In "Confessions of an Economic Hitman," John Perkins tells the story about how he and others like him were able to have a huge impact on the world today in ways that many of the elite in society would rather keep secret. The story involves a lot of deceit, murderers, and traitors who are motivated by greed and power. Perkins gives details on how strong countries have the power to exploit another and even goes so far as to influence their politics. He explains how some countries are willing to go to extremes such as robbing another country of their natural resources, cause environmental disasters, and poison the water supply of other nations to get what they want.
The beginning of Perkins autobiography starts with an explanation of two concepts that are "corporatocracy" and "Economic Hit Man," or EHM. He tries to use a professional definition to tell readers what an EHM is. His first defines an EHM as someone who "encourage world leaders to become part of a vast network that promotes U.S commercial interests." (Perkins ix) However, later Perkins provides readers with a more accurate definition of what an EHM is and does. He explains that an EHM is a "highly paid professionals who cheat countries around the globe out of trillions of dollars" using certain techniques such as "fraudulent financial reports, rigged elections, payoffs, extortion, sex and murder." (Perkins ix) World leaders would take the money in order to build infrastructures for their citizens. Since world leaders were provided with false information, their countries usually go into debt to countries such as the United States. As a repayment for this debt, the United States require countries to provide support in the form of politics, military, or economy.
John Perkins tells readers that he was once an EHM himself. He claimed that he had worked for an international consultancy firm known as MAIN. According to Perkins, MAIN strategy was to target poorer countries and convince their leaders ask for and accept huge development loans which they could use for various projects. Construction of the projects would then be given to United States companies through contracts. The leaders of these poorer countries would be cheated with the use of falsified economic projections. This type of cruel manipulation was performed and proven effective in countries such as Panama, Ecuador, and Saudi Arabia. Moreover, if a leader of a poorer country decides they would refuse loans that were offered, their country would suffer or worse, the leaders would be murdered. To an EHM, failure was not an option.
Perkins tells readers that corporatocracy is a term that is used to describe banks, corporations, and government which work the global empire progression. This progression uses both financial as well as political entities in order to protect our businesses, media support, and our schools. The systematic concept which is triggered by the myth that every economic growth only serves mankind prosperity and the larger the economic growth is, the further benefits are extended and the thought that impoverished are simply convenient and easy to exploit.
While reading how societies are being manipulated by powerful governments, one must wonder why anyone would want to become an EHM in the first place. Perkins list two main events in his life for the reason he became an EHM. One was his friendship with Farhad who was the son of an Iranian general, and the other reason was his encounter with his ex-wife, Anne. (Perkins 5) He included his parents as a reason, too. He described his life growing up as a "poor Puritan among so many wealthy." (Perkins 7) Perkins gives readers details of his life. He stated that his life was a series of "frustration" because he craved money and sex. These cravings led him to want to "live the good life." It was this attitude that MAIN used to shape Perkins into a useful EHM. (Perkins 7) While the explanation on why he became an EHM was given, Perkins still needed to answer the question of how someone who was a disbeliever was able to become entangled in the web of corporatocracy deceit.
The answer to that question was simply exploitation. It was Perkins' wife who had introduced the executive on the National Security Agency (NSA) to him. From this introduction, Perkins decided to go through NSA assessments. These series of assessment had focused on Perkins' frustration with life, his childhood, and his association with his friend Farhad. The assessment let the NSA know how "seducible" Perkins was, and the assessments were used to indirectly draw him into training to become an EHM. (Perkins 9) When the true nature of EHMs became clear to him, Perkins had to choose between walking away from it all or becoming an EHM and living the life he had envisioned for himself. He made the decision to become an EHM out of greed. MAIN had offered him some very appealing opportunities. Besides, he believed his decision was justifiable. When he had advanced deep enough, he told himself that he would expose corporatocracy to the world. (Perkins 17)
Iraq, Ecuador, Saudi Arabia, and Panama are just some of the countries in which EHMs operated. Perkins gives readers the details of each case that involved employing strategic tactics. He also describes the outcome to the politics, people, and countries' leaders of these involvements. One such involvement he described took place in Panama. At the time, Omar Torrijos ruled Panama. Many of his people believed him to be a hero. Torrijos took a stand against the United States government. He believed the Panama Canal should be ruled by his country without any intervention from the United States. (Perkins 37) Perkins was able to create a relationship between Torrijos and himself in 1972. At this time, it became apparent that Torrijos knew MAIN's real agenda towards his country, Panama. Torrijos proceeded to tell Perkins that he knew Perkins' company would increase the size of certain projects in order to get work.
