Drama and conspiracy
This book uses conspiracy theory and real examination of historical agendas accomplished by the United States to show the reader that the government is largely a secretive organization which both insulates its power and disconnects the public from any hope of knowing what is really being done by politicians behind closed doors. This dramatic irony creates a tension in the reader where they want to criticize Johnson's theory of the government as oligarchy for being emotionally paranoid. Yet, any reader could cite moments in history where America seems to be playing a role other than "hero."
Perception and moralism
The book suggests that among the public there are many people who associate the American government and way of life as inherently moral and virtuous. For instance, some people perceive that the so-called "War on Terror" was actually a retaliation to unprovoked extremists who hated America because the Americans were so free. It was actually not because of the freedom that Americans enjoy that the terrorist attacks happened against the World Trade Center on September 11th. In reality the terrorists specifically explained their reasoning, citing American foreign policy and invasive, esoteric agendas which destabilized the region. That is often not how the events were perceived from the American point of view, leading to a feedback loop of conflict.
Irony and circular issues
The issues of corruption, conspiracy, interference in foreign affairs, and violence are largely cyclical, says Johnson. He explains that the consequences of one interference could lead to retaliation on retaliation. No one remembers "Who started it," but there is plenty of inertia to keep the conflict fueled. That is a horrifying problem, because there is nothing preventing a more global rejection of American supremacy. Johnson reminds his reader that fate has brought many empires to ruin.
Downfall
Johnson's point of view is properly apocalyptic. He is intentionally looking into the worst-case scenarios to observe through paranoid and logic whether America's foreign policy strategies are secretly dooming America to a long downfall of military conflicts with many petty nations who will have similar "beefs" with America because of America's tendency to interfere in foreign affairs, typically in a top secret way so that no one knows it is happening except the government officials themselves.
Esoteric interests and the government
The idea that economic interests lead corrupt politicians to commit acts of violence against other nations, then to spin it and play the victim when retaliations occur—that idea is a claim of esoteric agenda. The irony of these ulterior motives stems from the secrecy which creates dramatic tension because no one is able to know exactly what the United States has accomplished through top secret clearance. There is also a situational irony about power being esoteric because that means a few people have all the authority of the American military.
