About Bracing Views
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Bracing Views is dedicated to creative and critical thinking about our world. My goal is to bring clarity to some of the more vexing and perplexing issues that face us as human beings living on an increasingly crowded and fragile world.
The name “Bracing Views” occurred to me when my wife and I were out for a walk on a chilly January day. A bracing wind was whipping off the water, and I made a comment on it. My wife said, “bracing news” — might be a good name for a site. Not wanting to be tied to the news cycle, I said, maybe “bracing views.” And there you have it.
Much like a cold January wind, Bracing Views aims to be brisk, refreshing, and just a bit biting.
About the Author, Bill Astore
I’m a retired lieutenant colonel (USAF) and professor of history. I’ve written for TomDispatch.com, Truthout, History News Network (HNN), Alternet, Salon, Antiwar.com, and Huffington Post among other sites. I’ve authored or co-authored three books and numerous articles focusing on military history as well as the history of science, technology, and religion. I earned a BS (with distinction) in mechanical engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, an MA from the Johns Hopkins University (history of science and technology), and a D.Phil. (doctor of philosophy) from the University of Oxford (modern history).
A photo of the author on a good hair day.
Here’s a list of most of my online writings (contributions to The Contrary Perspective and to Bracing Views are in my Substack archive):
“From the Arsenal of Democracy to an Arsenal of Genocide.” September 5, 2024 at https://tomdispatch.com/from-the-arsenal-of-democracy-to-an-arsenal-of-genocide/. Also at Antiwar.com, ZNet, Inkstick Media, Vox Populi, and many other sites.
“The Triad Is Not the Trinity.” June 6, 2024 at https://tomdispatch.com/the-triad-is-not-the-trinity/. Also at Countercurrents, Counterpunch, Antiwar.com, Nation of Change, and many other sites.
“There Is Only One Spaceship Earth.” April 11, 2024 at https://tomdispatch.com/there-is-only-one-spaceship-earth/. Also at Common Dreams, Counterpunch, Information Clearing House, Lew Rockwell, The Nation, and many other sites.
“Cutting the Pentagon Down to Size.” March 17, 2024 at https://tomdispatch.com/daring-to-look-a-sacred-cow-in-the-teeth/. Also at Antiwar.com, ZNet, Counterpunch, and many other sites.
“Bombing Muslims for Peace.” February 15, 2024 at https://tomdispatch.com/bombing-muslims-for-peace. Also at Antiwar.com, Common Dreams, Counterpunch, Southern Cross Review, and many other sites. Translated into German at https://overton-magazin.de/top-story/amerikas-unerbittlicher-kreuzzug-im-nahen-osten/.
“Imagining a Progressive Pentagon.” September 24, 2023 at https://tomdispatch.com/what-would-real-national-defense-look-like/. Also at Antiwar.com, ZNet, Common Dreams, CounterPunch, Fair Observer, and many other sites.
“The Greatest Fighting Force in Human History.” August 8, 2023 at https://tomdispatch.com/the-greatest-fighting-force-in-human-history/. Also at Alternet, Salon, Common Dreams, Naked Capitalism, Countercurrents, ZNet, and many other sites.
“Clinging Bitterly to Guns and Religion.” June 6, 2023 at https://tomdispatch.com/clinging-bitterly-to-guns-and-religion/. Also at Alternet, Antiwar.com, Common Dreams, Lew Rockwell, Salon, ZNet, and many other sites.
“Are the Best Years of My Country Behind Me?” May 7, 2023 at https://tomdispatch.com/are-the-best-years-of-my-country-behind-me/. Also at Alternet, Antiwar.com, Countercurrents.org, Naked Capitalism, Scheerpost, and many other sites.
“America Hangs from a Cross of Iron.” March 21, 2023 at https://tomdispatch.com/a-highway-to-peace-or-a-highway-to-hell. Also at Alternet, Antiwar.com, Salon.com, Common Dreams, Fair Observer, History News Network, LA Progressive, Popular Resistance, and many other sites.
“Can the Military-Industrial Complex Be Tamed?” January 31, 2023 at https://tomdispatch.com/can-the-military-industrial-complex-be-tamed/. Also at Counterpunch, the Nation, Naked Capitalism, Real Clear World, and many other sites.
“Humanity’s Worst Pastime.” [On America’s National Defense Strategy.] January 15, 2023 at https://tomdispatch.com/imperial-dominance-disguised-as-democratic-deterrence/. Also at Antiwar.com, Alternet, Real Clear World, and many other sites.
“Peace Is Not Our Profession.” December 15, 2022 at https://tomdispatch.com/peace-is-not-our-profession/. Also at Alternet, Common Dreams, Counterpunch, Real Clear World, and many other sites.
“Something is Rotten in the U.S. Military.” September 29, 2022 at https://tomdispatch.com/integrity-optional/. Also at Alternet, Antiwar.com, Common Dreams, LA Progressive, Scheerpost, and many other sites.
“If Recruitment Lags, It’s Not Because of Debt Relief,” San Antonio Express-News, September 21, 2022, p. A18. Link here.
“End Nuclear Weapons Before They End Us,” Newsweek Magazine, August 8, 2022 at https://www.newsweek.com/end-nuclear-weapons-before-they-end-us-opinion-1731413
“Pantophobia USA.” July 28, 2022 at https://tomdispatch.com/the-nasty-voices-in-our-heads/. Also at Alternet, Countercurrents, Counterpunch, Common Dreams, the Nation, Smirking Chimp, and many other sites. Translated into German and posted at Overton Magazin.
“Hardening Schools and Arming Teachers Is the Wrong Approach.” June 28, 2022 at https://tomdispatch.com/why-going-hard-is-taking-the-easy-way-out/.
“A Graduation Speech to Air Force Cadets.” June 2, 2022 at https://tomdispatch.com/destroying-the-town-is-not-saving-it/.
“Don’t Think About the Unthinkable.” [Nuclear War] May 12, 2022 at https://original.antiwar.com/William_Astore/2022/05/12/dont-think-about-the-unthinkable/.
“Five Reasons Why Washington Can’t Break Its War Addiction.” May 8, 2022, at https://tomdispatch.com/the-last-good-guys/. Also at Alternate, Common Dreams, Consortium News, Counterpunch, Scheerpost, LA Progressive, Daily Kos, the Nation, and many other sites. Translated into German and available at https://krass-und-konkret.de/politik-wirtschaft/die-letzten-gutmenschen/.
“A Thought Experiment on the Military-Industrial Complex.” [Will the Pentagon Budget Ever Go Down?] April 5, 2022, at https://tomdispatch.com/what-would-it-take-for-military-spending-in-america-to-go-down/. Also at Alternet, Common Dreams, Counterpunch, Antiwar.com, ZNet, the Nation, Scheerpost, Portside, and many other sites. Translated into German at https://krass-und-konkret.de/politik-wirtschaft/was-waere-noetig-damit-die-militaerausgaben-in-amerika-sinken/.
“War in Space Would Be Disastrous.” Antiwar.com, March 29, 2022, at https://original.antiwar.com/william_astore/2022/03/28/war-in-space-would-be-disastrous/.
“Arsenal of Democracy or Simply an Arsenal?” [The New Cold War]. March 15, 2022. At https://tomdispatch.com/arsenal-of-democracy-or-simply-an-arsenal/.
“America, Stop Sitting on Your Bayonet.” February 24, 2022, San Antonio Express-News, page A10.
“America’s Disastrous 60-Year War.” February 15, 2022. At https://tomdispatch.com/americas-disastrous-60-year-war/ and at Alternet, Common Dreams, CounterCurrents, LA Progressive, Reader Supported News, and many other sites.
“Only Fools Replay Doomsday: The Cold War, Reborn and Resurgent.” January 18, 2022, at https://tomdispatch.com/only-fools-replay-doomsday/. Posted at Alternet, Antiwar.com, Common Dreams, Consortium News, Vox Populi, and many other sites.
