The Immaculate Invasion

by Bob Shacochis

Book Overview

Widely celebrated upon its original publication in 1999, National Book Award-winning writer Bob Shacochis's The Immaculate Invasion is a gritty, poetic, and revelatory look at the American... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0670863041
• ISBN13: 9780670863044
• Release Date: February 1999
• Publisher: Viking Books
• Length: 408 Pages
• Weight: 1.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 6.5" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

From someone who has actually been there

I highly recommend this book. Immaculate Invasion does an excellent job of portraying the events of Operation Restore Democracy. I should know, because I was a Special Forces soldier there on the ground. Although I disagree with a few of Shacochis'comments and characterizations, he is generally very accurate with his information. Shacochis tells it like it is (or was), from his point of reference. He pulls no punches. He relates the good,the bad, and the ugly regarding the US Military, the US Government, the Haitian people, and the Haitian Government. I find it laughable that several people who have neither been to Haiti nor been in the military would submit harsh reviews of this work. Take it from someone who has been there. This is an excellent book.

tre bon

The Immaculate Invasion is an excellent book. Mr. Shacochis brilliantly describes the conditions that exist in Haiti. Many times I nodded my head as he described scenes in Haiti that I have experienced but could not have put into words. I also think he does a god job of portraying what was obviously a murky military mission. I wish he would have followed up more strongly on Washington's decision to lay off of FRAPH. Does this reflect an established US military policy of "low intensity conflict" that protects the economic interests of the US by protecting the economic interests of the powers that be in Haiti? It seems that he would leave it as a shadowy decision that is hard to trace. That is only true if it doesn't reflect established, but not published, policies. Read "War Against the Poor" by Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer. Other than that I think it is a fabulous book that does not pretend to be anything other than Mr. Shacochis' impressions during a tumultuous time in Haiti that is the result of well documented historical events. Haiti is an unbelievable country with unbelievable stories. It seems a lot of people have a vested interest in what they would have us believe.

A great account of a bungled attempt to "import" democracy

I really loved this book. Not only was it great reading, but having served in Haiti myself (albeit for only a few months), I can say Shacochis' commentary on Haitian politics and society are right on. Shacochis takes his years of experience in Haiti and offers a clear picture of a totally botched foreign policy campaign -- America's "gun to the head" attempt at democratizing this sorry, backward country. This book would be enjoyed by social scientists studying how and why democratization fails, by foreign policy students examining post Cold War interventions, and by anybody just looking for a great, entertaining read. The best line in the book: page 76 where Shacochis calls the "soft entry" done by US forces into Haiti as "warfare's version of date rape."

Not every country resembles the USA

The Immaculate Invasion is a well written account of the US "intervention" in Haiti from the day the US Naval vessel, the Harlan County was unceremoniously blocked from docking in Haitian waters, to 1998, well after Jean-Bertrand Aristide had been reinstalled in the Haitian presidential palace. A short but effective smattering of Haitian history as well as graphic descriptions of the dark and tragic political and social environment makes it possible for the reader to draw quite a few unstated conclusions about how thinly the trappings of civilization can be veneered over a primitive culture. It is written from the point of view of a journalist who seems to have an intimate understanding of the struggles of military men and their state of mind, as well as the overall strategic circumstances of their mission. The jargon he uses throughout the book is sometimes confusing due to the liberal use of military colloquialisms and acronyms as well as turns of phrase, which can at times make it difficult to understand his meaning. It is well that the book contains a glossary.The "invasion" was immaculate in that it was really a "walk-in" with no overt hostility on either side. One major thrust of the book was the political ineptitude involved in the overall mission objectives which, in typical Clintonian 90's fashion not only muddied the waters between friend and enemy, but completely obliterated the differences between them. Without an enemy to fight, the military men were left with no clear objectives other than preventing violence, and were forced to view murderous terrorist organizations as nothing more than political parties. The author seems to believe (at least partly) that if the real bad guys were simply killed off by the US soldiers, the country would be able to rebuild itself into a nation. My own conclusion, drawn from reading between the lines was different. Primitive cultures lead to primitive governance. The elimination of every former attaché, FRAPH member, macoute and other assorted dirt bag, even if it were possible to do, would lead simply to a political vacuum which would end with the recreation of the same oppression that Aristide's revolution was meant to end.It is clear, after reading this account that the violence and death, although lessened in intensity still continue in Haiti, and that if the foreign troops ever left, the country would revert back to it's original state of Hell. Although I don't know if the author intended to convey the message or not, it is apparent that the feel-good, New Age approach to "nation building" is simply a myth. Strobe Talbot take note!

Superb, heartbreaking, and not at all what you'd expect

This is such a moving and complex piece of work. You'll find no simplistic analysis of America (ie, bad) and Haiti (good) here. A terrific book. Buy it. Read it. Shacochis is one of the best writers we have, and this is bound to become the RUMOR OF WAR of the decade.