Review

The Wikileaks Files does a great job incorporating information from the leaked diplomatic cables with an overall narrative depicting the inner workings of the US empire.

The first section, chapters 1 to 3, is a concise overview of the nature and operational modes of US imperialism, including a brief history of its evolution from classical land grabs (Phillipines, Cuba) through armed regime change (Nicaragua, Iran, Honduras, and many others) and ending with neoliberal “free trade” enforced by extortion from the World Bank and IMF and only occasionally military force. Most of the sources for this section are publicly available, and not from the Wikileaks archives. But it provides a necessary framework for understanding the context underlying the leaked diplomatic cables. The entire section was written by a single anonymous author.

The second (and final) section of the book devotes one chapter to each of 15 specific topics, regions, or countries. It begins with an overview of the Wikileaks archives, and suggestions for researchers on how to best use it. This is followed by a chapter on the US refusal to recognize the ICC (International Criminal Court) except, of course, when it is convenient to US aims to do so. Then we are given one chapter each on the main regions and countries of current interest to the US. This includes obvious candidates (Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Ecuador, Venezuela), as well as a couple not so obvious ones - South Africa and Turkey.

The chapters in section 2 are a bit uneven since each one was written by a different author. But there is a wealth of detail drawing on both the Wikileaks archives as well as other sources, and for the most part it fits well into the overarching narrative of the essentially lawless and rogue US empire.

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