“The U.S. Military Budget as a Mushroom Cloud.” December 12, 2021, at https://tomdispatch.com/the-u-s-military-budget-as-a-mushroom-cloud/. Posted at Alternet, Antiwar.com, Common Dreams, Scheerpost, Portside, Information Clearing House, Reader Supported News, Consortium News, Counterpunch, and many other sites. Translated into German at https://krass-und-konkret.de/politik-wirtschaft/u-s-militaerhaushalt-als-atompilzwolke/. Translated into French at https://www.les-crises.fr/depenses-miliaires-les-7-questions-que-personne-ne-pose-jamais/.
Review of Fuller, Christopher J. See It/Shoot It: The Secret History of the CIA’s Lethal Drone Program. H-War, H-Net Reviews. November, 2021. At https://www.h-net.org/reviews/showrev.php?id=51963.
“The Pentagon as Pentagod.” November 16, 2021, at https://tomdispatch.com/the-pentagon-as-pentagod/. Posted at Alternet, Consortium News, Counterpunch, Information Clearing House, Scheerpost, and many other sites.
“To Save U.S., Bring Back the Citizen-Soldier,” San Antonio Express-News, October 27, 2021 at this link. Also in print at the San Antonio Express-News, 10/28/21, page A11.
“A Bright Future for Weapons and War.” September 19, 2021, at https://tomdispatch.com/the-u-s-military-post-afghanistan/. Posted at Alternet, Counterpunch, Common Dreams, Scheerpost, Anitwar.com, the Nation, and many other sites.
“End Military Extremism By Ending War.” September 3, 2021, at CommonDreams.org. Available at https://www.commondreams.org/views/2021/09/03/end-military-extremism-ending-war.
“Pivoting to America: Let’s Reinvent the U.S. Military for Real National Defense.” July 29, 2021, at https://tomdispatch.com/pivoting-to-america/. Posted at Alternet, Common Dreams, Antiwar.com, Counterpunch, Reader Supported News, and many other sites.
“America Is Stabbing Itself in the Back: Tough Truths Are Desperately Needed About America’s Lost Wars.” June 17, 2021, at https://tomdispatch.com/america-is-stabbing-itself-in-the-back/. Posted at Alternet, Information Clearing House, the Nation, and many other sites.
“Endless War Is A Feature of Our National Programming,” May 9. 2021, at https://tomdispatch.com/endless-war-is-a-feature-of-our-national-programming/. Posted at Alternet, Antiwar.com, Consortium News, Counterpunch, Common Dreams, Reader Supported News, and many other sites.
“Astore: Cancel the F-35, Fund Infrastructure Instead,” Rutland Herald, April 14, 2021, at https://www.rutlandherald.com/opinion/commentary/astore-cancel-the-f-35-fund-infrastructure-instead/article_382a28be-de02-537f-b3d6-99ec16d05adb.html. Also at the Times Argus at https://www.timesargus.com/opinion/commentary/astore-cancel-the-f-35-fund-infrastructure-instead/article_dd564904-44cb-5b1c-aab9-6ba767ca474f.html.
“The Cold War, Rebooted and Rebranded,” April 8, 2021, at https://tomdispatch.com/back-to-the-future-at-the-pentagon/. Posted at Alternet, Common Dreams, Counterpunch, Antiwar.com, HNN, The Nation, Scheerpost, and many other sites.
“Rewarding Failure: Why Pentagon Weapons Programs Rarely Get Canceled Despite Major Problems,” March 4, 2021, at https://tomdispatch.com/rewarding-failure. Posted at Alternet, Common Dreams, Antiwar.com, the Nation, and Consortium News at https://consortiumnews.com/2021/03/05/pentagon-could-use-some-cancel-culture/.
“The Power of America’s Example,” TomDispatch.com, February 2, 2021, at https://tomdispatch.com/joe-bidens-peace-force/. Posted at Alternet, Common Dreams, The Nation, Reader Supported News, CounterPunch, and many other sites.
“Pulp Fiction and the Vietnam War,” ColdType, 218 (Jan. 2021), 7-8. At http://coldtype.net/Assets20/PDFs/ColdType218.January2021.pdf.
“POW Nation,” TomDispatch.com, January 12, 2021, at https://tomdispatch.com/pow-nation/. Posted at Alternet, Information Clearing House, Antiwar, Common Dreams, Salon and many other sites.
“Telling War Stories.” Popular Resistance, January 8, 2021, at https://popularresistance.org/telling-war-stories/.
“Spilling Ink and Spilling Blood: Fighting and Writing Against America’s Forever Wars,” TomDispatch.com, December 8, 2020, at http://www.tomdispatch.com/blog/176783. With Danny Sjursen.
“On Being Black and Blue in America,” TomDispatch.com, November 8, 2020, at http://www.tomdispatch.com/blog/176771/. Posted at Alternet, Common Dreams, Reader Supporter News, Consortium News, Counterpunch, Scheerpost, and many other sites.
“America’s Dark Side in the Age of Trump,” TomDispatch.com, October 1, 2020, at http://www.tomdispatch.com/blog/176756/. Posted at Asia Times, the Nation, History News Network, Alternet, Reader Supported News, Salon, and many other sites.
“Militarism and Education in America.” Radical Teacher, No.117, Summer 2020, 21-28. Available at http://radicalteacher.library.pitt.edu/ojs/radicalteacher/article/view/764/681.
“Killing Democracy in America,” TomDispatch.com, July 26, 2020, at http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/176732. Posted at Alternet, Antiwar.com, Asia Times, Counter Currents, CounterPunch, Salon, Reader Supported News, Consortium News, and many other sites.
“America’s Forever Wars Have Come Home,” TomDispatch.com, June 7, 2020, at http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/176711/tomgram%3A_william_astore%2C_america%27s_forever_wars_have_come_home. Posted at CounterPunch. Alternet, Asia Times, Common Dreams, Antiwar, and many other sites.
“Living Through Coronavirus Hard Times,” TomDispatch.com, March 29, 2020, at http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/176681/. Posted at CounterPunch, The National Memo, ZNet, Naked Capitalism, Truthout, and many other sites.
“The Paradox of America’s Endless Wars: They Persist Because They Don’t Exist (For Americans),” TomDispatch.com, February 25, 2020, at https://www.tomdispatch.com/post/176667. Posted at Real Clear World, Foreign Policy In Focus, Alternet, the Nation, Antiwar.com, and many other sites.
“The Self-Defeating Military,” TomDispatch.com, February 4, 2020, at https://www.tomdispatch.com/post/176659/. Posted at Reader Supported News, Alternet, Truthout, Common Dreams, LA Progressive, and many other sites.
“American Exceptionalism Is Killing the Planet: The Many Abuses of Endless War.” TomDispatch.com, December 1, 2019, at http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/176635. Posted at Naked Capitalism, Common Dreams, Alternet, Truthdig, Information Clearing House, Counterpunch (https://www.counterpunch.org/2019/12/05/how-american-exceptionalism-is-killing-the-planet/), Raw Story, Salon, and many other sites.
“The Militarization of Everything.” TomDispatch.com, October 24, 2019, at http://www.tomdispatch.com/blog/176620/. Posted at Antiwar.com, Lobelog, The Nation, HNN, Truthout, Buzzflash, and many other sites.
“The Ultra-Costly, Underwhelming F-35 Fighter: Lockheed Martin Remains Top Gun in the Pentagon’s Cockpit.” TomDispatch.com, September 15, 2019, at http://www.tomdispatch.com/blog/176604/. Posted at Salon.com, Counterpunch, Truthdig, CounterCurrents, and many other sites.
“In Wars and Weapons We Trust: America’s Militarized Profession of Faith.” TomDispatch.com, August 13, 2019, at http://www.tomdispatch.com/blog/176596/. Posted at Common Dreams, Truthout, Truthdig, Alternet, CounterCurrents, and many other sites.
