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
 |
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 |
 |
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 |
 |
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 |
 |
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 |
 |
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 |
 |
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 |
 |
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 |
 |
Views Thursday, June 07, 2018 Infinite War: The Pentagon's Gravy Train Rolls On “ The United States of Amnesia .” That’s what Gore Vidal once called us. We remember what we find it convenient to remember and forget everything else. That forgetfulness especially applies to the history of others. How could their past, way back when, have any meaning for us today? Well, it just... Read more |
 |
Views Friday, April 20, 2018 Trump Declares ‘Mission Accomplished’ on Syria Attacks — But Whose Mission? As a novice candidate for high office, Donald Trump spelled out his views on war with admirable clarity. The smart approach, he insisted, is to use maximum force in order to win quickly. If victory fails to materialize, then you cut your losses and get out. The last thing you want to do is to get... Read more |
 |
Views Tuesday, April 10, 2018 Creating a Perpetual War Machine The purpose of all wars, is peace . So observed St. Augustine early in the first millennium A.D. Far be it from me to disagree with the esteemed Bishop of Hippo, but his crisply formulated aphorism just might require a bit of updating. I’m not a saint or even a bishop, merely an interested observer... Read more |