Interview With William Blum

Willam Blum is an author specializing in foreign policy. Blum is best known for getting a book endorsement from Osama Bin Laden. During a video in which he threatened the United States, Bin Laden recommend that all American read Blum's book Rouge State: A Guide to the World's Only Superpower. Blum has also written some other books including Killing Hope: U.S. Military and C.I.A. Interventions Since World War II, Freeing the World to Death: Essays on the American Empire, West-Bloc Dissident: A Cold War Memoir. He also publishes a monthly newsletter called the "The Anti-Empire Report." Below is an interview I conducted with him via email.

Q: Do you think the United States has been military imperialistic in its military expeditions post-World War II. If so, why?

A: Yes,  I've written several books documenting this.

Q: Assuming that you do believe that the United States has been overambitious in its military exploits, what have been the effects of this military enforcement of American hegemony? Are these effects positive, negative, or negligible?

A:       Totally negative, for the countries invaded and for the American quality of life.  One exception, many US corporations have benefited greatly.

Q: If American military interference continues on the same path it is now, what do you see as far as future international relations are concerned?

 A:        More and more hatred of the US.  More and more anti-US terrorists.  More and more US wealth and blood wasted and spilled.

Q: You quoted as saying that “If I were the president, I could stop terrorist attacks against the United States in a few days. Permanently. I would first apologize -- very publicly and very sincerely -- to all the widows and orphans, the impoverished and the tortured, and all the many millions of other victims of American imperialism.” Do you sincerely believe that this can repair the international American image?

 A:       Of course.  I wouldn't have said it it if I didn't believe it.  America was once greatly loved and admired.

Q: Osama Bin Laden expressed his approval of your book, Rouge State. Was this expected? What were you’re feelings of the endorsement and have they changed in the time since?

A:                How could it have been expected?  Do you think I was in touch with Bin Laden?  I was very glad then and remain very glad.  It got me mainstream media exposure I'd never have gotten otherwise.

Q: Many people consider you to be a radical left wing journalist. While you do have facts to support your opinion, much of your work is done using extreme emotionally charging expressions. How do you fight accusations of blatant subjectivity in a field that calls for an objective approach?

A:                 Forget subjectivity and objectivity.  The question is: Does what I say make sense?  Does it help to explain world events?  Have I documented my facts?  Mainstream media can appear to be objective, but it leaves out a great deal of important information.  Their errors are those of omission more than those of commission.

Q: If you could pick one thing that the United States could do to restore its global image, what would it be?

A:               End its wars -- commpletely and immediately.  In Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia.  And use some of the trillions saved to repair the damage done by the US military.

Q: Do you believe that the Obama administration is making strides to improve the American image that he inherited when he came to office? If so, what are they?

 A:              Obama's foreign policy is totally indistinguishable from that of Bush.  If anything, worse.

Q: You have made many criticisms of American policy during your lifetime. What qualifies you, an accounting major, to make these claims?

  A:           My being an accounting major does not qualify me at all.  My being a researcher and analyzer and radical thinker is what qulaifies me.

Q: In exploring your website, you seem to have no lack of critic for the United States. In your eyes, has the United States done anything right in the 65 years since WWII?

  A:       In foreign policy nothing I can think of.  Why don't you offer a suggestion of something right and I'll comment.