The Long War: U.S. Security Policy Since World War II

Andrew J. Bacevich is a West Point graduate, Vietnam veteran and professor of International Relations and History at Boston University. A self described "Catholic conservative" his recent writings have been critical of the Bush administrations foreign policy, particularly the Iraq War. Series: Humanitas [9/2008] [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 14212]

Category:

Education

Tags:

• World
• War
• II
• national
• security
• Vietnam
• foreign
• policy

[curiousgeorge7676]

americans like to believe that they can change the hearts and minds of anyone in the world, even those who don't want change (i.e. the islamic world). this is a fool-hearted notion that we should abandon. it seems to me that the islamic world do not want a democratic system of government and it's not our place to force it upon them.

[moonshn]

Exactly, who the hell do we think we are telling sovereign nations how to run their own countries? These people don't "hate us for our freedoms", they hate us because we are running a de facto empire.

[sunshineuk1965]

America doesn't WANT the middle east to go the way of Germany & Japan ie become their economic rivals and have no oil. America want another saudi arabia, a partner that will sell it cheap oil. And this regardless of how much freedom it affords its citizens. Saudi Arabia could execute 1000 children a day and America would still hold their hands unless they figured they could use it as an opportunity to invade and take over total control of the country.

[bertly71]

I did not mind seeing Saddam go away. He was a mass murderer. Why we chose this particular mass murderer instead of Stalin, Pol Pot, Idi Amin. Mao, etc. , who really knows? The nation building part of this mission, and many others is what I was against the most. Soldiers are not trained for police actions and it is unfair to put them in situations like this. The Mideast is a very tribal culture, it is hard to change that in a culture. For that reason, we bit off more than we could chew.

[Hashishin13]

Yea its all about corporate interests as that's what fuels the American economy. Especially since the military-industrial complex has become so massive and integral.

I think the U.S. should back any constitutional republic freedom fighters/revolutions and should defend its self with overwhelming force when attacked, but not when threatened.

[mellowandlovely]

The professor is wrong when he claims that the primary issue today is what to do with the implications of Iraq rather than what to do about Iraq now.

That's like a cop saying that pondering the future implications of a crime that is happening right there before his eyes is more important than stopping the crime then and there.

The implications and correct course are clear. Disban the standing military and pentagon and jail those who commited crimes against humanity and war crimes.

[groovyKimo]

Great, Anderw got a clear thinking. I don't share his position entirely, but I wish politicians would speak that clear, no matter from which ideology. That's how it should be, not a miserable PR-war.