First published 2004
Military historian Victor Davis Hanson tackles the global war on terrorism in this collection of essays. Following his previous work on September 11 and Afghanistan, Hanson examines America's fight against Islamic fundamentalism across multiple theaters from Iraq to Israel. He argues that America makes headway against terrorists but faces obstacles from self-loathing academics at home and self-serving allies overseas. Hanson frames the conflict as a fundamental battle between good and evil that America can only lose by blaming itself for enemy actions. He defends Israel as a secular democracy, attacks how the United Nations weakens American interests, calls for restructuring the Saudi alliance, and warns that postwar Iraq approaches a critical moment. Through direct prose, Hanson delivers arguments marked by stark honesty and passionate belief in his positions.
Genres: history, non-fiction, 21st-century, military-history, academic, american-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, gritty
Setting: Iraq, Israel, United States
Period: 21st Century
282 pages · Paperback · Random House Trade Paperbacks
Content warnings: war