Debating War: Why Arguments Opposing American Wars and Interventions Fail

Description

What arguments have critics of American wars and interventions put forward, and what arguments do they currently employ? Thomas Jefferson, Henry Thoreau, John Calhoun, the Anti-Imperialist League, Herbert Hoover, Charles Lindbergh, Martin Luther King Jr., and Ron Paul (among others) have criticized proposals to intervene in other countries, enter wars, acquire foreign territory, and engage in a forward defense posture. Despite cogent objections, they have also generally lost the argument. Why do they lose? This book provides answers to these questions through a survey of oppositional arguments over time, augmented by the views of contemporary critics, including those of Ron Paul, Chalmers Johnson and Noam Chomsky. Author David J. Lorenzo demonstrates how and why a significant number of arguments are dismissed as irrelevant, unpatriotic, overly pessimistic, or radically out of the mainstream. Other lines of reasoning might provide a compelling critique of wars and interventions from a wide variety of perspectives – and still lose. Evaluating oppositional arguments in detail allows the reader to understand problems likely to be faced in the context of policy discussions, to grasp important political differences and the potential for alliances among critics, and ultimately to influence decision-making and America’s place in the international power structure. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents List of Illustrations Acknowledgments 1. Opposition to Wars and Interventions Introduction The Literature Analyzing Arguments Explanations for Why Oppositional Arguments Fail Chapter Outline Notes 2. From the Early Republic to the Spanish–American War Early Exemplars: Washington and Jefferson Critics of the War of 1812 Critics of the Mexican–American War The Spanish–American War and the Struggle to Subduethe Philippines Summary Observations Notes 3. The Great War and World War II Critics of American Participation in the Great War Critics of Participating in WWII Summary Observations Notes 4. Arguments in the Cold War and Post-Cold War Eras Critics of the Early Cold War The Vietnam War The Post-Cold War Era Summary Observations Notes 5. Ron Paul: The Importance of Natural Order Paul’s Foreign Policy Positions Paul’s Arguments The Foundations of Paul’s Views Comparisons Notes 6. Noam Chomsky: Hegemony and manufactured consent Chomsky’s Policy Positions Chomsky’s Arguments The Foundations of Chomsky’s Views Comparisons Notes 7. Chalmers Johnson: The military empire Johnson’s Foreign Policy Positions Johnson’s Arguments Johnson’s Fundamental Understanding Comparisons Conclusion Notes 8. Comparisons, Analysis and Conclusions Survey and Comparisons of Arguments Comparisons Comparisons of Foundations and Goals General Groupings of Critics The Logic and Utility of Oppositional Arguments Problems and Reasons for Lack of Success Possible Generalizations Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index