.
7. Build your power through the people.
8. Power is maintained through religious institutions.
9. Neglect the art of war and you lose your state.
10. If you act virtuously, you will be undone by those who are not, make use of this or not according to need.
The above is just a small sampling of the lessons in this book. My review can not do this book justice, it is full of wisdom and life lessons. It is a guide book for business leaders and politicians. I strongly suggest adding this book to your home library and referring to it often.

Il Principe is a tiny book--a little over one-hundred pages--that has given its author everlasting fame and notoriety. So much so, in fact, that "Machiavellian,"--like "Orwellian," or "Hobbesian," or "Rabelaisian,"--has entered the adjectival lexicon. (Rarefied company indeed.)

And yet...the book is unbelievably tame. How it ever inspired such a hue and outcry, I can't fathom. Machiavelli writes rather pedantically and systematically about how to rule a principality...a micro-state. (Maybe the translator abetted the fustiness of the prose...something I think highly likely.)

Far from being the tongue of Satan, Machiavelli simply espouses common-sense realpolitik. Sometimes a ruler must lie. Sometimes a ruler must not keep his word. Sometimes a ruler must exercise cruelty. Sometimes it is better to be a miser than a benefactor. Sometimes it is better to be feared than loved. The ruler's life may very well depend on it. In the bloody Italy of Machiavelli's day, that was no great shakes.

Yet Machiavelli is also a bit of a moralist. He writes that an ally should aid another not only because it's the smart thing to do...but because it is the right thing to do. He invokes God repeatedly, and adduces Biblical examples to illustrate his arguments.

Il Principe is not entertaining...it is a propadeutic for statecraft, dry, dispassionate (except for the last chapter), and full of obscure, eye-glazing references to forgotten men. But it is a seminal work of political science, and something that every educated person should dip into.

"It must be understood, that a prince . . . cannot observe all of those virtues for which men are reputed good, because it is often necessary to act against mercy, against faith, against humanity, against frankness, against religion, in order to preserve the state."

His name has become synonymous with (1) corrupt, totalitarian government, and (2) a person's tendency to deceive and manipulate others for gain. Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527) was a Florentine statesman and political theorist, who believed that theological and moral values have no place in politics. He is best known for THE PRINCE (1513), which he wrote to gain influence with the ruling Medici family. (Machiavelli's model for THE PRINCE may have been Cesare Borgia, a cunning and cruel man.) Machiavelli offers instruction on how to acquire and maintain power in the face of any other consideration: "the end justifies the means;" "it is better to be feared than loved; "it is better to be miserly than generous;" "it is better to be cruel than merciful;" for instance. It goes without saying, modern readers may gain insight from such Machiavellian instruction into succeeding in either politics, corporate culture, or in the self-obsessed, success-by-any-means, get-mine Games of Life. (It should be noted that this review refers to the 2005 Penguin Great Ideas edition of THE PRINCE, translated by George Bull.)

G. Merritt

Whatever your preconceived notion of this book is, it will be difficult to come away from it without a respect for the author's thoroughness and insight. The common disparagements against Machiavelli are not well supported by the text unless you are willing to nitpick his arguments.

The book is a treatise on how a ruler should gain, manage, and preserve power. He describes the various types of temporal powers a ruler may hold, and he describes the strategies that he thinks are necessary to maintain it for a long time. The book is full of examples from the past and careful analysis of the successes and failures of those rulers. From these examples, he derives his laws of conduct which forms the bulk of the book.

He receives the most criticism for his "ends justify the means" morality. To this point, he gives his critics only limited ammunition, though. The goal of a ruler, he argues, is to maximize the happiness of his subjects. This means peace, stability, freedom, and high standards of living. A ruler cannot provide these things if he is weak or antagonistic towards his subjects. So Machiavelli is arguing for a strong head of state, not a terrible one. All actions should be aimed at increasing the common good, even if sometimes it requires performing seemingly evil deeds. An action that seems immoral at the time (executing a mild troublemaker) may actually be beneficial in the long run (establishing rule of law and stability). The key to being a ruler is to know how to wield power justly, even if the wielding of it seems immoral at times.

For someone of his time, he does not place his trust heavily in God. Instead he seems to hold fast to the platitude that God helps those who help themselves. This is probably what his critics were quickest to glom onto. He presents a new morality based on power and removes God from the equation totally.

Reading the book now in the middle of the 2008 presidential race is perfect timing. Reading Machiavelli's admonishons and exhortations and then comparing them to the actions of the various candidates, you can get a totally different perspective on the maneuverings of each candidate.

