Base Nation

How US Military Bases Abroad Harm America and the World

By: David Vine

Narrated by: Jonathan Yen

American military bases encircle the globe with nearly 1,000 locations in foreign lands. These bases are usually taken for granted or overlooked entirely. But in an eye-opening account, Base Nation shows that the worldwide network of bases brings with it a panoply of ills - and actually makes the nation less safe in the long run.

As David Vine demonstrates, the overseas bases raise geopolitical tensions and provoke widespread antipathy toward the United States. They also undermine American democratic ideals, pushing the US into partnerships with dictators and perpetuating a system of second-class citizenship. They breed sexual violence, destroy the environment, and damage local economies. And their financial cost is staggering: though the Pentagon underplays the numbers, Vine's accounting proves that the bill approaches $100 billion per year.

With the US withdrawing from Afghanistan and ending 13 years of war, there is no better time to reexamine the tenets of our military strategy. Base Nation is an essential contribution to that debate.

©2015 David Vine (P)2015 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Vine recommends comprehensive shutdowns, and his presentation is eloquent and persuasive." ( Publishers Weekly)

base nation review

absolutely outstanding. perfect blend of history, statistics, and ideology. if you want to know more about u.s. foreign policy, military logistics, or the history of bases over the last 150 years, READ THIS

Top 10

Top ten books all time for me. Up there with Command and Control, Raven Rock, Operation Paperclip, and Killing The SS

BRAVO!

Looked Better On Paper

As a strong proponent of diminishing the size of our military footprint in the world this selection intrigued me. The product itself was less than satisfying though. It is close to fourteen hours and the narrator speaks without much inflection; making those hours pass far too slowly. More than once I found myself snapping back to attention completely lost, having zoned out. Thus unless you have patience, time and concentration to spare I can't recommend this audiobook.