“The Riptide of Militarism.” TomDispatch.com, July 9, 2019, at http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/176583/. Posted at Common Dreams, Truthout, Alternet, the Nation, Lew Rockwell, Real Clear World, (https://www.realclearworld.com/articles/2019/07/09/the_riptide_of_american_militarism_113055.html), and CounterCurrents (https://countercurrents.org/2019/07/the-riptide-of-american-militarism), among other sites.
“The Dark Side of Air Power.” TomDispatch.com, June 4, 2019, at http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/176571/tomgram%3A_william_astore%2C_the_dark_side_of_air_power/. Posted at Alternet, Common Dreams, Truthout, the Nation, Salon, Consortium News, Portside.org, Raw Story at https://www.rawstory.com/2019/06/a-retired-us-air-force-lieutenant-colonel-provides-a-startling-look-into-americas-cult-of-bombing/, Asia Times at https://www.asiatimes.com/2019/06/opinion/the-us-cult-of-bombing-and-endless-war/ and Veterans Day Network at https://www.veteransnewsreport.com/2019/06/04/american-cult-endless-war/. Translated into Spanish and posted at http://www.rebelion.org/noticia.php?id=256956.
“Ending the Pentagon’s Long Con.” TomDispatch.com, April 30, 2019, at http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/176558/tomgram%3A_william_astore%2C_ending_the_pentagon%27s_long_con/. Posted at Reader Supported News (https://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/277-75/56308-how-the-pentagon-took-ownership-of-donald-trump), Antiwar, Salon.com, Truthout, Common Dreams, the Nation, and many other sites.
“The Death of Peace.” TomDispatch.com, March 19, 2019, at http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/176540/. Reposted at Alternet.org, Commondreams, Lobelog, The Nation, Truthout, Counterpunch https://www.counterpunch.org/2019/03/21/americas-senior-generals-find-no-exits-from-endless-war/, Consortium News https://consortiumnews.com/2019/03/21/whose-blood-whose-treasure, Foreign Policy in Focus https://fpif.org/americas-generals-havent-learned-anything-from-iraq/, and other sites.
“The U.S. Military’s Lost Wars: Overfunded, Overhyped, and Always Over There.” TomDispatch.com, January 27, 2019, at http://www.tomdispatch.com/blog/176520/. Reposted at Lobelog, Alternet, Truthdig, Le Monde Diplomatique, Antiwar.com, Common Dreams, Salon, Asia Times, Reader Supported News, and many other sites.
“The Pentagon Has Won that War that Matters.” TomDispatch.com, October 25, 2018, at http://www.tomdispatch.com/blog/176487/. Reposted at Common Dreams, Truthout, Truthdig, Huff Post, Lobelog, Asia Times, War Is Boring (https://warisboring.com/why-american-leaders-persist-in-waging-losing-wars/) and other sites.
“Why Can’t We Just Play Ball? The Militarization of Sports and the Redefinition of Patriotism.” TomDispatch.com, August 19, 2018, at http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/176459. Also at Alternet, Lobe Log, In These Times, War Is Boring (https://warisboring.com/why-cant-we-just-play-ball/) and other sites.
Interview with Howard Bryant on the militarization of sports. “Only A Game,” NPR Radio, July 20, 2018. http://www.wbur.org/onlyagame/2018/07/20/military-sports-astore-francona.
Review of Our Latest Longest War: Losing Hearts and Minds in Afghanistan, edited by Aaron O’Connell, Michigan War Studies Review, 7/19/18, at http://www.miwsr.com/2018-060.aspx.
“The Air Force’s Strange Love for the New B-21 Bomber: The Military-Industrial Complex Strikes (Out) Again.” TomDispatch.com, June 3, 2018, at http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/176431. Posted at The Nation, Common Dreams, Antiwar, Naked Capitalism, Lobe Log, Alternet, Salon, War Is Boring, and many other sites including The National Memo at http://www.nationalmemo.com/the-air-forces-new-super-expensive-armageddon-bomber/. Published in the June edition of ColdType at http://coldtype.net/Assets18/pdf/ColdType162MidJune2018.pdf, pp.40-44. Translated into Spanish and posted at http://www.rebelion.org/noticia.php?id=242987 on 6/18/18. Reprinted in “Third World Resurgence,” a Malaysian magazine.
“America’s Phony War: Blitzkrieg Overseas, Sitzkrieg in the Homeland.” TomDispatch, March 15, 2018, at http://www.tomdispatch.com/blog/176398/. Also at Alternet, Antiwar.com, Truthout, History News Network, Truthdig, Salon.com, and other sites: https://www.realclearworld.com/articles/2018/03/16/what_sort_of_war_requires_no_sacrifice_112746.html.
“Our Enemy, Ourselves: Ten Commonsense Suggestions for Making Peace, Not War.” TomDispatch.com, February 4, 2018, at http://www.tomdispatch.com/blog/176381/. Posted at War Is Boring (https://warisboring.com/ten-commonsense-suggestions-for-making-peace-not-war/), Truthout, Huff Post, Common Dreams, Alternet, Salon, and other sites.
“The American Military Uncontained: Out Everywhere and Winning Nowhere.” TomDispatch.com, September 12, 2017, at http://www.tomdispatch.com/blog/176325/. Also posted at Alternet, Common Dreams, Antiwar, Lobelog, Salon, Reader Supported News, and other sites. Featured at Bill Moyers at http://billmoyers.com/story/american-military-uncontained/. Featured at War Is Boring at https://warisboring.com/the-american-military-uncontained/. Translated into Spanish and posted at http://www.rebelion.org/noticia.php?id=231731. Translated into French and posted at http://www.noeud-gordien.fr/index.php?post/2017/09/29/Pr%C3%A9sent-partout%2C-victorieux-nulle-part.
“Silencing War Criticism: The Iraq Invasion of 2003.” The Ron Paul Institute, 7/19/17, at http://ronpaulinstitute.org/archives/featured-articles/2017/july/19/silencing-war-criticism-the-iraq-invasion-of-2003/. Also posted at Antiwar.com, HuffPost, LA Progressive, and other sites.
“Preparing for Doomsday: A Shelter-in-Place Mentality Is the New American Normal,” TomDispatch.com, July 13, 2017, at http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/176306. Also at War Is Boring at https://warisboring.com/preparing-for-doomsday/, Mother Jones at http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/07/cheyenne-mountain-nuclear-bunker-donald-trump/, Alternet, Truthdig, and other sites.
“America’s Real Red Scare: The Slow-Motion Collapse of the American Empire.” TomDispatch.com, June 6, 2017, at http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/176292/. Also at War Is Boring https://warisboring.com/the-united-states-is-making-the-soviet-unions-mistakes/, Salon.com, Truthdig, LewRockwell.com, Alternet.org, Bill Moyers http://billmoyers.com/story/americas-real-red-scare/, and many other sites. Podcast available at http://keepingdemocracyalive.com/just-hacking-weve-become-like-soviets/.
Review of Steven J. Alvarez, Selling War: A Critical Look at the Military’s PR Machine, Michigan War Studies Review, 5/8/17, at http://www.miwsr.com/2017-040.aspx.
“From Deterrence to Doomsday?” TomDispatch.com, 4/20/17, at http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/176266/. Also at Salon.com, War Is Boring, Alternet, Truthdig, and many other sites. Featured by the New York Times as “partisan writing you shouldn’t miss” at https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/18/us/politics/right-and-left-partisan-writing-you-shouldnt-miss.html?_r=0.
“When It Comes to War, Beware of Alternative Facts.” Huffington Post, 3/12/17, at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/when-it-comes-to-war-beware-of-alternative-facts_us_58c55d39e4b0c3276fb78620. Translated into German and posted at http://antikrieg.com/aktuell/2017_03_12_dieaufstockung.htm.
“In Afghanistan, America’s Biggest Foe Is Self-Deception.” TomDispatch.com, 2/28/17, at http://www.tomdispatch.com/blog/176248. Reposted at Salon.com at http://www.salon.com/2017/03/01/losing-a-war-one-bad-metaphor-at-a-time/, The American Conservative, War Is Boring at https://warisboring.com/losing-a-war-one-bad-metaphor-at-a-time-621f6bdb4f0#.uiq5i84u1, Jacobin Magazine, https://www.jacobinmag.com/2017/03/afghanistan-war-troop-surge-mick-nicholson-vietnam-graveyard-empires/, and Asia Times http://www.atimes.com/timlosing-war-one-bad-metaphor-time/ among other sites. Translated into Spanish and posted at http://www.rebelion.org/noticia.php?id=223710.