Torrijos tried to reason with Perkins by telling him to provide only the best services for his citizens. In return, Perkins' company would receive as much work as he wanted. From this conversation, Perkins understood that not all leaders were greedy and corrupt. He knew that Torrijos only wanted what was best for his citizens and to help the poor rather than keep everything to himself. Perkins pointed out to Torrijos that his selfless attitude would be considered a threat to the United States. Torrijos assured Perkins that he knew the United States could have him assassinated at any time. However, Torrijos was adamant about how difficult it would be to destroy him as he replied, "We have the Canal" "The CIA will have to kill me!" (Perkins 72-75).
According to the Aviation Safety Network, on July 31, 1981,"The Twin Otter departed Rio Hato Airport at 10:44, bound for Penonomé. On board were Panama's president general Omar Torrijos and four of his aides." ("ASN Aircraft accident de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 FAP-205 Coclecito") During the presidency of Jimmy Carter, Torrijos renegotiated the Canal Treaty, which had given control of the Panama Canal to the Panamanians. However, during President Regan's term in office, Torrijos refused to renegotiate the Canal Treaty with the United States. His refusal was because the United States was demanding total control over the Panama Canal. Since Torrijos was standing in the way, the United States government made the decision to remove Torrijos once and for all.
Perkins point out that it was the United States strategy to eliminate anyone who refused to play the exploitation game. Manuel Noriega was the replacement for the assassinated Torrijos. Noriega saw fit to continue what Torrijos had left. One project in particular was the building of a new canal which was to be financially backed by the Japanese government. The new canal financed by the Japanese posed a threat to the United States because the United States firms could lose billions of dollars. The United States government, under the leadership of President George H. W. Bush administration, formed a new plan in order to deal with Noriega. Instead of a plane crash, the strategy was to get rid of Noriega through character assassination and false claims of mass murder. By the year 1986, the United States government had formed a rather negative image of Noriega. The shown him as a drug dealer who ruled with an iron fist. The United States government proceeded to violate international laws in 1989 by making airstrike assaults on the peaceful citizens of Panama.
Perkins described how Ecuadorians were poisoned by a United States oil company. According to Perkins, ChevronTexaco Corp proceeded to use four million gallons of toxic waste water to contaminate the rivers. The toxic waste water contained carcinogens, oil, and various heavy metals which poisoned the animal and people of Ecuador. The Ecuadorian president, Jaime Roldos, demanded that the oil companies either clean up their mess or leave their country. Since President Roldos actions were seen as a threat to the United States' corporatocracy strategy, it was decided that a CIA assassination was needed. In 1981, two months before the Panama leader, Torrijos death, President Roldos died in a plane crash.
The Oil Embargo of 1973 was a game changer for corporatocracy strategy. "During the 1973 Arab-Israeli War, Arab members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) imposed an embargo against the United States" because the United States government was giving political support and foreign aid to the state of Israel. ("Oil Embargo, 1973–1974 1969–1976 Milestones") As a result of the United States actions, Saudi Arabia along with five other Arab countries decided to stop all shipments of oil to the United States. At the forefront of this embargo was the Saudi Arabian King Faisal. He strongly believed in the Palestinians freedom. He publically sworn to one day pray in the Aqsa Mosque located in Jerusalem.
Unfortunately, like many leaders who opposed and threaten the United States' interest, King Faisal was eliminated. In 1975, he was murdered by his nephew who was being educated within the United States at the time. It was assumed that the King's nephew was taking revenge for the death of his brother who was killed by the Saudi Arabian police. (Wynbrandt 236) The United States proceeded to send EHMs that included Perkins and his team with plans for economic projections to Saudi Arabia and other oil rich countries.
