American Wars: Illusions and Realities

by PAul Bucheit

Overview

When many Americans hear that the US may go to war against another nation, they tend to believe there's probably a good reason for it or that no viable alternatives exist­or they don't think about it at all. They trust their leaders to represent them and defend their values. They accept their leaders' claims that war is to ensure their safety when others wish to harm them. The parties of war play on Americans' basic values to bring them online. The media reassures them that the reasons for war are altruistic­ that Americans wish to spread democracy and allow others to adopt their way of life. But is this the case?

With 24 compelling illustrations, maps and graphs, this book is intended to serve as a tool for peace advocacy. Well known peace advocates respond to 19 of the most common illusions held by the American public which weaken their opposition to Washington's wars.

"The American way of war offers a nonstop supply of illusions-while imposing horrific realities far away and, ultimately, at home too. This book is intent on dispelling key illusions and coming to terms with human realities. Between the covers of American
Wars, the result is a compendium of insights and hard-won knowledge of the sort you' ll rarely find in the daily paper or the evening news. The writers are myth-busters who challenge the conventional lack of wisdom that drags the United States into one war after another and keeps us lethally mired in a warfare state. This collection provides us with an array of vital perspectives, opening up a crucial topic that usually remains shut down-
what American wars are doing to humanity, under false pretenses and with calamitous results, around the world and in our own neighborhoods. The future is at stake. This book helps us to understand the perils and opportunities of the present moment.
-NORMAN SOLOMON, author of War Made Easy
"With the War on Terror threatening to go on for decades, it's critical for Americans to examine the myriad ways our government has tricked us into supporting unjust wars,
with catastrophic consequences for all sides. American Wars uncovers a tragic pattern that must be broken. Read it and act." -MEDEA BENJAMIN, Code Pink
"This country needs a moral revolution where supporting work for peace and justice is not seen as weakness. The voices heard in this work truly
"speak truth to power." This book addresses issues that will empower the reader to more fully appreciate the ethical challenges America faces and to effectively participate in this change. Its accessibility will attract, inform and inspire the next generation of peace activists."
-RAY PARRISH, Vietnam Veterans Against the War

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780932863560
Publisher:	Clarity Press, Incorporated
Publication date:	03/15/2008
Pages:	190
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Paul Buchheit is Founder and director of fightingpoverty.
org, and Co-founder of Global Initiative Chicago (GIC), a consortium of Chicago colleges and high schools dedicated to the study and communication of global issues within the schools. He has taught in Chicago colleges for 25 years.

Table of Contents

Introduction: American Wars vs. American Values     12
Americans value honor: We Fight for the Right Reasons     15
We fight for peace and democracy   Paul Buchheit     16
We fight to defend our personal freedoms   Judi Nitsch     27
Americans value truthfulness: We Can Believe Our Decision-Makers     35
Our government tells us the truth about our wars   Cindy Sheehan     37
We stay in Iraq to prevent further bloodshed among Iraqis   Joshua Holland   Raed Jarrar     43
The mainstream media gives us balanced reporting   Anup Shah     47
Americans value self-awareness: We Understand How War Affects Us     57
War doesn't impact me personally   Maureen Dolan     59
The military will take good care of our soldiers   Tod Ensign     69
War boosts the economy for all Americans   Jesu Estrada     76
We always win   Vic Blazier     81
Americans value compassion: We Do Not Mistreat the Enemy     87
Suffering is minimized in today's wars   Kathy Kelly     89
Our modern military warfare only kills the 'bad guys'   Marc Herold     96
'Collateral damage' is an impersonal by-product ofwar   Gayle Brandeis     105
War is temporary   Sherwood Ross     109
Americans value altruism: We are Making the World Abetter Place     115
America's relationship with Israel promotes stability in the Middle East   Ghada Talhami     119
Developing countries ultimately benefit from our wars for democracy   Maurice Carney     123
The environmental consequences of war are insignificant   Tom Hastings     126
Americans value realism: War is Inevitable     132
I personally have no better options than joining the military   Amy Meyers     134
Wars result from the aggressive nature of human beings   Arun Gandhi     147
Humans are inevitably driven to war   Howard Zinn     150
Conclusion     159
Contributors     162
Endnotes     165
Index     184