“We’re a Nation at War.” http://original.antiwar.com/William_Astore/2017/02/19/were-a-nation-at-war/ and translated into German (‘Wir sind ein Land im Krieg’) at http://antikrieg.com/aktuell/2017_02_20_wirsind.htm.
“The Dark [K]night of Donald Trump: Weapons, Warriors, and Fear as the New Order in America.” TomDispatch.com, 1/26/17, at http://www.tomdispatch.com/blog/176235/. Reposted at Asia Times, Salon, Truthdig, Truthout, Informed Comment, and many other sites. Also at War is Boring at https://warisboring.com/weapons-warriors-and-never-ending-conflict-in-the-new-america-8c5b9093e559#.93f8pgw0g.
“Too Many Generals Spoil the Democracy: Trump’s Push to ‘Win’ with Warriors is a Loss for America.” TomDispatch.com, 12/20/2016, at http://www.tomdispatch.com/blog/176224/. Reprinted by Foreign Policy in Focus at http://fpif.org/crusades-back-vengeance/ and Alternet, Salon, War is Boring (https://warisboring.com/too-many-generals-spoil-americas-democracy-79b23a327983#.4b2dp7esj) , and many other sites.
“Dump Chump Trump.” Huffington Post, 10/1/16, at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/dump-chump-trump_b_12282534.html.
“The Rhetorical Power of Always Being at War.” Zócalo Public Square, Arizona State University, 8/26/16, at http://www.zocalopublicsquare.org/2016/08/26/rhetorical-power-always-war/ideas/nexus/.
“Hillary and the Earth Wreckers.” LA Progessive, 8/18/16, at https://www.laprogressive.com/hillary-names-salazar; also at Vox Populi at https://voxpopulisphere.com/2016/08/19/w-j-astore-hillary-and-the-earth-wreckers/.
“Why It’s So Hard for Members of the Military to Speak Out,” TomDispatch.com, 8/11/16, at http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/176174/. Also at Alternet, CommonDreams, Lobelog, Antiwar, Truthout, Juan Cole, Salon, Guernica Magazine, Le Monde diplomatique, and many other sites.
Interview on the Military in Science Fiction. http://www.theofantastique.com/2016/07/21/interview-with-william-astore-on-the-military-in-science-fiction/ posted on 7/21/16.
Review of The French Army and the First World War, by Elizabeth Greenhalgh. Michigan War Studies Review, 7/12/16, at http://www.miwsr.com/2016-073.aspx.
“We Have Met the Alien and He Is Us,” TomDispatch.com, 7/12/16, at http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/176163/tomgram%3A_william_astore%2C_we_have_met_the_alien_and_he_is_us/.
“The End of Air Power?” TomDispatch.com, 6/21/16, at http://www.tomdispatch.com/blog/176155/.
“Hillary Clinton’s Flat and Misleading Foreign Policy Speech.” Huffington Post, 6/3/16 at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/hillary-clintons-flat-and_b_10278166.html.
“A Memorial Day Reminder of the Nature of War,” Huffington Post, 5/28/16 at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/a-memorial-day-reminder-o_b_10179690.html.
What Is So Awful about Donald Trump?” Huffington Post, 5/23/16, at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/what-is-so-awful-about-do_b_10104394.html.
“Understanding Donald Trump’s Appeal.” Huffington Post, 5/9/2016 at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/understanding-donald-trum_b_9867796.html.
“What’s the Meaning of Failure? A Dictionary of Euphemisms for Imperial Decline.” TomDispatch.com, 4/14/2016, at http://www.tomdispatch.com/blog/176128/. Reposted at Salon.com, Alternet, Counterpunch, Truthout, Truthdig, Antiwar.com, CommonDreams, Juan Cole’s Informed Comment, Le Monde diplomatique, and many other sites. Feature article at War Is Boring at https://warisboring.com/what-s-the-meaning-of-failure-fd23089fa5a8#.peqzu7erj. Translated into Spanish and posted at https://www.rebelion.org/noticia.php?id=211490.
“The Right Approach to Terrorism.” Huffington Post, 3/30/16, at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/the-right-approach-to-ter_b_9576398.html.
“A Force Unto Itself: A Military Leviathan Has Emerged as America’s 51st and Most Powerful State.” TomDispatch.com, 3/22/16, at http://www.tomdispatch.com/blog/176118. Cross-posted at Salon, Truthout, Truthdig, Lobelog, BillMoyers, and many other sites. Featured in the Unz Digest of April 2, 2016 as one of the best and more read articles at http://www.unz.com/digest.
“Last Night, Donald Trump Disqualified Himself.” Huffington Post, 3/4/16, at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/last-night-donald-trump-d_b_9382838.html.
“Might Makes Right: An American Tradition.” History News Network, 2/29/16, at http://historynewsnetwork.org/article/162111.
“The Republican Debate of Texas.” Huffington Post, 2/26/16, at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/the-republican-debate-of_b_9326392.html.
“The Pentagon as Business and Church.” Huffington Post, 2/25/16, at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/the-pentagon-as-business_b_9315388.html.
“Bernie is More Generous to Workers than Hillary.” Huffington Post, 2/19/16, at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/bernie-is-more-generous-t_b_9272636.html.
“The U.S. Military Suffers from Affluenza: Showering the Pentagon with Money and Praise.” TomDispatch.com, 2/11/16, at http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/176102.
“A Message of Uplift Won New Hampshire.” Huffington Post, 2/10/2016, at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/a-message-of-uplift-won-n_b_9202200.html.
“The Republicans Are Scaring Me Again.” Huffington Post, 2/7/2016, at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/the-republicans-are-scari_b_9181056.html.
“Hillary to Bernie: You Smear Me When You Tell the Truth.” Huffington Post, 2/5/2016, at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/hillary-to-bernie-you-sme_b_9167554.html.
“Bernie Sanders Won Last Night’s Democratic Debate.” Huffington Post, 2/4/2016, at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/bernie-sanders-won-last-n_b_9158148.html.
“Tourists of Empire: America’s Peculiar Brand of Global Imperialism.” TomDispatch.com, 10/27/2015, at http://www.tomdispatch.com/blog/176061/. Also at Salon.com, Truthdig, Truthout, HNN, and many other sites. Translated into Spanish at http://www.rebelion.org/noticia.php?id=205167.
“Training Wheels: The Fatal Flaw in U.S. Foreign Policy.” Huffington Post, 9/2/2015, at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/training-wheels-the-fatal_b_8076340.html and at Nation of Change at http://www.nationofchange.org/2015/09/02/training-wheels-the-fatal-flaw-in-us-foreign-policy/.
“Seventy Years of Military Mediocrity: The Shared Failings of America’s Military Academies and Senior Officers.” TomDispatch.com, 8/18/2015, at http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/176037. Featured at Alternet, Salon, Le Monde Diplomatique (http://mondediplo.com/openpage/seventy-years-of-military-mediocrity) , and many other sites.
“It Should Never Be Done Again: Hiroshima, 70 Years Later.” Huffington Post, 8/6/2015, at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/it-should-never-be-done-a_b_7947246.html.
Review of Michael C.C. Adams, Living Hell: The Dark Side of the Civil War, Michigan War Studies Review, 7/17/15, at http://www.miwsr.com/2015-063.aspx.
“America’s Got War.” TomDispatch.com, 6/28/15, at http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/176016. Re-posted at Alternet, Antiwar.com, HNN, Truthdig, Huff Post, Lobelog, CounterCurrents, JuanCole, The Nation, Common Dreams, and many other sites. Translated into Spanish at http://rebelion.org/noticia.php?id=200721.
