| Embedded in his book, Louis Perez asserts through | | | | meant little to the reader, then followed by an |
| the crafting of popular support, duplicitous diplomacy | | | | unnecessary explaination of what was being stated. |
| and military engagement, the US summarily co-opted | | | | It is clear to the reader Mr. Perez's interpretation of |
| the war of 1898 in the aim to "weaken the Cuban | | | | the US experiences, statements and policies toward |
| claim to sovereignty" and inject both moral obligation | | | | Cuba and their "splendid little war". He does well in |
| and patron responsibility into the reasoning of the | | | | painting the conscious set-up of the US stance, |
| American forays of imperialism. Perez's book uses a | | | | establishes the US's less than flattering view of the |
| vast amount of excerpts, reports and quotes from | | | | Cuban revolutionary input into their own struggle and |
| US officials, statesmen and first-hand observers to | | | | determines the desired outcomes the US wished for |
| prove the aims he presents: | | | | the land. The book brings up the point of "historical |
| · The US spent years in attempts to | | | | redress" in the arena of historical accuracy, point of |
| purchase Cuba from Spain. | | | | view and paradigm shifts. This is a willfully stated as it |
| · Cuba is seen as a natural and logical | | | | does make one more firmly believe that there is |
| acquisition to US claim. | | | | much room for improvement on accuracy and a lack |
| · The US viewed Cuba as a liability in its own | | | | of bias in the general history of events such as what |
| hands and the hands of others as well. | | | | is discussed in the book. |
| · That it would provide a necessary base of | | | | When history is written by the winner, the goals of |
| deployment for US economic and military endeavors | | | | the participants, the impetus and outcomes will need |
| through the peninsular canal and beyond. | | | | to be looked at with a critical eye. Perez's coup is |
| · That left to Cubans, the island would be | | | | when he brings as evidence the common name for |
| lost to strife and anarchy. | | | | the Cuban revolution: The Spanish-American |
| If we are to believe in the book's messages, the | | | | War-completely making a ghost of the main instigator |
| book does well is to exemplify both the extreme | | | | and would-be benefactor of the combat/upheaval. |
| hubris of US statesmen and popular mentality in | | | | What Perez does well is stir up bonafide lines of |
| regards to non-European or western nations, their | | | | question and attracts interest in both the material |
| incredible indulgence in the ideal of manifest destiny | | | | and history at hand and the idea that history needs |
| and US right to act as a parent and policeman, and | | | | complete inspection. To the victor goes the goods, |
| the practice of hiding behind benevolence to mask | | | | spoils and positive press. The War of 1898 shows |
| the true nature of policy and pursuit. | | | | how one nations struggle for freedom can be |
| The book heartily relies upon the historiography to | | | | usurped by another's endeavor to extend its borders, |
| invoke a viewpoint. The reader may question the | | | | sphere of influence and do it all under the guise of |
| authorship, sourcing, interpretation, style, bias, and | | | | kindness (done with an air of superiority). This |
| intended audience of the pieces. These inserted | | | | usurping of a cause for independence proved a |
| references do well to illustrate the main points Perez | | | | turning point in American history, as it moved toward |
| has made yet they come at a price. Often, the point | | | | the role of accidental imperialist and away from a |
| is made through a quote, echoed by two or more | | | | neutral, youthful nation that respects the causes and |
| further examples attached by names that admittedly | | | | rights of others. |