Washington devised a new strategy in order to preserve the oil supply. The plan was to lure the House of Saud by using negotiations. The United States had offer to give Saudi Arabians
"technical support, military hardware and training, and an opportunity to bring their nation into the twentieth century". By making this arrangement, the United States would ensure the House of Saud remains in power. In return, the United States required huge portions of petrodollars and the Saudi Arabian dependency on MAIN and other United States companies. Perkins said his role in these negotiations was to give rough forecast projections of Saudi Arabia. These forecasts would show the future of the kingdom's economy if a large amount of cash were invested in various infrastructure with the help of United States' engineering and construction companies. Perkins' conclusion was that the situation was a win-win.
After the Saudi Arabian strategy success, corporatocracy greed became stronger. Saddam Hussein was sent EHMs so that the Iraqi oil would be exploited in exchange for an upgrade to his country's infrastructure. However, Saddam did not agree with the proposal like the Saudi Arabians. The location of the Iraqi oil was crucial to the United States strategy. Due to its borders being with various other countries such as Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Jordon as well as being within striking distance of the former Soviet Union and Israel, Iraq could have influence its neighbors. However, since the Iraqis refused to accept the United States proposal and despite it being against international laws, their country was attacked twice. The first attack was during President George H. W. Bush administration. In the 1990s, the United States attack Iraqi civilians with airstrikes and aerial assaults. In 2003, President George W. Bush administration led the second strike against the Iraqis. President Bush announced to the world that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction. When the United States soldiers entered Iraq, no weapon of mass destruction was found. This led many people to believe that President Bush was only after the Iraqi oil in order. As with many leaders who refused to comply with the United States government, Saddam Hussein was killed. According to Biography.com, "[o]n December 30, 2006, at Camp Justice, an Iraqi base in Baghdad, Saddam was hanged, despite his request to be shot." ("Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti") It's been recently reported by CNN that weapons were found, but soldiers were order to keep it a secret. (Ford)
John Perkins did a great job in telling his readers about his EHM experience. His vast knowledge of the dark underbelly of the United States and other governments has given me new insight on how governments truly operate. While I knew the United States had dealings with various terrorist groups and was somewhat corrupt, I never imagine the extent of it all. Perkins autobiography has educated me on the many horrible situations such as economic and environmental disasters created by government who are fast to denounce terrorists.
While some people might brush off Perkins' book as something dreamed up by a conspiracy theorist. It is hard for me to do so. At first glance, when reading about EHMs, a term I never heard before, I assumed Perkins was just making up various situations simply to sell a book. Even at the very beginning of his book, Perkins did say he was motivated by greed and a good life when he was offered the chance to join the EHMs. Is it possible that he is still motivated by greed when he had written this book? As more and more government secrets are revealed to the public, is only a matter of time before Perkins is proved right or wrong.
Works Cited
"ASN Aircraft accident de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 300 FAP-205 Coclecito." Aviation Safety Network. N.p., 1981. Web. 2 Nov. 2014. <http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19810731-1>.
Ford, Dana. "Report: U.S. kept secret chemical weapons finds in Iraq .com." CNN. N.p., 15 Oct. 2014. Web. 2 Nov. 2014. <http://edition.cnn.com/2014/10/15/us/iraq-chemical-weapons/>.
"Oil Embargo, 1973–1974 1969–1976 Milestones." Office of the Historian, Bureau of Public Affairs, United States Department of State. N.p., 31 Oct. 2013. Web. 2 Nov. 2014. <https://history.state.gov/milestones/1969-1976/oil-embargo>.
Perkins, John. Confessions of an Economic Hit Man. New York: Plume, 2006. Print.
"Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti." Bio. A&E Television Networks. N.p., 2014. Web. 2 Nov. 2014. <http://www.biography.com/people/saddam-hussein-9347918#related-video-gallery>.
Wynbrandt, James. A Brief History of Saudi Arabia. New York, NY: Facts On File, 2010. Print.