“Betraying the Military (and Democracy) by Loving Indifference.” Huffington Post, 6/16/15, at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/betraying-the-military-an_b_7593204.html.
“America’s Military Strategy? Persistent Overreach.” Huffington Post, 6/13/15, at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/americas-military-strateg_b_7575900.html. Also at http://www.nationofchange.org/2015/06/14/americas-military-strategy-persistent-overreach/.
“What the President Should Say to the Troops.” Huffington Post, 6/10/15, at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/what-the-president-should_b_7552394.html.
“The American Military Uncontained: Chaos Spread, Casualties Inflicted, Missions Unaccomplished.” TomDispatch.com, 5/14/15, at http://www.tomdispatch.com/blog/175998.
“Petraeus and Snowden: Both Leakers of Classified Material, Same Punishment?” Truthout.org, 3/5/15, at http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/29457-petraeus-and-snowden-both-leakers-of-classified-material-same-punishment.
“The United States’ Wars as Bloated Hollywood Productions.” Truthout.org, 2/23/2015, at http://www.truth-out.org/speakout/item/29263-the-united-states-wars-as-bloated-hollywood-productions.
“War is the New Normal: Seven Deadly Reasons Why America’s Wars Persist.” TomDispatch.com, February 2, 2015, at http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/175950. Reposted at Asia Times, Alternet, Antiwar.com, CommonDreams, Salon.com and many other sites.
“America’s Longest Wars.” Truthout.org, 1/2/2015, at http://www.truth-out.org/speakout/item/28319-america-s-longest-wars.
“America’s Military Academies Are Seriously Flawed.” Truthout.org, 12/22/2014, at http://www.truth-out.org/speakout/item/28153-america-s-military-academies-are-seriously-flawed.
“The Torture Was the Message.” December 2014 at Truthout.org. http://www.truth-out.org/speakout/item/28098-the-torture-was-the-message.
“Charles Darwin Has Much to Teach Us About War.” Huffington Post, November 19, 2014. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/darwin-foreign-policy_b_6185080.html.
“Investing in Junk Armies: Why American Efforts to Create Foreign Armies Fail.” TomDispatch.com, October 14, 2014. At http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/175907. Featured at Salon, Truthdig, Truthout, American Conservative, and numerous other sites. Translated into Spanish and posted at Rebelión at http://www.rebelion.org/noticia.php?id=190889.
“The Worst Cancer of All.” Huffington Post, September 27, 2014. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/the-worst-cancer-of-all_b_5892590.html.
“Six Patriotic Songs for Labor Day Weekend.” Huffington Post, August 29, 2014. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/six-patriotic-songs-for-labor-day_b_5735886.html.
“The American Cult of Bombing: Why You Should Expect More Bombs to be Dropped Everywhere.” TomDispatch.com, August 19, 2014. At http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/175883. Also featured at Salon, Alternet, Asia Times, Truthout, Truthdig, Antiwar.com, and numerous other sites. Translated into Czech and Arabic (http://arabdemocrat.com/ar/?p=1725) and Spanish (“El culto a las bombas en EE.UU”) and featured at Rebelión at http://www.rebelion.org/noticia.php?id=188829 .
“A Century of Mass Slaughter.” Huffington Post, July 31, 2014. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/world-war-i-technology_b_5637249.html and at Nation of Change at http://www.nationofchange.org/century-mass-slaughter-1406989246. Posted as “When We Think of Industrialization We Think of Henry Ford. We Should also Think of World War I” at History News Network, http://hnn.us/article/156510 on 8/3/14.
“Uncle Sam Doesn’t Want You – He Already Has You: The Militarized Realities of Fortress America.” TomDispatch.com, June 12, 2014. At http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/175855. Also at Salon.com http://www.salon.com/2014/06/13/inside_americas_militarized_mind_how_propaganda_and_perpetual_war_have_poisoned_our_imaginations/, Alternet, Asia Times, and many other sites.
“One Word Defines U.S. Foreign Policy: Hubris.” History News Network, 4/5/14, at http://hnn.us/article/155200 and at http://www.truth-out.org/speakout/item/23054-one-word-defines-us-foreign-policy-hubris on 4/12/14.
“The My Lai Massacre Just Got Worse.” History News Network, 3/25/14, at http://hnn.us/article/155058. Also at http://truth-out.org/opinion/item/22666-the-my-lai-massacre-just-got-worse.
“Thanking Me for My Service.” Truthout, 3/20/14, at http://truth-out.org/speakout/item/22598-thanking-me-for-my-service.
“Hair-Trigger America.” Truthout, 3/6/14, at http://truth-out.org/opinion/item/22276-hair-trigger-america.
“Quick Thoughts on the Oscars.” Truthout, 3/4/14, at http://www.truth-out.org/speakout/item/22236-quick-thoughts-on-the-oscars.
“The Pentagon’s Sky Is Falling!” History News Network, 2/28/14, at http://hnn.us/article/154873. Also at Truthout on 3/3/14 at http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/22202-the-pentagons-sky-is-falling.
“Do We Ever Actually Learn Anything from History?” History News Network, 2/10/14, at http://hnn.us/article/154663 and also at Truthout at http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/21763-do-we-learn-anything-from-history.
“Rulers’ Ideas Rule.” Truthout, 1/28/2014, at http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/21493-rulers-ideas-rule.
“All the Insecurity Money Can Buy,” Truthout, 1/27/2014, at http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/21478-all-the-insecurity-money-can-buy.
“Chris Christie, You Lost My Vote,” Huffington Post, 1/17/2014, at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/chris-christie-2016_b_4616894.html.
“Spinning Desert Storm: TV Coverage of a Pentagon Production.” History News Network, 12/18/2013, at http://hnn.us/article/154269.
“War Was Becoming Obsolete in 1884?” History News Network, 11/17/2013, at http://hnn.us/article/153987.
Review of Jeremy Scahill’s “Dirty Wars,” Michigan War Studies Review, 11/11/2013, at http://www.miwsr.com/2013-090.aspx.
“The Business of America is War: Disaster Capitalism on the Battlefield and in the Boardroom.” TomDispatch.com, October 20, 2013, at http://www.tomdispatch.com/blog/175762/. Also posted by The Washington Spectator http://www.washington-spectator.com/index.php/Foreign-Policy/disaster-capitalism-on-the-battlefield-and-in-the-boardroom.html and many other sites.
“Uncle Sam Wants You, Stars of Stage and Screen and the Sporting World.” Huffington Post, 10/17/2013, at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/uncle-sam-wants-you-stars_b_4115005.html.
“We Lost Our Humanity in Vietnam.” History News Network, 10/14/2013, at http://hnn.us/article/153571.
“American Martial Virtue?” History News Network, 9/30/2013, at http://hnn.us/article/153447.
“Wars Are Won Neither by Lies Nor by Firepower.” History News Network, 9/16/2013, at http://hnn.us/article/153293.
“‘American Fascism’: Accurate or Misleading?” Huffington Post, 9/15/13. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/american-fascism_b_3930406.html.
“An Open Letter to Congress on Syria.” Huffington Post, 9/7/13. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/an-open-letter-to-my-sena_b_3887165.html.
“In Praise of Douglas Kinnard.” History News Network, 9/2/13. At http://hnn.us/article/153156.
“The U.S. Military’s Limited Critique of Itself Ensures Future Disasters.” Truthout.com, July 26, 2013. At http://truth-out.org/opinion/item/17813-the-us-militarys-limited-critique-of-itself-ensures-future-disastersand also History News Network at http://hnn.us/articles/us-military%E2%80%99s-limited-critique-itself-ensures-future-disasters.
“The Perils of Zombie Education.” Truthout.com, June 26, 2013. At http://truth-out.org/opinion/item/17103-the-perils-of-zombie-education.
“America Is the Greatest Country? Look at Our Health Care – and Weep.” Huffington Post, June 24, 2013. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/america-is-the-greatest-c_b_3489225.html.
“Fresh Thinking on U.S. National Security Policy.” Huffington Post, June 19, 2013. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/fresh-thinking-in-us-nati_b_3464377.html.
