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Summary: A Collection of Essays on Various Topics
Review: You might think that Gore Vidal's Perpetual War for Perpetual Peace is a book primarily about the September 11th attacks. This isn't true. "September 11, 2001 (A Tuesday)," is the only essay that deals directly with the attacks and the American response, and it covers only pages 3-21 (of 160). Well, okay, it runs to page 41 if you count the long list of aggressive American military actions, borrowed from the Federation of American Scientists, that Vidal tacks on at the end of his essay. After this, Vidal includes essays about the Oklahoma City bombings, religious fundamentalism in America, and excessive spending on the military. Most of these essays were published before September 11, which should indicate to you that regardless of how it is advertised, this is not primarily a September 11 book. Instead, it is a collection of Vidal essays that all address in some way or another the power of the American government.Vidal's first essay discusses the reasons for the September 11th attacks. A self-described defender of the "American republic" but an opponent of "the American Global Empire," (46) Vidal argues that America is hated because of its many aggressive military actions around the world, not because of its "freedoms". This essay was too controversial for any American publishers to touch in the weeks after September 11, so Vidal published it first in Italy, where it became an "instant best-seller" (xiii). Personally, I agree that the essay is controversial, but I have seen similar critiques of U.S. policy published elsewhere. Perpetual War for Perpetual Peace devotes the majority of its pages (about 90 out of 160) to essays about the Oklahoma City bombings. Vidal can speak about Timothy McVeigh's motives with a rare degree of authority, because he exchanged several letters with the convicted bomber before his execution. McVeigh's actions might have been repulsive, Vidal says, but so were the American government's abuses of power at Ruby Ridge and Waco, which inspired McVeigh to retaliate. McVeigh did not attack American civilians in a federal building for fun, but rather because he saw it as a way to strike back against the federal government for its abuses of power. Vidal also suggests that there might have been more to the Oklahoma City attack than one man acting alone, and he accuses the FBI of failing to investigate the attack adequately. Vidal also includes an July 1997 essay, entitled "The New Theocrats" and published originally in The Nation, about the harmful doctrines of religious fundamentalists who are obsessed with sexual morality but indifferent to other kinds of unethical behavior. Finally, in an December 2000 essay, Vidal discusses excessive government defense spending in the form of a "letter" to Clinton's then-undetermined successor. There's no conclusion or epilogue, so the book ends abruptly with a footnote about the result of the 2000 presidential elections. All of the essays in this book are well-written, with frequent touches of humor. Even though some of them are several years old, they address topics that are still relevant today. If you are thinking of buying this book, just be aware that Vidal's reflections on September 11 are only a small part of it.
Rating: 
Summary: A Brilliant Essayist with Probing Questions
Review: Gore Vidal's "Perpetual War for Perpetual Peace" initially did not see the light of day in America. It was first published in Italy and became a runaway bestseller there, where Vidal currently resides, as well as throughout the rest of Europe. Finally it was published in America, quickly scaling the bestseller charts here as well. Vidal asks the kind of unpleasant but necessary questions which need to be posed in a democracy, and are all too often stifled, as in the case of not initially being published in America despite his lengthy career of writing success. Vidal refers to the Bush Administration as "America's Ruling Junta" and points out that roughly one percent of the people are currently represented as part of that elite. Foremost on Vidal's mind is the subject of why America is currently hated and the rationale behind current attacks as manifested by the Oklahoma City bombing and 9-11. Vidal's anti-establishment writing attracted notice from none other than Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh and a correspondence ensued. Vidal vehemently denies that he ever deemed McVeigh's actions justifiable. He maintained a vigilant stance on attempting to determine what motivated McVeigh to pursue such a vicious anti-establishment course against the United States. He also seeks answers to nagging questions that McVeigh, according to scientific experts, could not have carried out his vendetta on his own. He publishes a letter he wrote to incoming FBI Director Robert Mueller concerning nagging doubts that need to be explored, noting that he never received a response. Vidal also focuses on the international drug scene. Declaring the current policy a failure, he recommends making drugs available at cost in an effort to treat the disease as a medical rather than criminal problem while at the same time undercutting the vast profits incurred from underground drug networks. The muckraking journalist also tackles the Waco and Ruby Ridge incidents. In each case he finds that government authority was excercised at excessive levels and careful scrutiny is warranted. He laments that efforts to probe these cases meet with stern resistance. Vidal clearly feels that from the Grassy Knoll and the JFK assassination to the present, the intelligence establishment of what he terms America's Ruling Junta has stood in the way of progress and ultimate truth.
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Summary: A must have!
Review: This should be required reading for every student of American History and Politics. As always, Vidal brings a fresh perspective to the situation.
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Summary: History and Politics
Review: This book is probably not Vidal's best book, but its historical importance is growing daily. At first I (like others) was slightly disappointed that the entire book was not about 9-11. Now, looking at the arc of terrorism and anti-government sentiments, it is very fitting that Vidal has tried to draw these tenuous connections between Timothy McVeigh and 9-11 and David Karesh. The most shocking item is the list of 200-plus military excursions America has initiated in the last 50 years. We wonder why we're so hated. Gore Vidal clearly explains why our government has made the world hate us.
Rating: 
Summary: full of sound and fury
Review: Despite its engaging and incisive title, the book is a a hodge-podge of mostly outdated and disconnected polemics touching on subjects as varied as the Clinton Health Plan, teenage sex, farm politics, and the Oklahoma City Bombing. The author does make some excellent points but his material comes with such a froth of hyperbole that even otherwise legitimate criticism seems nonsensical.
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Summary: Gore Vidal has proved his importance many times
Review: But nobody is ready for the points he makes in this essay. Great insight into two of the worst tragedies our country has seen in the last ten years.
Rating:
Summary: Great
Review: As always (almost) Gore satisfies with a fresh and accurate look at the causes & background to 9/11.
When the 9/11 tragedy hit, not one person in the press asked "Why?". This is a worthwhile start as a response. Well worth the read
Rating:
Summary: A View from the all but Silenced
Review: This book is a must read for all political affiliations. Vidal presents a side to current events that has been all but silenced by the media. Though many of his conclusions are based on circumstantial evidence, I believe the evidence presented in this book to be compelling. I personally did not agree with many of his conclusions in this book, but believe it is important to hear the "unpopular" opinion during this imporant time period in world history. Approach this book with an open mind, and you will look at information presented by the main stream media and our leaders with quite a different eye. Thank you Vidal for your many years of provactive and insightful inquiry into our world; old and new.
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Summary: Keeping democracy alive
Review: Agree or not with the conclusion that American intervention abroad has caused the resentment we receive from all over the world, this is a compelling read. On the edge of a war, it is good to hear all views of American policy and how it is projected world-wide. A democracy needs to hear critical analysis in order to judge its actions. While this book is, at times, overly dramatic, it has thankfully been published.
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Summary: All Hail The Old Republic!
Review: In order to fully appreciate and understand Gore, one must remember that he is a nostalgist for the "failed" Old Republic; that portion of our nation's history that disappeared forever about the same time Reconstruction collapsed (when Hayes was handed the presidency over Tilden). Thus ended the Jeffersonian ideal of a country of gentleman farmers and began the Carnegie-Rockefeller-Ford reality of the lumpen proletariat hard at factory work (which, of course, segued into FDR's imperial presidency and the Empire itself). This should go a long way towards informing us why Vidal sympathizes as he does with McVeigh (who evidently saw America in a similar vein, albeit, from a post-WWII military perspective). In either case, another hard knock against the corporate capitalist/national security state we have all grown so weary of. A gutsy stand, indeed, though it could all have been said in about half the pages.
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