History of the United States Books & Reviews

The Willing Misinterpreter

Despite Goldhagen's extraordinary claims, he himself concedes in his unwittingly revealing afterword that he is not presenting much in the way of original research.

The Laws of War

Stopping torture and changing the policies of the Bush administration may not be enough. With a whole new type of terrorist bred from extraordinary rendition and torture, the last eight years may well prove inescapable.

A Ticking Bomber

There is no simple answer to the causes of terrorism. But three books offer insight into the complexities of man and his motivation to kill. These explanations come not from academic tomes, nor expositions by the burgeoning cottage industry of ter

Report and Retort: Man of Steel, Re-forged

Geoffrey Roberts, the author of Stalin's Wars, responds to Andrew J. Bacevich's review of the book in the September/October issue of The National Interest.

Man of Steel, Re-forged

Geoffrey Roberts treads through morally hazardous territory portraying Stalin as a great statesman.

Doctrinal Faith

Unflinching loyalty to the Bush Doctrine leads Robert Kaufman astray in his study of American foreign policy—and Truman, Reagan and Bush do not make a three-of-kind.

Field Marshal McNamara

Managing the Pentagon and managing wars are two different things, a lesson Robert McNamara learned the hard way.

Kennan, Character and Country

John Lukacs offers an intimate portrait of one of America's great strategists in George Kennan.

Big Ideas, Big Problems

Policy decisions suffer when the rational center remains silent and catchphrases take over the debate.

Killing to Make a Killing

Suicide terrorism may be more rational than meets the eye.

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May 26, 2012