Book
AMERICANS CONSIDER themselves a peaceful people. Yet every generation sincecolonial times has taken part in war. Why? Does something in our democraticcreed lead us repeatedly into hostilities? Does the American sense of missiondemand that we take up arms to transform the world into our own image? Do basermotives drive national policy? Is there in short a distinctive Americanmotive and style of war?Distinguished diplomatic historian Robert A. Divine considers these questionsin a thoughtful retrospective of the wars of the twentieth century. He examinesthe process of going to war and seeks patterns showing how and why the nationbecomes involved in hostilities. He then turns to the way the United Stateswages war looking at how it uses force to achieve political ends. Finally heconsiders how leaders bring wars to an end a process that sheds perhaps themost light of all on the national character. Repeatedly Divine concludesAmerica seeks to use warfare to create a better and more stable world only tomeet with unexpected outcomes and the seeds of new hostility. IronicallyDivine finds that Americas high ideals continually prevent the very peace thenation seeks.In the epilogue Divine applies his points to the final American war of thecentury the conflict in Kosovo which is yet another example of Americaninvolvement in perpetual wars for perpetual peace. «
Boeklezers.nl is a network for social reading. We help readers discover new books and authors, and bring readers in contact with each other and with writers. Read more ».
Nobody