This book is a great short read at anytime, but right now is probably the best chance to see how the practical application of Machiavelli's theories works out. An easy 5 stars.

I got this book for Christmas, and really enjoyed it. Although this book is a few years old there is a lot of really good information in its pages. I found this book useful for building the foundational knowledge needed to keep Big Brother out of my business.

This is one of the best books I have ever read, concerning privacy. The author explains privacy law in a way that is simple to understand, and teaches you the best ways to use the law to protect your own personal privacy. As rouge government agencies continue to trample our rights under foot, here is a way to fight back using the law. My complements to Mr. Chesbro - it's about time someone wrote a book like this!

The book "Privacy for Sale, How Big Brother and Others AreSelling Your Private Secrets For Profit" by Michael Chesbro is awonderful resource for guarding against invasions of privacy in your home, your finances, your mail, your electronic communications and just about any other place someone might find it profitable to abscond with your personal information. This is happening in many places today, and Mr. Chesbro makes short work of explaining the Who, How, Why, When, and Where behind the phenomenon, as well as clueing the reader about ways to defeat the many times illegal, but rife collection of personal data in our society. It appears from the reading that Mr. Chesbro himself has been prey to the thieves of privacy at one time or another, and fully one third of his book is comprised of resources by which his information can be checked, or expounded upon. Michael Chesbro has also delved deeply into the very root of Defining privacy, not something I see very often, and though privacy seems to be a right taken for granted by many people in America and the world, you Will be surprised at the tactics employed by governments and individuals to usurp and thereby profit from invading the inner sanctums of your private information. There are chapters in "Privacy For Sale" Dealing with every aspect of securing your privacy, and then some...by reading this book you will probably discover at least a few aspects of security in your life that are novel and new to you, of which you were previously unaware, and it is constantly stressed throughout the book that as new technologies and methods are developed, so must countermeasures be developed, if one wishes to retain private dealings anywhere. Privacy has become an exploitable commodity, and there are always those who will wish to exploit YOUR privacy for THEIR profit. Government is by far the greatest predator of individual privacy, and Michael Chesbros book advises knowingly of the aspects of this, and provides ways to combat the many-times illegal government intrusion. Here are some things from the book proper: Protecting the Privacy of your electronic mail, your regular mail, your financial information, your telephone communications, your home...There is a chapter briefing you on Voluntary disclosure of your information and it shows here that many people just up and GIVE their privacy away...I myself am guilty of that through my social conditioning, as many of us are, but no more, no more. There is a lot of information concerning the Freedom Of Information Act and its amendments, that will allow you to learn who has what about you, also information about protecting your privacy in the workplace, privacy of your medical records, and your credit privacy. Many times subterfuge and coercion are used by government or corporate information gatherers, and it is this occurence that causes the greatest harm to privacy anywhere. It is what the book is about, mainly, and the information is what you need to realistically begin protecting your privacy. Its a firm foundation, and every structure needs that. The author posesses a clarity not often found in publications of this sort, and you will no doubt enjoy the style by which Michael Chesbro imparts information of the utmost importance to you and your family. The book can be read in a couple of hours, and for the time invested I know of no better source by which to guarantee the integrity of your privacy.

An insightful book that anybody who desires to learn more about privacy awareness should read. Chesbro gives 15 useful guidelines that will increase your knowledge of how to protect and safeguard your privacy. Strongest part of book is chapter on e-mail privacy.

Tall men have a much better chance of becoming president, especially when running against a shorter man! Military service used to be an important aspect of a candidates qualifications; not so anymore.
This is a light, entertaining look at why our past presidents won their elections. It brings political history alive.

Ben Shapiro writes excellently on excellent subject matter. He has yet to produce a mediocre or sub par piece of printed literature.

Project President is an interesting take on a not so interesting subject. Don't be fooled by the latter, as Shapiro has fact-mined some really fascinating items and put them together in a delightfully entertaining and educational book.

Recommended for any politico or anyone with even the slightest of historical interest. You don't need to be a politics junkie to enjoy Bens work in general and this book is no exception.

I bought this book on a whim at the airport, and I gotta say that I was pleasantly surprised. It's a fun overview of our presidents from a unique perspective.

This book is great read. The analysis is flawless and the book is filled with numerous facts and pieces of information that will delight the reader.

