Confessions of an Economic Hit Man

Confessions of an Economic Hit Man is the story of why the so-calleddeveloping never seems to develop, as seen through the eyes of JohnPerkins, who was involved in “developing” several oil-rich nations. Theopening chapters deal with his childhood, which was permeated with elitismand ideas of how only the “right people” really mattered, his subsequentrebellion by defying his parents’ plan for his life, his initial contacts(through his wife) with government employment, and a 2-year Peace Corpsstint with an indigenous Indian tribe in Ecuador. While there, he wasrecruited by the National Security Agency. After his time was up, he washired by Chas. T. Main, Inc. to devise a 25-year forecast of seriously inflatedelectricity needs for Indonesia so that it would agree to take out an enormousloan. He did so, albeit with some misgivings, and his career as an economichit man (EMH) was launched.Claudine, his handler, made his task perfectly clear:We’re a small, exclusive club,” she said. “We’re paid – well paid – to cheatcountries around the globe out of billions of dollars. Alarge part of your jobis to encourage world leaders to become part of a vast network that promotesU.S. commercial interests. In the end, those leaders become ensnaredin a web of debt that ensures their loyalty. We can draw on them wheneverwe desire – to satisfy our political, economic, or military needs. In turn,these leaders bolster their political positions by bringing industrial parks,power plants, and airports to their people. Meanwhile, the owners of U.S.engineering and construction companies become very wealthy. (p. 17)Praised for his success, he was given “the opportunity, something fewmen ever receive, even at twice your age” (p. 57): to bring on boardPanama’s popular president, Omar Torrijos, who wanted all Panamanians,instead of only the small elite, to benefit. Torrijos’ assertion that sovereign ...