DISMISSING IMPERIALISM

Michael Parenti’s “The Sword and the Dollar: Imperialism, Revolution and the Arms Race” succinctly reveals the sordid history of Western Imperialism that, to this date, victimizes the world’s peoples, particularly in the Third World.

One would never know this, though, from reading Kevin Phillips’ “review” (Book Review, May 21). Instead of critically examining the thesis of the book, he simply dismisses it and redbaits the author by stating that the sources cited at the end of each chapter refer only to “New York’s Monthly Review Press, International Publishers, Progress Publishers of Moscow and the like.” But even in this statement Phillips misrepresents the book, for each chapter contains dozens of citations from sources as diverse as the New York Times, Business Week and George F. Kennan. Parenti’s book sheds light on the real causes of the miseries of the world’s peoples. Yet Phillips does not challenge even a single statement of historical fact; he says nothing about the book but reveals everything about himself and where he stands.

STEPHAN Z. KATZAN

LOS ANGELES