In this episode, Jamie and Tom will discuss the book Blowback: America's Recruitment of Nazis and Its Effects on the Cold War by Christopher Simpson. The book explores how the United States recruited former Nazis and Axis collaborators for covert operations during the Cold War. Simpson sheds light on the superficial nature of America's "denazification" efforts and the tendency to use individuals, some of whom were involved in war crimes, in the fight against communism.
The author critiques the motivations and consequences of these practices, highlighting the stark contradiction between American ideals of freedom and the collaboration with former Nazis. One of the key figures Simpson discusses is Reinhard Gehlen, a former German Abwehr general who established an anti-Soviet spy network for the U.S. The book also examines how these operations influenced American domestic politics, including the rise of McCarthyism, and how they shaped international perceptions of the United States.
Simpson further delves into the broader impact of the Cold War on American society, focusing on the emergence of a "national security state" and its far-reaching and controversial implications. Through detailed analysis, Blowback reveals the hidden costs and moral compromises of America's Cold War strategy.

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