The Folly of War: American Foreign Policy, 1898-2005The Folly of War is a critical analysis of American wars in the 20th century. The author contends that US foreign policy has been driven by the public's desire to "do good" -- but has failed, and in the process done much harm. Most people regard history as mythology -- simply a fable to be read for entertainment and to confirm their pride in the nation and its heroes. For these people, history should soothe and comfort, not confuse. For others, history is a critical examination of the past, seeking to learn from the mistakes and successes. These readers analyze history, relying on accumulated facts and logic. They are willing to draw appropriate conclusions, however unpleasant they may be. This is a disturbing book that raises question about how the US goes to war, how we fight wars and, surprisingly, how we lose wars. Drawing on a wide range of sources and rigorously marshalling facts, the book concludes that American participation in wars in the past century have been futile, unnecessary and misguided. Many Americans view the military defeat in Vietnam as an aberration, interrupting a string of military successes. The Folly of War sees that tragedy as part of a line of politically reckless engagements that span the century. Driven by a proud self-assurance that is often termed "American exceptionalism," the nation under the banner of Militant Idealism, arms itself to the teeth and intrudes into every region of the world. The US has been on a treadmill of perpetual war to seek perpetual peace. * Donald E. Schmidt has taught history and political science at the college level for over 20 years. He holds an advanced degree in modern American diplomatic history from California StateUniversity, Northridge. |
Contents
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3 | |
The Great Hysteria | 29 |
Europe Stumbles Into War | 51 |
Americas First European Crusade | 69 |
The Armistice and the Treaty | 99 |
The Infamy of Pearl Harbor | 123 |
Americas Second European Crusade | 153 |
A Soviet Victory | 185 |
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Common terms and phrases
20th century action administration aggression Allied Arab Army Asia attack battle began belligerent blockade bomb Britain British China Churchill Cold Cold War communist Congress crisis crusade Cuba Cuban defense democracy democratic Diplomacy diplomatic East Eastern Europe effort election Empire enemy European fight fleet foreign policy France French George Germany historian Hitler Ibid Idealists imperial invaded invasion Iraq Iraqi Islands Japan Japanese Kennedy killed Korea Kuwait Lusitania Militant Idealism military forces million Minh missiles naval Navy Nazi neutrality never Nixon North Vietnam nuclear Pacific peace Pearl Harbor Persian Gulf Philippines Poland political President Bush presidential Prime Minister Ralph Raico Republican Roosevelt Russia Saddam Hussein Saudi Arabia Secretary Senator Serbia ship South South Korea Soviet Union Stalin terrorists Treaty troops Truman United Nations victory Viet Minh Vietnamese wars Washington D.C. weapons Western White House Wilson Winston Winston Churchill World War II York
Popular passages
Page 9 - It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world...
Page 9 - Wherever the standard of freedom and independence has been or shall be unfurled, there will her heart, her benedictions, and her prayers be. But she goes not abroad in search of monsters to destroy. She is the well-wisher to the freedom and independence of all. She is the champion and vindicator only of her own.