US imperialism

Imperialism is never mentioned in Whitlock’s book. Yet it represents a latent thematic throughout the text, functioning like dark matter, a force that accounts for otherwise unaccounted for motions and motives. The concept of imperialism suffices to explain what otherwise often seems inexplicable in the actions of US leaders and military planners as regards the military invasion of Afghanistan, as Whitlock recounts them. As there is no military target ever explicitly set during the twenty years of US military occupation of Afghanistan, the underlying motive of the US occupying force becomes increasingly obscure to Whitlock and those of his ilk who credence to statements of professed concern over the human rights of Afghans or the humaneness of their form of government.

Imperialism is a historical system of domination that structures relationships between the peoples of the world. It has historically taken the form of advanced capital...