Exploring the interplay of poetry with history, philosophy, religion, and politics, this work reflects decades of contemplation by a significant contemporary poet. It delves into the role of poetry throughout human history and examines the complexities of the shared human experience, offering profound insights into the fate of poetic expression in society.
Exploring the literary contributions and life of Nobel Prize-winning poet Czesław Miłosz, this work delves into various themes and topics surrounding his poetry. It offers a personal narrative that highlights the author's own experiences and collaborations with Miłosz during the 1960s, providing insights into their relationship and the impact of Miłosz's work on contemporary literature.
Exploring psychological trauma, the long poem delves into the author's midlife crisis, sparked by the Indonesian massacre of 1965 and the struggle to articulate his horror. Through interviews, it examines themes of violence in American society, east-west relations, and the duality of the human experience. The writing process serves as a means to confront and recover suppressed memories. Additionally, it reflects on the quest for right action, drawing inspiration from the Bhagavad Gita and the Gospel of Thomas, emphasizing the transformative power of self-expression.
This is an ambitious, meticulous examination of how U.S. foreign policy since the 1960s has led to partial or total cover-ups of past domestic criminal acts, including, perhaps, the catastrophe of 9/11. Peter Dale Scott, whose previous books have investigated CIA involvement in southeast Asia, the drug wars, and the Kennedy assassination, here probes how the policies of presidents since Nixon have augmented the tangled bases for the 2001 terrorist attack. Scott shows how America's expansion into the world since World War II has led to momentous secret decision making at high levels. He demonstrates how these decisions by small cliques are responsive to the agendas of private wealth at the expense of the public, of the democratic state, and of civil society. He shows how, in implementing these agendas, U.S. intelligence agencies have become involved with terrorist groups they once backed and helped create, including al Qaeda.
The United States in Afghanistan, Colombia, and Indochina
The book delves into the intricate connections between U.S. foreign policy and the global drug trade, revealing how drug-trafficking alliances have influenced interventions from Vietnam to Iraq. Scott examines the concept of parapolitics, where covert actions lead to unforeseen consequences, and emphasizes the need for a shift towards 'soft politics'—a strategy of persuasion and nonviolence. He argues that American influence relies not only on military might but also on softer forms of power, highlighting the complexities of U.S. involvement in global conflicts.
The final volume of Peter Dale Scott's trilogy, Minding the Darkness, delivers a powerful conclusion to his epic poem that intricately weaves political and personal themes. With its hypnotic style, the work features vivid imagery, a Poundian collage structure, and tightly crafted three-line stanzas. Critics have hailed it as one of the most significant long poems published by New Directions, drawing comparisons to the works of Robert Duncan and William Carlos Williams. This volume encapsulates the unique and challenging nature of Scott's literary vision.
Now in paperback, this penetrating account of the real drug war will lead readers to demand a more thorough accounting of foreign policy. "Scott and Marshall call for immediate action to end Washington's complicity. Their heavily documented book deserves a wide audience".--Publishers Weekly.
