Andrew Bacevich
Andrew J. Bacevich, a professor of history and international relations at Boston University, is the author of America’s War for the Greater Middle East: A Military History, which has just been published by Random House. He is also editor of the book, The Short American Century (Harvard Univ. Press), and author of several others, including: Breach of Trust: How Americans Failed Their Soldiers and Their Country (American Empire Project); Washington Rules: America’s Path to Permanent War, The New American Militarism: How Americans Are Seduced by War, The Limits of Power: The End of American Exceptionalism (American Empire Project), and The Long War: A New History of U.S. National Security Policy Since World War II.
Articles by this author
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Views Tuesday, July 23, 2019 The Great Reckoning: A Look Back from Mid-Century [Editorial note: This remnant of a manuscript, discovered in a vault near the coastal town of Walpole, Massachusetts, appears to have been part of a larger project, probably envisioned as an interpretive history of the United States since the year 2000. Only a single chapter, probably written near... Read more |
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Views Thursday, June 20, 2019 The Fake News of D-Day and the Art of Shaping Memory How best to describe the recently completed allied commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the D-Day invasion of France? Two words come immediately to mind: heartfelt and poignant. The aged D-Day veterans gathering for what was probably the last time richly deserved every bit of praise bestowed on... Read more |
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Views Thursday, May 23, 2019 The “Forever Wars” Enshrined Earlier this month, I spent a day visiting Marseilles to videotape a documentary about recent American military history, specifically the ongoing wars that most of us prefer not to think about. Lest there be any confusion, let me be more specific. I am not referring to Marseilles (mar-SAY), France... Read more |
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Views Monday, April 08, 2019 For All His Endless Lies, Trump Has Exposed Some Important Truths Irony, paradox, contradiction, consternation -- these define the times in which we live. On the one hand, the 45th president of the United States is a shameless liar. On the other hand, his presidency offers an open invitation to Americans to confront myths about the way their country actually... Read more |
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Views Monday, March 04, 2019 The US Quietly Negotiates ‘Peace with Honor’ in Afghanistan A friend of mine, a veteran of America’s 21st-century wars in the Greater Middle East, recently sent along his most recent commentary on Afghanistan. It would be his last, he said. “I’m done writing on how we got here — at this point I’ve said my piece, and I’m tired of being angry.” He’s moving on... Read more |
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Views Tuesday, February 05, 2019 Lost in TrumpWorld: What Matters and What Doesn't The news, however defined, always contains a fair amount of pap. Since Donald Trump’s ascent to the presidency, however, the trivia quotient in the average American’s daily newsfeed has grown like so many toadstools in a compost heap, overshadowing or crowding out matters of real substance. We’re... Read more |
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Views Monday, December 31, 2018 Trump vs. the Foreign Policy Establishment Every time I read the papers That old feeling comes on; We’re waist deep in the Big Muddy And the big fool says to push on. I find myself haunted these days by Pete Seeger’s antiwar anthem of 1967, written when it had become evident to Seeger and many others (although not yet to me) that the United... Read more |
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Views Tuesday, November 27, 2018 Rule Number One in Warfare: Know Your Enemy What does President Trump’s recent nomination of retired Army General John Abizaid to become the next U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia signify? Next to nothing—and arguably quite a lot. Abizaid’s proposed appointment is both a non-event and an opportunity not to be wasted. It means next to nothing... Read more |
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Views Tuesday, October 16, 2018 Rethinking National Security: Some Unsolicited Advice for an Undeclared Presidential Candidate Senator Elizabeth Warren 317 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. Dear Senator Warren: As a constituent, I have noted with interest your suggestion that you will “ take a hard look ” at running for president in 2020, even as you campaign for reelection to the Senate next month. Forgive me... Read more |
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Views Tuesday, September 11, 2018 The President Is a Pimple Donald Trump’s tenure as the 45th U.S. president may last another few weeks, another year, or another 16 months. However unsettling the prospect, the leaky vessel that is the S.S. Trump might even manage to stay afloat for a second term. Nonetheless, recent headline-making revelations suggest that... Read more |