“Bread and Circuses in Rome and America.” Huffington Post, June 10, 2013. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/bread-and-circuses-in-rom_b_3414248.html and http://www.nationofchange.org/bread-and-circuses-rome-and-america-1370957839.
“Biocide: A Memorial Day for Planet Earth.” Huffington Post, May 24, 2013. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/a-memorial-day-for-planet-earth_b_3331219.html and http://www.nationofchange.org/biocide-memorial-day-planet-earth-1369490128.
“If You’ve Done Nothing Wrong, You’ve Nothing to Hide: So Why Is Our Government Prosecuting Whistleblowers?” Huffington Post, May 9, 2013. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/government-prosecuting-whistleblowers_b_3244332.html and at History News Network at http://hnn.us/articles/why-our-government-prosecuting-whistleblowers.
“Lockdown: Becoming Prisoners of Our Own Fear.” Huffington Post, April 16, 2013. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/lockdown-becoming-prisone_b_3091620.html.
“Pentagon Threat Inflation.” Huffington Post, April 15, 2013. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/pentagon-threat-inflation_b_3084602.html.
Review of World War Two: A Short History, by Norman Stone, Michigan War Studies Review, March 26, 2013, at http://www.miwsr.com/2013-024.aspx.
“Drone Warfare is Neither Cheap, Nor Surgical, Nor Decisive: The Ever-Destructive Dreams of Air Power Enthusiasts.” TomDispatch.com, March 24, 2013. At http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/175665. Also at Salon, Guernica Magazine, Alternet, and Asia Times at http://www.atimes.com/atimes/World/WOR-01-250313.html.
“What Happened to the Dreaded ‘Fiscal Cliff.’” Huffington Post, March 6, 2013. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/what-happened-to-the-drea_b_2818438.html.
“Why Johnny Can’t Read or Win Wars.” Truthout, March 1, 2013. At http://truth-out.org/opinion/item/14820-why-johnny-cant-read-or-win-wars.
“Let’s Stop Glorifying War.” Huffington Post, February 22, 2013. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/lets-stop-glorifying-war_b_2742511.html and http://www.nationofchange.org/let-s-stop-glorifying-war-1361632905 and at HNN at http://hnn.us/articles/war-dirty-business.
“The Vietnam War Memorial in Vietnam Would Be 20 to 50 Times Larger than Ours.” Alternet, January 30, 2013, at http://www.alternet.org/world/vietnam-war-memorial-vietnam-would-be-20-50-times-larger-ours?paging=off and at Truthout, http://truth-out.org/opinion/item/14315-the-vietnam-war-memorial-in-vietnam-would-be-20-to-50-times-larger-than-ours and HNN (2/11/13) at http://hnn.us/articles/confronting-ugly-truth-about-americas-dirty-war-vietnam.
“The Afghan War and Our Persistent Empathy Gap.” Huffington Post, January 10, 2013. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/the-afghan-war-and-our-pe_b_2450121.html. Also at Nation of Change at http://www.nationofchange.org/afghan-war-and-our-persistent-empathy-gap-1358003934.
“Sucking Up to the Military Brass.” TomDispatch.com, November 29, 2012. At http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/175622/tomgram%3A_william_astore%2C_generals_behaving_badly. Reprinted at Salon.com http://www.salon.com/2012/11/29/can_we_stop_worshipping_american_generals_now/singleton/.
“Focus on the Tragedy of the Afghan War, Not on the Farce.” Huffington Post, November 14, 2012. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/david-petraeus-afghanistan-_b_2129205.html and at http://www.nationofchange.org/focus-tragedy-afghan-war-not-farce-1352979243.
“This Veterans Day, Beware the Dangers of Robot War.” Huffington Post, November 11, 2012. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/military-robot-war_b_2113257.html and at HNN http://hnn.us/articles/veterans-day-beware-dangers-robot-war.
“It’s Wallet and Pocketbook Issues, Stupid.” Huffington Post, October 26, 2012. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/its-wallet-and-pocketbook_b_2024756.html.
“America Lost Last Night’s Presidential Debate.” Huffington Post, October 23, 2012. At
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/america-lost-last-nights-_b_2005147.html and at HNN http://hnn.us/roundup/entries/148957.html.
“Sham Debates and Endless War: The Shame of Our Political Discourse.” Huffington Post, October 19, 2012. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/debates-afghanistan-war_b_1988542.html and at Nation of Change http://www.nationofchange.org/sham-debates-and-endless-war-shame-our-political-discourse-1350827413 and at HNN http://hnn.us/articles/sham-debates-and-endless-war.
“Who Really Won the First Presidential Debate.” Huffington Post, October 7, 2012. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/who-really-won-the-first-_b_1946248.html.
“Are Drones Keeping Us in a Losing Cause Longer?” Huffington Post, September 26, 2012. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/are-drones-keeping-us-in-_b_1916066.html and at Nation of Change at http://www.nationofchange.org/are-drones-keeping-us-losing-cause-longer-1348841839.
“The Siren Song of American Imperialism.” Huffington Post, September 20, 2012. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/america-foreign-policy_b_1899537.html and History News Network at http://hnn.us/articles/siren-song-american-imperialism.
“Why We Fight? Oil.” Huffington Post, August 23, 2012. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/why-we-fight-oil_b_1824765.html and at Nation of Change, http://www.nationofchange.org/why-we-fight-oil-1345817656.
“The Temptations of Drone Warfare.” Truthout.com, August 6, 2012. At http://truth-out.org/speakout/item/10748-the-temptations-of-drone-warfare.
“Everything Is Secret, So Don’t Bother Asking.” Huffington Post, July 19, 2012. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/classified-documents-government-transparency_b_1686870.html and http://www.nationofchange.org/everything-secret-so-don-t-bother-asking-1342793816.
“The Drone Medal.” Huffington Post, July 13, 2012. Available at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/the-drone-medal_b_1671481.html and http://www.nationofchange.org/drone-medal-1342275176.
“More U.S. Folly in Afghanistan.” Huffington Post, July 7, 2012. Available at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/more-us-folly-in-afghanis_b_1656309.html and at http://www.nationofchange.org/more-us-folly-afghanistan-1341753214.
“Reflections on the Fourth of July.” Huffington Post, July 3, 2012. Available at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/fourth-of-july-veterans_b_1646390.html and at http://www.nationofchange.org/reflections-fourth-july-1341413990.
“What Do Corporations Want?” Huffington Post, May 22, 2012. Available at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/what-do-corporations-want_b_1536171.html and at http://www.nationofchange.org/what-do-corporations-want-1337862942.
“The National Security State Wins (Again): Why the Real Victor in Campaign 2012 Won’t Be Obama or Romney.” TomDispatch.com, May 15, 2012. At http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/175542/. Translated into Spanish and available at http://www.rebelion.org/noticia.php?id=149757 and also at http://tribunahispanausa.com/portal/?p=29804. Featured by Le Monde diplomatique on 5/29/12 at http://mondediplo.com/openpage/the-national-security-state-wins-again. Reprinted by The Utne Reader as part of their Fall 2012 Presidential Political Campaign roundup.
“Fewer Swords, Smaller Shields: Defining A New National Security Ethos.” Huffington Post, May 9, 2012. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/defining-a-new-national-security_b_1503433.html. Also at http://www.nationofchange.org/fewer-swords-smaller-shields-defining-new-national-security-ethos-1336658383.
“Hey, Mad Men: You Don’t Salute Indoors.” Huffington Post, April 9, 2012. Available at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/mad-men-greg-harris_b_1412126.html.
“America’s Bloated Intelligence Bureaucracy.” Huffington Post, April 4, 2012. Available at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/americas-bloated-intellig_b_1402575.html.
“Speaking Truth to Power.” Huffington Post, March 21, 2012. Available at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/iraq-afghanistan-wars_b_1369538.html.