I will go ahead and tell you this is not a review on the book. If I wrote a review on the book it would be positive anyway because of how I feel about Trey Ragsdale. I am a slow reader and read everything I can on my own feild of asset management and financial planning.

Anyway, Trey Ragsdale is a first rate citizen. He really enjoys politics and lives it out in his own life. He has a strong family heritage in politics, dating all the way back to James Ogelthorpe. So he is qualified to write this book. His friend Joe put his life on the line for the US in war.

All I can say is that I have learned alot from watching Trey Ragsdale think from another person's perspective and effectively build relationships with people that way. I'm sure this book, which I did buy, is an excellent one because the authors are excellent people.

I believe this book is great. It has all the important documents and things you might need for research or just for reading. I liked the facts about each President, the introduction, and how each inaugural address was included. My favorite section had to be about the Electoral College because Urban and Ragsdale explained it very well, regardless of your prior political knowledge.

I really think more people should read PurePolitics: The Foundations of Our Nation. If you don't think it sounds that great in my description, that is because you just haven't read it yet!

This book is a must read for all political pros. It is well organized and captures the key documents every American should know. As a political scientist, I use this readily available book as a reference when I am involved in any substantial political debate.
I highly recommend this book!

The Foundations of Our Nation illustrates how words in documents and verbal speech can affect society today and for generations to come. Reading the historic documents, speeches, quotes and trivia one can realize the complexity of the decisions that our leaders have had to make. Since Sept. 11th, our country has had to rediscover from whence we have come from. This book is a great resource guide that shows us how our leaders of the past made difficult decisions. This compilation of great works from our democracy which includes famous speeches, founding documents, trivia, and quotations from American leaders inspireed me to become further educated in the arena of politics and to get involved with my community.

The Question is, without doubt, the single best argument against torture under any circumstances. It is a brutally true and personal account of a man caught up under the circumstances beyond his control during the Algerian War of Independence. It was a time when the French, desperate to maintain control over Algeria, had allowed its army to use torture in order to obtain information about its main insurgent enemy, the FLN (Front Liberation Nationale). The author literally puts the reader into his shoes, and one can literally feel the pain of electric shock, the suffocating hell of water boarding, or the miserable mind warping experience of truth drugs.

In wars such as the current GWOT (Global War on Terror) as well as in Algeria, there is always the temptation by politicians to use acts like torture in order to gain an advantage over an insurgent enemy. However, make no mistake. Just as the revelations of torture had undermined the perceived legitimacy of the French cause in Algeria, the same danger also exist in today's struggle in the GWOT.

Regardless of one's opinion on the matter, one must read this simple book in order to gain an understanding of what a torture victim goes through. The book is beautifully written as well as brutally honest. One can easily read it in a day.

Finally, it is important to keep in mind that there is no politics in this book. It is just an account of the hard reality of man's inhumanity against man.

If you are interested in what exactly waterboarding is, and the physical and moral impact on victim and torturer, you need to read this book.

tHIS IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF EUROPEAN HYPOCRACY, LIBERTE, FRANTERNITE ET EQUALITE. THIS BOOKS REVEALS THAT THE ABOVE SOLOGAN IS FOR ONLY CERTAIN PEOPLE OF THE WORLD,BUT NOT FOR AFRICANS. ONCE, AGAIN THIS BOOK REVEALS THAT NOT ALL FRENCHMEN AGREED WITH THE DE GUALLE GOVERNMENT OFOPRESSION.ADDITIONALLY,IN READING THIS BOOK AND OTHERS OF THIS NATURE,SHOULD REINFORCED THE STOPPING OF TORTURE ADN NOT MATTER WHEN IT HAPPEND THERE SHOULD NOT BE A STATUE OF LIMITATION. PROSECUTION SHOULD MANDATORY AND THOSE GUILTY SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE.

I read _The Question_ when I was in high school, back in 1958 or 1959. It made a major impression on me, more than most of the books I was reading at the time. The subject is the use of torture in dealing with terrorism and the author did not sugarcoat the subject. He was fairly graphic about the techniques used. The book is short, less than 100 pages, but it gets the point across. What makes the book timely today is the combination of the publication of _The Battle of the Casbah_, two years ago, wherein one of the French Army's practioniners of torture tells his story for the first time and the fact that the United States is now engaged in fighting a war against terrorism. For those who believe that the issue of torture as an element in fighting terrorism has not been surfaced in the past, the fact is that for those who wanted to know, the information was available all along. As we ask ourselves about this interrogation "technique" it is good to go back and review what has been said in the past.