Confessions of an Economic Hit Man
Review by Lynea Newcomer
Confessions of an Economic Hit Man
by John Perkins
Penguin Group $15.00
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John Perkins answers the question of what an Economic Hit Man is within his first paragraph: “Economic Hit Men are highly paid professionals who cheat countries around the globe out of trillions of dollars . . .(whose) tools include fraudulent financial reports, rigged elections, payoffs, extortion, sex, and murder”. He should know; he was one.
This book takes the reader on a tour of Perkins’ life from 1963 to the present day. Organized into four parts, of about five to seven year segments, the first person narrative style keeps this true story moving at a good clip. Accurately reconstructed conversations held between the author and various country leaders such as Panama’s deceased Omar Torrijos, a house of Saud member referred to as Prince W., and many others help the author’s historical review reach the reader in a personal way.
Throughout one learns of numerous inside details regarding the Panama Canal negotiations, Saudi Arabian, Iranian and Columbian development projects, oil exploitation in Ecuador, failure of US economic plans for Iraq, the ineffective coup against Chavez in Venezuela, and much more. The details themselves are what bring the text alive and place the reader in each historical context.
One might cringe at Perkins’ actions and those of various other individuals mentioned given the present day standpoint of 20/20 hindsight. However, the author remains personally conscious throughout for his involvement and realistically demonstrates his own misgivings. He even includes excerpts from his beginning writings, which he started in 1987 but was unable to complete until 2004 due to numerous threats. This changed with the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001; at that moment he realized his story needed to be told.
Ultimately he sends a message of individual accountability and positively reinforces ideas for those who would like to effect change in world or local affairs. Post career as an EHM, Perkins has gone on to found a nonprofit organization, Dream Change and has published 5 other books.
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