Thomas P.M. Barnett :: Weblog

Check out review #2 on BFA's page.

This "Mesopotamia" review is completely fraudulent. There is nothing in it that suggests he actually read the book. Instead, there is evidence that he has not, since he taunts me with ideas that I actually use in the book, like discussing Fourth Generation Warfare at length.

Here's my favorite bit, when Hutchinson writes: "I have a Kantian dream too -- what if the U.S. gave up its unilateralist scheming and initiated a global entente, joining with the European Community and China, along with the rest of the world, in strengthening the U.N. and creating a truly multinational military with the specific purpose of peacemaking and peacekeeping?"

Yes, what an amazing idea? Allying with China and creating a global peacekeeping force. I might even be so bold as to call it the System Administrator force. Now there's a dream!

This kind of crap really pisses me off with Amazon. This guy writes nothing about anything in my book, he just rants on Iraq. He is a "Top Reviewer" with a "Real Name," but he is a complete fraud. R. Huchinson's Amazon site describes his expertise in "20th & 21st century 'classical' music" (he is listed as faculty on the staff of Louisiana Tech's website).

Yes, yes. Mr. Richard Hutchinson puts in quite the effort as a reviewer.

When I send him an email accusing him quite explicitly of not even bothering to read my book ("You taunt me in the Amazon review with ideas that I pursue at length in the book, like Fourth Generation Warfare.  It's so obvious you haven't read the book, and it really disgusts me that you're such an online fake."), this is his reply:

On Saturday, October 22, 2005, at 09:41PM, Richard Hutchinson (richardh@latech.edu) wrote:

Thomas:

I believe I am doing a public service with my analysis and writings, just as you apparently do. I happen to disagree strongly with the thrust of your analysis, which I see as a misguided hyper-imperialism.

I'm sure more laudatory reviews will roll in, as for your first book. You manage to appeal to the hopes and dreams of many intelligent people with Big Ideas that address many intractable problems.

Best wishes, may world peace be realized in our lifetime,
Richard

Fascinating huh? He doesn't even bother to deny that he writes reviews of books he does not read. Instead, he pleads that he only means well. Is there a better description of hypocrisy?

My reply:

Interesting how you don't even deny that you don't bother to read the books that you pretend to review.

Again, you a complete fraud, and no amount of rationalizing your laziness or lies alters the fact that you are a fake.

Tom Barnett

Yup, the great thing about the Internet is that no one knows you're a dog.