Frank Zero

Excellent overview of very strange, as author mentions, trauma-inducing politics with the goal of keeping people on the edge, and with time desensitized, but kept under control through oppression (overt or covert) through horrendous activities executed either abroad or even within the state itself.

It is very disturbing to read about, for all means and purposes, live experiments in third world countries that slowly started to move towards the core states. Inclusion of various and always show more present people and movements, acting under various acronyms (Gladio, Bloodstone - latter one was interesting especially considering the role of Skorzeny and SS in Ukraine) but always with very same goal- internal strife (I had to laugh out loud at "spontaneous" march-of-empty-pots organized in Chile before Pinochet came to power), crisis and bringing to power ever more harder and militarized/security-oriented government. Same thing, repeating over and over again. And in the background rise of very disturbing philosophies, ways of life and control (Chilean Colony is stuff of nightmares) and element with intention to divert peoples attention from main events (UFO movement and who started it - oh my).

To make things worse, neither political alignment (traditionally left and right) is immune - same powerhouses work on both and use them to create oppositions and tension (those chapters on counter-culture and drugs ...... it was "spontaneous" as everything else). Final chapter is on privatization of security forces - intelligence and action oriented - through various mergers of radical elements from all sides (Skorzeny's Paladin Group but also cynically incorporated Aginter Press), evolving intto corporations covering all angles from the shadows (EO's parent company and its role was a revelation to me, showing that even this, pretty core and [at first sight] not politicized force also acted for hidden goals and served hidden agenda).

Unholy marriage of social sciences and technology that started in early 20th century and then evolved through sickening chemical and social engineering during the 20th century is now giving birth to total dystopian future of what just might be called constant war, machine run by few using the majority as firewood.

Only downside to this book is editing. Missing letters, parts of the sentences, can be disconcerting and it is more than obvious that effect would be much better with the better editing in place, thereforeone star down. But even with this I did not have issues reading the book.
I once laughed at things like these described in this book, but after reading more detailed histories and with life experience, I will never ever laugh at anyone who has, what might to majority seem to be, strange ideas about the world. If last 7 years have proven anything, then it is that whatever is called conspiracy-theory in pejorative way, is nothing more than spoiler warning for events in next 6 months to a year. Horror.

Highly recommended. show less

quit. Wow, this book needs an editor. I'm not just talking about the rambling regurgitation of facts, poor use of articles and pronouns, run-on sentences, mixed metaphors, and poorly chosen colloquialisms. It's knowing that it's "merry band of" vs. "marry band of", "from" not "form" and in general not reading like you dictated this with your phone. How am I even to trust your ability to string together incongruent happenstance if you can't proofread at an 8th grade level? I added a star b/c show more I've heard an interview with the author S.W.S. and he seems nice. show less