“With Iran, Threat Inflation Is the Threat.” Huffington Post, March 12, 2012. Available at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/iran-threat_b_1340276.html. Reposted at Nation of Changeand available at http://www.nationofchange.org/iran-threat-inflation-threat-1331651695.
“Act of Valor”? Beware Exalting Our Starship Troopers,” Truthout.com, February 27, 2012. Available at http://www.truth-out.org/act-valor-beware-exalting-our-starship-troopers/1330107050.
“Why I Still Like Ike.” Huffington Post, February 11, 2012. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/dwight-eisenhower-memorial_b_1270232.html. Reposted by History News Network on 2/20/12 and available at http://hnn.us/articles/why-i-still-ike.
“The Peril of Idolizing Our Military.” Huffington Post, February 4, 2012. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/pro-military_b_1254629.html. Reposted at Nation of Change and available at http://nationofchange.org/peril-idolizing-our-military-1328451169.
“Weapons ‘R’ Us: Making Warbirds Instead of Thunderbirds.” TomDispatch.com, January 24, 2012. At http://www.tomdispatch.com/blog/175493. Translated into Spanish and posted at Rebelión.org on January 29, 2012 at http://www.rebelion.org/noticia.php?id=143724. Reposted by Le Monde diplomatique and available at http://mondediplo.com/openpage/weapons-r-us.
“The Failure of Our ‘Free’ Press.” Huffington Post, January 13, 2012. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/the-failure-of-our-free-p_b_1204288.html. Reprinted by Nation of Change at http://www.nationofchange.org/failure-our-free-press-1326560283.
“Fighting 1% Wars: Why Our Wars of Choice May Prove Fatal.” TomDispatch.com, December 8, 2011. At http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/175477. Reprinted by Al Jazeera (English) on 12/22/2011 and available at http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2011/12/2011121813252570437.html.
“Giving Thanks to Our Public Servants.” Truthout.com, November 24, 2011. At http://www.truth-out.org/giving-thanks-our-public-servants/1322121600.
“Herman Cain Wraps Himself in the Flag to Deflect Sexual Allegations.” Huffington Post, November 9, 2011. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/herman-cain-wraps-himself_b_1083689.html
Review of Mark Moyar’s A Question of Command: Counterinsurgency from the Civil War to Iraq, Michigan War Studies Review, October 10, 2011. At http://www.miwsr.com/2011-042.aspx.
“Education: Our True Homeland Security.” Truthout, September 11, 2011. At http://www.truth-out.org/education-our-true-homeland-security/1315582316.
“What Does ‘Student-Centered’ Learning Really Mean?” Huffington Post, September 4, 2011. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/what-does-studentcentered_b_948403.html.
“The Dangerous Myth of American Military Omnipotence.” Truthout.org, August 10, 2011. At http://www.truth-out.org/dangerous-myth-american-military-omnipotence/1312896223.
“The Militarization of Sports – And the Sportiness of Military Service.” Huffington Post, July 28, 2011. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/the-militarization-of-sports_b_912004.html.
“If Our Troops Are ‘Warriors’ and ‘Warfighters,’ How Can They Not Fight Wars?” Huffington Post, June 22, 2011. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/obama-libya_b_882025.html.
“Siamese Twins Sharing the Same Brain: How the Military and the Civilian Are Blurring in Washington.” TomDispatch.com, June 14, 2011. At http://www.tomdispatch.com/blog/175404; reprinted by Le Monde diplomatique, July 4, 2011, at http://mondediplo.com/openpage/siamese-twins-sharing-the-same-brain.
“Remembering the Quiet, Unsung Heroes of America.” Huffington Post, May 27, 2011. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/remembering-the-quiet-uns_b_867935.html. Featured as lead story at Truthout on Memorial Day, 5/30/11, at http://www.truth-out.org/remembering-quiet-unsung-heroes-america/1306708237.
“The Crash and Burn of Old Regimes: Washington Court Culture and Its Endless Wars.” TomDispatch.com, May 12, 2011. At http://www.tomdispatch.com/archive/175391/. Translated into Spanish for Rebelión and available at http://www.rebelion.org/noticia.php?id=128418; translated into Danish for Kristeligt Dagblad and available at http://www.kristeligt-dagblad.dk/laeserdebat/traad/333080?post_id=245840. Reprinted by the Fredericksburg Free Lance Star under the title, “Our Ruling Class, Our Remote Wars,” June 26, 2011, at http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2011/062011/06262011/626160.
“Let’s Be Heroes to Our Veterans.” Huffington Post, April 11, 2011. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-j-astore/lets-be-heroes-to-our-vet_b_846664.html.
“Our Superlative Military.” Huffington Post, March 29, 2011. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/our-superlative-military_b_841858.html.
“I’m Proud of P.J. Crowley.” Huffington Post, March 13, 2011. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/im-proud-of-pj-crowley_b_835119.html.
“‘Support Our Troops’: What It Means.” Huffington Post, March 6, 2011. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/support-our-troops-what-i_b_832030.html.
“No Act of Kindness Is Too Small: The New Zealand Earthquake and Kiwi Spirit.” Huffington Post, February 23, 2011. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/no-act-of-kindness-is-too_b_827440.html.
“The Cost of Our Wars: On Listening to Our Troops.” TomDispatch.com, February 20, 2011. At http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/175357.
“Who’s to Blame for the NINJA Generation?” Huffington Post, February 17, 2011. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/whos-to-blame-for-the-nin_b_824806.html.
“An Egyptian Revolution? It’s Still Too Soon to Say.” Huffington Post, February 12, 2011. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/an-egyptian-revolution-it_b_822359.html.
“Obama: It’s a Darwinian World, So Work Harder!” Huffington Post, January 26, 2011. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/obama-its-a-darwinian-wor_b_814186.html.
“Freedom Fighters for a Fading Empire: What It Means When We Say We Have the World’s Finest Fighting Force.” TomDispatch.com, January 6, 2011. At http://www.tomdispatch.com/archive/175337/. Translated into Spanish and available at http://www.rebelion.org/noticia.php?id=120156.
“No More Afghanistans.” Huffington Post, December 20, 2010. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/no-more-afghanistans_b_799006.html.
“The Rich Get Richer, the Poor Poorer.” Huffington Post, December 7, 2010. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/the-rich-get-richer-the-p_b_793017.html.
“WikiLeaks and Our Boorish, ‘In your face’ Diplomacy.” Huffington Post, December 3, 2010. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/wikileaks-and-our-boorish_b_791969.html.
Review of Sebastian Junger’s War, Michigan War Studies Review, November 21, 2010. At http://www.michiganwarstudiesreview.com/2010/20101103.asp.
“Scope or Grope?: The Wrong Approach to Homeland Security.” Huffington Post, November 19, 2010. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/scope-or-grope-the-wrong_b_786304.html.
“NFL Too Violent? Beware the Commercials.” Huffington Post, November 14, 2010. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/nfl-too-violent-beware-th_b_783210.html.
“Remembering Generosity and Commitment this Veterans Day.” Huffington Post, November 11, 2010. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/remembering-generosity-an_b_781416.html.
“Our Imperial Vote.” Huffington Post, November 3, 2010. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/our-imperial-vote_b_778313.html.
“The New American Isolationism: The Cost of Turning Away from War’s Horrific Realities.” TomDispatch.com, October 31, 2010. At http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/175314.
“Our State Department: A Tiny Branch of the Pentagon.” Huffington Post, October 3, 2010. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/our-state-department-a-ti_b_748658.html.
“Major Sporting Events: Too Corporatized, Too Controlling, Too Much.” Huffington Post, September 15, 2010. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/major-sporting-events-too_b_718006.html.
“A ‘No Fault’ Divorce from the Costs of Our Wars.” Huffington Post, August 16, 2010. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/a-no-fault-divorce-from-t_b_684161.html
“In Place of Mental Health Care, Are Some Troops Being Evangelized?” Huffington Post, August 10, 2010. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/in-place-of-mental-health_b_677602.html. Also featured by Deployment Health News Service.
