America’s Cold War : The Politics of Insecurity

The Cold War dominated world affairs during the half century following World War II. It ended in victory for the United States, yet it was a costly triumph, claiming trillions of dollars in defense spending and the lives of nearly 100,000 U.S. soldiers. Apocalyptic anti-communism sharply limited the range of acceptable political debate, while American actions overseas led to the death of millions of innocent civilians and destabilized dozens of nations that posed no threat to the United States. In a brilliant new interpretation, Campbell Craig and Fredrik Logevall reexamine the successes and failures of America’s Cold War. The United States dealt effectively with the threats of Soviet predominance in Europe and of nuclear war in the early years of the conflict. But in engineering this policy, American leaders successfully paved the way for domestic actors and institutions with a vested interest in the struggle’s continuation. Long after the USSR had been effectively contained, Washington continued to wage a virulent Cold War that entailed a massive arms buildup, wars in Korea and Vietnam, the support of repressive regimes and counterinsurgencies, and a pronounced militarization of American political culture. American foreign policy after 1945 was never simply a response to communist power or a crusade contrived solely by domestic interests. It was always an amalgamation of both. This provocative book lays bare the emergence of a political tradition in Washington that feeds on external dangers, real or imagined, a mindset that inflames U.S. foreign policy to this day. (20091027) The Cold War Dominated World Affairs During The Half Century Following World War Ii. It Ended In Victory For The United States, Yet It Was A Costly Triumph, Claiming Trillions Of Dollars In Defense Spending And The Lives Of Nearly 100,000 U.s. Soldiers. Apocalyptic Anti-communism Sharply Limited The Range Of Acceptable Political Debate, While American Actions Overseas Led To The Death Of Millions Of Innocent Civilians And Destabilized Dozens Of Nations That Posed No Threat To The United States. In A New Interpretation, Campbell Craig And Fredrik Logevall Reexamine The Successes And Failures Of America's Cold War. The United States Dealt Effectively With The Threats Of Soviet Predominance In Europe And Of Nuclear War In The Early Years Of The Conflict. But In Engineering This Policy, American Leaders Successfully Paved The Way For Domestic Actors And Institutions With A Vested Interest In The Struggle's Continuation. Long After The Ussr Had Been Effectively Contained, Washington Continued To Wage A Virulent Cold War That Entailed A Massive Arms Buildup, Wars In Korea And Vietnam, The Support Of Repressive Regimes And Counterinsurgencies, And A Pronounced Militarization Of American Political Culture.--book Jacket. The Demise Of Free Security -- Confrontation -- To The Ends Of The Earth -- Leaner And Meaner -- The Nuclear Rubicon -- Gulliver's Travails -- Nixon's World -- A New Cold War -- Endgame. Campbell Craig And Fredrik Logevall. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "The Cold War dominated world affairs during the half century following World War II. It ended in victory for the United States, yet it was a costly triumph, claiming trillions of dollars in defense spending and the lives of nearly 100,000 U.S. soldiers. Apocalyptic anti-communism sharply limited the range of acceptable political debate, while American actions overseas led to the death of millions of innocent civilians and destabilized dozens of nations that posed no threat to the United States. In a new interpretation, Campbell Craig and Fredrik Logevall reexamine the successes and failures of America's Cold War. The United States dealt effectively with the threats of Soviet predominance in Europe and of nuclear war in the early years of the conflict. But in engineering this policy, American leaders successfully paved the way for domestic actors and institutions with a vested interest in the struggle's continuation. Long after the USSR had been effectively contained, Washington continued to wage a virulent Cold War that entailed a massive arms buildup, wars in Korea and Vietnam, the support of repressive regimes and counterinsurgencies, and a pronounced militarization of American political culture"--Page 4 of cover. In a brilliant new interpretation, Campbell Craig and Fredrik Logevall reexamine the successes and failures of America’s Cold War. The United States dealt effectively with the threats of Soviet predominance in Europe and of nuclear war in the early years of the conflict. But by engineering this policy, American leaders successfully paved the way for domestic actors and institutions with a vested interest in the struggle’s continuation. Long after the USSR had been effectively contained, Washington continued to wage a virulent Cold War that entailed a massive arms buildup, wars in Korea and Vietnam, the support of repressive regimes and counterinsurgencies, and a pronounced militarization of American political culture. CONTENTS 8 Introduction 10 1. The Demise of Free Security 22 2. Confrontation 68 3. To the Ends of the Earth 111 4. Leaner and Meaner 148 5. The Nuclear Rubicon 186 6. Gulliver’s Travails 225 7. Nixon’s World 261 8. A New Cold War 298 9. Endgame 331 Conclusion 360 Notes 380 Acknowledgments 434 Index 436 0674035534,9780674035539,B003MC5VQ6 Belknap Press of Harvard University Press The end of free security Commencing Cold War To the ends of the earth Leaner and meaner The nuclear Rubicon Vietnam Nixon's world A new Cold War Endgame.