A book claims to show the true nature of America

“Those who admire or feel close to America will feel disgusted. Those who think they know America will be in self-doubt about their belief. Because this book factually exposes that America is not a ‘beautiful country,’ the book review of a local daily on Saturday said.

The JoongAng Ilbo newspaper said that’s what the book, “The Imperial Cruise: A Secret History of Empire and War,” authored by James Bradley, an American, specializing in historical nonfiction, is about.

The meaning for “America” in the Korean language is “beautiful country.”

The book said the U.S. settlers regarded the lives of the native Americans as “meaningless, miserable and ferocious. They are no better than wild beasts.”

William McKinley, the 25th President of the United States, allegedly said: “The U.S. can invade another country militarily when the people in that country need help. It’s up to the U.S., however, to decide whether the people in that nation need help or not,” the review said.

American General Jake Smith who was dispatched to the Philippines in 1901 said: “I don’t want any prisoners. Just kill and burn them. Kill anyone who had the ability to carry weapons.” According to Smith, the age was 10.

In 1905, William Howard Taft, a U.S. army general, visited Japan. He made a secret deal with Japan, in which America approved Japan to make Korea “a country under Japan’s protection,” a euphemism for colony.

Theodore Roosevelt told a friend: “I want Japan to take over Korea. Japan will be able to check Russia.” Without knowing Roosevelt’s intentions, the Korean king, Kojong, then, relied on America “as a protector.”

Gleaning all these contents from the book, JoongAng concluded: “Wake up from the ‘American illusion.’ This book teaches us that there is neither eternal foe nor eternal friend in international politics.”