"Alexander Cockburn was one of the most influential journalists of his generation. As the Atlantic noted, he was a towering figure who 'would say all the outrageous things his bland counterparts lacked the wit, courage, erudition, or epater-spirit to utter on their own.' In A Colossal Wreck, written prior to his death in July 2012, Cockburn reveals his great literary spirit, incisive reading of the situation, andcampaigning vim into a single volume that will undoubtedly be seen as his masterpiece. Whether ruthlessly exposing the hypocrisy of Washington from Clinton to Obama, pricking the pomposity of those in power, or tirelessly defending the rights of the oppressed or silenced, Cockburn was the most gifted contrarian of his generation"--Abstract: "The Nation"'s controversial political columnist reflects on American empire and what it means for the future.