The Folly of War: American Foreign Policy, 1898-2005Algora Publishing, 2005 - 370 pages The 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. |
From inside the book
Results 1-5 of 83
Page 13
... Japanese “aggression” reared its head in Manchuria in 1931, President Hoover refused to take military or economic action to stop it, deeming it irrelevant to American security; several years later Pres- ident Roosevelt began the road to ...
... Japanese “aggression” reared its head in Manchuria in 1931, President Hoover refused to take military or economic action to stop it, deeming it irrelevant to American security; several years later Pres- ident Roosevelt began the road to ...
Page 16
... Japan were met with glee by military - obsessed Americans . “ Destroy the enemy root and branch , ” then the diplomats won't be able to dilute our victory . Smash the enemy ; demand “ unconditional sur- render ” to ensure the enemy will ...
... Japan were met with glee by military - obsessed Americans . “ Destroy the enemy root and branch , ” then the diplomats won't be able to dilute our victory . Smash the enemy ; demand “ unconditional sur- render ” to ensure the enemy will ...
Page 19
... Japanese civilians in 1945; most Americans, however, cheered their deaths. What does the terror bombing of enemy homes, schools and workplaces do to the consciences of citizens of a democracy? George Kennan has written of his concern on ...
... Japanese civilians in 1945; most Americans, however, cheered their deaths. What does the terror bombing of enemy homes, schools and workplaces do to the consciences of citizens of a democracy? George Kennan has written of his concern on ...
Page 25
... Japan and Russia. But presidents since Wilson have been constrained from such diplomatic maneuvering because it was seen as a violation of the idealist moral code for nations. Americans came to regard the frequent shifting of the ...
... Japan and Russia. But presidents since Wilson have been constrained from such diplomatic maneuvering because it was seen as a violation of the idealist moral code for nations. Americans came to regard the frequent shifting of the ...
Page 27
... Japan , Italy , the Soviet Union , Iraq- were opposed by American military might , with thousands dying to defend the right of coun- tries to create their own government . - But American leaders never squared up the facts ; the anti ...
... Japan , Italy , the Soviet Union , Iraq- were opposed by American military might , with thousands dying to defend the right of coun- tries to create their own government . - But American leaders never squared up the facts ; the anti ...
Contents
1 | |
3 | |
29 | |
51 | |
Americas First European Crusade | 69 |
The Armistice and the Treaty | 99 |
The Infamy of Pearl Harbor | 123 |
Americas Second European Crusade | 153 |
Chapter 9 The Origins of the Cold War The Longest War | 211 |
The Great Reversal | 241 |
The Great Tragedy | 263 |
Punishment of Aggression | 295 |
The Contrived War | 323 |
Chapter 14 A Presidential Conversation in the West Wing | 355 |
Index | 367 |
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 84 - With a profound sense of the solemn and even tragical character of the step I am taking and of the grave responsibilities which it involves, but in unhesitating obedience to what I deem my constitutional duty, I advise that the Congress declare the recent course of the Imperial German Government to be in fact nothing less than war against the government and people of the United States...
Page 41 - Spain's was; and (4) that there was nothing left for us to do but to take them all, and to educate the Filipinos, and uplift and civilize and Christianize them, and, by God's grace, do the very best we could by them, as our fellowmen for whom Christ also died.
Page 111 - The Allied and Associated Governments affirm and Germany accepts the responsibility of Germany and her allies for causing all the loss and damage to which the Allied and Associated Governments and their nationals have been subjected as a consequence of the war imposed upon them by the aggression of Germany and her allies.
Page 84 - But the right is more precious than peace, and we shall fight for the things which we have always carried nearest our hearts — for democracy, for the right of those who submit to authority to have a voice in their own Governments, for the rights and liberties of small nations, for a universal dominion of right by such a concert of free peoples as shall bring peace and safety to all nations and make the world itself at last free.
Page 266 - Congress approves and supports the determination of the President, as Commander in Chief, to take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States and to prevent further aggression.
Page 84 - I advise that the Congress declare the recent course of the Imperial German Government to be in fact nothing less than war against the Government and people of the United States; that it formally accept the status of belligerent which has thus been thrust upon it; and that it take immediate steps not only to put the country in a more thorough state of defense, but also to exert all its power and employ all its resources to bring the Government of the German Empire to terms and end the war.
Page 170 - And while I am talking to you mothers and fathers, I give you one more assurance. I have said this before, but I shall say it again and again and again : Your boys are not going to be sent into any foreign wars.
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.