Includes bibliographical references (p. 345-350) and index.

Perkins, author of Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, zeroes in on hot spots around the world and, drawing on interviews with other hit men, jackals (CIA operatives), reporters, and activists, examines the current geopolitical crisis. Instability is the norm: It's clear that the world we've created is dangerous and no longer sustainable. How did we get here? Who's responsible? What good have we done and at what cost? And what can we do to change things for the next generations? Perkins reveals the secret history behind the events that have created the American Empire, including: the current Latin American revolution and its lessons for democracy; how the "defeats" in Vietnam and Iraq benefited big business; the role of Israel as "Fortress America" in the Middle East; tragic repercussions of the IMF's "Asian Economic Collapse"; U.S. blunders in Tibet, Congo, Lebanon, and Venezuela; jackal forays to assassinate democratic presidents. Alarming yet hopeful, this book provides a compassionate plan to reimagine our world.--From publisher description.

Mystery woman of Jakarta -- Pirating lepers -- Geishas -- The Bugiman -- A corrupt and brutal country -- Sweatshops -- United States-supported slaughter -- Tsunami profiteering -- Fruits of corruption -- Attacked and beaten in Indonesia -- Don't become a Buddhist -- Biological imperatives -- Dictatorships of finance -- The quiet giant -- Hired guns in Guatemala -- Obsessed with anger -- Recruited as President of Bolivia power -- Maximizing profits in La Paz -- Changing the dream -- Venezuela's Chávez -- Ecuador : betrayed by a president -- Bolivia : skeletons in the closet -- The beautiful carioca -- Taking on the Empire -- Kindred spirits -- A history of assassinations -- Lessons from Latin America -- A bankrupt United States of America -- King dollar -- Manipulating governments -- Lebanon : "stark raving mad" -- USAID speaks -- Egypt : controlling Africa -- Infidel dog -- Iran : highways and fortresses -- Israel : America's foot soldier -- The Iraq-Iran War : another EHM victory -- Qatar and Dubai : Las Vegas in the land of mullahs -- Into the abyss -- Modern conquistadors -- Sitting in America's lap -- A jackal is born -- The "non-peoples" of Diego Garcia -- Assassinating a president -- The highjacking of an Air India 707 -- An environmentalist is executed -- The least understood continent -- NGOs : a stake in keeping Africa poor -- Laptops, cell phones, and cars -- Ex-Peace Corps volunteers offer hope -- Resolved : to turn things around. Four essential questions -- Change is possible -- Modern minutemen -- Changing the myth -- The new capitalism -- A list of grievances -- Facing our fears -- Changing Wall Street through financial leverage -- Buying off third-world debt -- Five commonalities -- Times of opportunity -- The most important question of our time -- Today is the day -- Appendix A : organizations described in this book -- Appendix B : entry points for living democracy -- Appendix C : recommended reading.