In The Right, But Irritating Essay, Research Paper

In the right, but irritating The New Rulers of the World by John Pilger 246pp, Verso The brilliance of John Pilger’s reporting is, or ought to be, beyond dispute. Whether he describes the effects of the “Rockeye” cluster bombs which the US air force dropped on Vietnam or the rows of wooden crosses that mark the graves of young Australian Aborigines in the Woorabinda Cemetery, he writes with a compelling clarity. But, although his descriptions are vividly coloured, his judgments are predictably black-and-white. The notion that those he exposes and denounces might have any merit has never entered his head. Like many people who are utterly sure they are right, Pilger is unscrupulous in his assaults on his enemies. In a book devoted to the moral wrongs of third-world poverty, the suppression of minorities and the price which is being paid by innocent civilians for the American war on terrorism, the inclination to smear opponents may not be a mortal sin. But it is a habit which diminishes Pilger’s claim to sainthood. No doubt the word “morality” did appear 11 times in one of Tony Blair’s speeches. But the only explanation for mentioning that the repetitions occurred at a conference organised by Rupert Murdoch is the hope of spreading guilt by association. When Pilger adds that Mark Laity – whose reports from Kosovo he deplores – happened to be appointed special assistant to the Nato secretary general, he hopes to insinuate the idea that the BBC correspondent was, at best, prejudiced in favour of the military intervention. He would be rightly resentful if judgments on his writing were clouded by the knowledge that he once worked for Robert Maxwell. All that being said, Pilger – at least in The New Rulers of the World, a series of essays inspired by his own television films – is generally on the side of the angels. His revelation of the costs the Indonesians pay for the IMF “bail-out loan” – illustrated by the suffering of sweatshop workers who supply the fashion stores of London’s Oxford Street – is brilliant. The analysis confuses the arguments against poor countries risking the penalties of reneging on their debts and those in favour of a rich country agreeing to forgo repayments. And he writes about “the myth of globalisation” as if it were a confidence trick rather than an economic inevitability. But his heart is in the right place. Most of western Europe shares his view that the “war against terror” being waged by President Bush will, while America tries to distinguish between “our dictators” and “their dictators”, lack all moral authority. And he is right to say that Whitehall and the White House should be profoundly embarrassed by the memory that they supported the Taliban for as long as that barbaric movement seemed the best way of saving Afghanistan from annexation by the Soviet Union. But Pilger can never end his criticisms and condemnation at the point when most people would think it reasonable to stop. He seems to forget that, whether or not the US should take some responsibility for the failure of incipient democracy in Kabul, al-Qaida did fly two jet planes into New York’s World Trade Center, and its leaders continue to boast that there will be more strikes against the infidel west. Much as I want to see the establishment of a Palestinian state and a referendum to decide the future of Kashmir, only a romantic would believe that moving towards those just results would guarantee the safety of American cities. Pilger is a great deal better at saying what is wrong than suggesting what might be put in its place. In his essay on the plight of the Australian Aborigines, Pilger writes of the guilt which lies deep in the psyche of his countrymen. Perhaps he shares it. For anyone who spreads blame so casually – Kirsty Wark as well as Ariel Sharon; Peter Hain; Michael Levy, whose prejudices should have prevented his appointment as Tony Blair’s Middle East envoy – must believe in original sin. But there is also a suggestion that he is one of the elect who has escaped the consequences of Adam’s fall. This makes him an unattractive advocate of the causes he champions. Reading The New Rulers makes it easy to understand why so many people say: “If Pilger’s for it, I am against it.” That is a pity because, more often than not, he is right. · Roy Hattersley’s biography of John Wesley is published later this year. To order The New Rulers for ?8 plus p&p call Guardian book service on 0870 066 7979.