A Nation Betrayed by James Gritz Summary and Reviews
|
Our Price: $35.98 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $8.72 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of A Nation Betrayed
Book Review: A Nation Betrayed
Summary: 4 Stars
I bought this book back in 1989 under the title "A Nation Betrayed". If it is correct that these two books are the same, I would like to comment. I have read the book several times, and referred it to many friends. I was serving in the Army during this time period when Mr. Gritz was trying to recover MIA's and POW's. My military mission was closely related to his travels and although I cannot talk about that much, I do wish to confirm the fact that he was truly out there trying to find answers for us. This I know for certain. My stay in the military was cut short by the treatment he received during his trip and upon returning to the United States. I got disillusioned by the US' quick reversal on his mission. I could not believe that we could actually send him there, ask him to put his life on the line to get information, and then abandon him. I got out of the military after my term was up feeling like we let down a soldier. Although I have never seen or spoken to him this man, he, at the time represented hope to a lot of people. I had much respect for his determination. I have read about him more recently and although I do not agree with his current views about complete segregation, racial discrimination, homophobia and anti-government movements, I do believe that he had good intentions in the beginning and was not treated fairly by our government. The book is a good read, and for the most part believable.Book Review: Credibility lacking
Summary: 2 Stars
Although Gritz's record in Vietnam seems to be accurate the titles he has given himself seem to be in doubt. For example, he claims to be "The" American Soldier in Gen. Westmoreland's Memoirs of the Vietnam war. Although, Gritz is mentioned in the such titled chapter Westmoreland has stated that said title isn't for Bo Gritz only but is a commentary on the American Soldier in general. Also, Gritz gives himself the title of "Vietnam's most decorated Green Beret Commander" yet when checking with the officials of that time period they state that no such title exists or was ever given to Gritz alone. Clint Eastwood may have said it best - "You're a legend in your own mind." Gritz's tie in with David Duke for a brief period during the presidential campaign of 1988 and his baptism into Pastor Pete Peters Identity Christian movement leaves one to wonder about Gritz's feelings about other races or backgrounds. To be fair Gritz is the father of two AmerAsian children. He is currently writing a new book regarding the future of this nation and recently entered into his fourth marriage.Book Review: Informative; but Wierd
Summary: 3 Stars
I just finished Bo Gritz's 600 plus page tome, and don't know exactly what to think about it. In a way, it is two books in one. The first is the rather fanciful account of a long and, evidently, distinguished career in the Special Forces. This aspect of the book reads something like a Soldier of Fortune article on steroids. To appreciate this analogy, one must bear in mind that SOF articles are several pages long; and Bo's renderings in this manner go on for hundreds of pages. For my tastes, this was far too much. The aspect of the book that I found worthwhile was the author's description of some of the more sinister forces behind key political events in the history of American foreign policy. I happened to be reading this book at the same time as Fletcher Prouty's "The Secret Team". And many of the key facts relative to CIA involvement in American foreign policy are consistently reported by the two Colonels. In this, I must report, though, that Prouty's writing is much superior to that of Gritz, and more sensible as well.
In the final analysis, I am left wondering as to the character of Colonel Gritz. In the corpus of this book, he shares the unspeakable brutality of his Special Forces career. He further elaborates a very interesting factor in that he conflates the founding of the Special Forces with the Nazi influence in the intelligence community that resulted from Operation Paperclip. And he ties these bewildering aspects up with a professed Christianity that is truly Mormonism. There is, on the Internet, substantial evidence that Colonel Gritz was subject to CIA mind control regimens. And, in fact, this would tend to be consistent with the rather strange writing style and other unique aspects of this overly long book.
In summary, I would say that the book is worthwhile, particularly the chapter on "Profiles in Conspiracy". But the balance of what is reported in the corpus of the text needs to be validated against more credible sources.
Book Review: Interesting autobiography
Summary: 3 Stars
In this autobiography, James "Bo" Gritz writesof his career in Special Forces during the 1960s
and 1970s, his private searches for POW's in
southeast Asia during the 1980s, and his
subsequent charges of government coverup of
the POW issue. As a result of the latter, and
of his discovery of CIA involvement in the
southeast Asian drug trade, he broke with
the conservative Special Operations circles
and formed alliances with dissident groups
on both ends of the political spectrum. Gritz
also touches on many other alleged conspiracies here.
This book is a must for anyone researching
such 1980s scandals as Iran-Contra as well as the
POW-MIA controversy and CIA drug involvement.
However, the book is long-winded, and worse,
Gritz has made some truly unsavory political alliances
with racist far-right figures - something
sure to diminish his credibility in many circles.
Book Review: Outstanding first hand account of government corruption.
Summary: 4 Stars
James "Bo" Gritz gives an interesting look into everything from special forces life in vietnam, to the assasination of Kennedy and CIA drug runnning. Bo offers a lot of names and evidence which appear to back up his claims, even naming George Bush (then vice president) as being aware of (and not interested in stopping) the CIA's involvement with drug and gun running. He also exposes the connection between the drug trade and our POW's left behind in Vietnam; and the efforts by our own government to stop him from bringing home live POW's. Bo's patriatism is obvious in his book, despite the attacks he receives from many people due to his claims. An excellant book and a must read. If even half of the things are true that Bo claims, America is in trouble.
More A Nation Betrayed reviews:
1 2
1 2