War Against the Poor: Low-Intensity Conflict and Christian Faith

The strategy of low-intensity conflict (or LIC) is a little-known yet sophisticated and deadly form of U.S. intervention in the Third World. Drawing heavily on his own experience of living and working in Central America Nelson-Pallmeyer shows how LIC victimizes the poor through various techniques: disinformation manipulation of elections economic exploitation even--as with the contras in Nicaragua--outright terrorism. Low-intensity conflict does more than disable the poor. It also threatens U.S. democracy and undermines Christian faith. By integrating economic psychological diplomatic and military aspects of war into a unified package designed to manage or block social change in the Third World U.S. special interests use LIC to protect their elite positions and profits. So cynical in outline and so damaging in practice Nelson- Pallmeyer argues LIC presents Christians in the United States with a situation similar to that faced by the Confessing Churches in Nazi Germany. Once in a while a book comes along that you wish you could force every newspaper correspondent and editor every politician every voter; and above all every Christian to read. This is one. -Walter Wink Auburn Theological Seminary Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer is Associate Professor of Justice and Peace Studies at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota. Jack is a graduate of St. Olaf College where he majored in Political Science. He did his theological training at Union Theological Seminary in New York City where he received a Master of Divinity degree. Jack is an activist academic whose life and work are focused on addressing the political economic faith and foreign policy dimensions of hunger and poverty. Jack is the author of thirteen books some of which have been used by progressive social change movements in this country and throughout the world. His life work and writings focus on peace and justice issues including: hunger and poverty; U.S. foreign policy; economic justice; authentic hope; religion and violence; the nonviolent practices of Jesus; and many problems associated with U.S. militarism. Present priority concerns include: how and why the United States became a permanent warfare state with few seeming to care; alternatives to violence; climate change and ecological challenges; inequality; and pathways to meaningful social change. Jack is married to Sara Nelson-Pallmeyer and has three daughters (Hannah Audrey and Naomi). He loves to play racquetball and to garden.