“Asking Too Much of Our Troops – And Not Enough of College Students.” Huffington Post, August 3, 2010. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/asking-too-much-of-our-tr_b_668600.html.
“Our Military’s Disturbing Transition to Warriors.” Huffington Post, July 29, 2010. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/our-militarys-disturbing_b_664543.html.
“What WikiLeaks Reveals: We’re Playing the Fool in Afghanistan.” Huffington Post, July 27, 2010. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/what-wikileaks-reveals-we_b_660588.html.
“‘Our American Heroes’: Why It’s Wrong to Equate Military Service with Heroism.” TomDispatch.com, July 22, 2010. At http://www.tomdispatch.com/archive/175276. An interview about this article is posted at http://tomdispatch.blogspot.com/2010/07/hero-today-gone-tomorrow.html. Reprinted by the Waterloo Region Record (Kitchener, Ontario) as “Real heroism, in war and in life, is a very rare thing,” July 26, 2010: A.7.
“George Steinbrenner and the Relentless Pursuit of Victory.” Huffington Post, July 13, 2010. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/george-steinbrenner-and-t_b_644753.html.
“Hope and Change Fade, but War Endures: Seven Reasons Why We Can’t Stop Making War.” TomDispatch.com, July 8, 2010. At http://www.tomdispatch.com/archive/175271/.
“Leave Afghanistan Now.” Huffington Post, June 27, 2010. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/leave-afghanistan-now_b_627137.html.
“McChrystal Must Go.” Huffington Post, June 22, 2010. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/mcchrystal-must-go_b_621691.html.
“The Question of Presidential Leadership.” Truthout.com, June 22, 2010. At http://www.truth-out.org/the-question-presidential-leadership60655.
“Doubling Down in Afghanistan: Why We Refuse to Fold A Losing Hand.” TomDispatch.com, Nation Institute, June 3, 2010. At http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/175256.
“This Memorial Day, A Modest Plea for More Honest Military Recruiting Ads.” Huffington Post, May 30, 2010. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/this-memorial-day-a-modes_b_594780.html.
“Give Me Liberty or Keep Me Safe!” Huffington Post, May 22, 2010. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/give-me-liberty-or-keep-m_b_586191.html.
“Obama Dresses Down the Military, but What’s Changed?” Huffington Post, May 15, 2010. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/obama-dresses-down-the-mi_b_577507.html.
“American Kleptocracy: How Fears of Socialism and Fascism Hide Naked Theft.” TomDispatch.com, Nation Institute, April 20, 2010. At http://www.tomdispatch.com/archive/175235.
“Baseball Has Lost Some of Its Soul.” Huffington Post, April 4, 2010. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/baseball-has-lost-some-of_b_524661.html.
“Military Clothing for Presidents? No, Sir!” Huffington Post, March 29, 2010. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/military-clothing-for-pre_b_517635.html.
“The Pentagon Church Militant and Us: The Top Five Questions We Should Ask the Pentagon.” TomDispatch.com, Nation Institute, March 18, 2010. At http://www.tomdispatch.com/archive/175219. Selected as #13 of the top 25 “most censored” news stories of 2009-10 by Project Censored; see Chapter 1 of Censored 2011: Media Democracy in Action (September 2010, Seven Stories Press); also see http://www.projectcensored.org/top-stories/articles/13-obama-cuts-domestic-spending-and-increases-military-corporate-welfare.
“A Place to Make Sparks.” Truthout.com, March 14, 2010. At http://www.truthout.org/a-place-make-sparks57631. Co-written with Barbara Andreassen.
“Yesterday’s Dirty Harry Is Today’s Bleeding Heart Liberal.” Truthout.com, March 1, 2010. At http://www.truthout.org/yesterdays-dirty-harry-is-todays-bleeding-heart-liberal57303.
“Push Back, Democrats.” Truthout.com, February 25, 2010. At http://www.truthout.org/push-back-democrats57175.
“American Blitzkrieg: Loving the German War Machine to Death.” TomDispatch.com, Nation Institute, February 18, 2010. At www.tomdispatch.com/blog/175208. Selected by the New York Times as the “Idea of the Day,” http://ideas.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/24/the-u-s-militarys-german-fetish. Translated into Italian and available at http://www.eurasia-rivista.org/3245/blitzkrieg-allamericana.
“On Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Bloody Irreversibility.” Truthout.com, February 9, 2010. At http://www.truthout.org/on-vietnam-afghanistan-and-bloody-irreversibility56768.
“The Hidden Cost of Liberal Education at Immoderate Prices.” Truthout.com, February 4, 2010. At http://www.truthout.org/the-hidden-cost-liberal-education-immoderate-prices56641.
“President Obama: Learn from Mr. Spock!” Huffington Post, January 27, 2010. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/president-obama-learn-fro_b_439530.html.
“Corporations Are Citizens—What Are We?” Truthout.com, January 24, 2010. At http://www.truthout.org/corporations-are-citizens-what-are-we56329.
“A Very American Coup: Coming Soon to a Hometown Near You.” TomDispatch.com, Nation Institute, January 19, 2010. At http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/175193. Reprinted in Counterpoise as How It Can Happen Here, 14.1/2 (Winter 2010): 31-33.
“A Thought Experiment on Our Afghan Surge.” Huffington Post, January 11, 2010. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/a-thought-experiment-for_b_417928.html.
Review of Peter Fritzsche, Life and Death in the Third Reich. Michigan War Studies Review, January 3, 2010. At http://www.miwsr.com/2010/20100103.asp.
“’They’re Wasted’: The Price of Pushing Our Troops Too Far.” TomDispatch.com, Nation Institute, December 15, 2009. At http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/175178.
“Obama at West Point: One Week Later.” Huffington Post, December 10, 2009. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/obama-at-west-point-one-w_b_382017.html.
“Obama: Why West Point?” Huffington Post, December 1, 2009. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/obama-why-west-point_b_374023.html.
“Pallin’ Around with Palin.” Huffington Post, November 17, 2009. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/pallin-around-with-palin_b_358362.html.
“One Grizzled Veteran’s Dream.” Huffington Post, November 11, 2009. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/one-grizzled-veterans-dre_b_328664.html.
“Of Jedi Knights, Death Stars, and Afghanistan.” Huffington Post, November 9, 2009. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/of-jedi-knights-death-sta_b_347719.html.
“Catch-22 in Afghanistan.” Huffington Post, November 2, 2009. At http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/catch-22-in-afghanistan_b_343039.html.
“Obama at the Precipice: Tough Guys Don’t Need to Dance in Afghanistan.” TomDispatch.com, Nation Institute, October 11, 2009. At http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/175119. Excerpted by the New York Times: http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/12/the-vietnam-war-guide-to-afghanistan/.
“What Ever Happened to Gary Cooper? A Seven-Step Program to Return American to a Quieter, Less Muscular, Patriotism.” TomDispatch.com, Nation Institute, September 4, 2009. At http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/175134.
“Of Butterflies and Tipping Points: The Calamitous Summer of 1914.” History News Network, August 2, 2009. At http://hnn.us/articles/107160.html.
Review of Norman Stone, World War One: A Short History. Michigan War Studies Review, August 1, 2009. At http://www.michiganwarstudiesreview.com/2009/20090801.asp.
“The Wrong Metrics in Afghanistan.” Nieman Watchdog, June 9, 2009. At http://www.niemanwatchdog.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=background.view&backgroundid=00361.
“The United States of Euphemism.” History News Network, June 1, 2009. At http://hnn.us/articles/88504.html. Reprinted by the Toronto Star as “What’s Another Word for Euphemism?,” Insight page IN02, June 6, 2009 (Caption: “Changing the words does not change the reality. It does, however, cripple our thinking”).
“Selling Education, Manufacturing Technocrats, Torturing Souls: The Tyranny of Being Practical.” TomDispatch.com, Nation Institute, May 28, 2009. At http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/175076; also featured as the lead in “The Teacher’s Voice,” Vol. 3, #1, 2009, available at http://www.the-teachers-voice.org/WilliamAstore/html.
“Would a Better Prepared U.S. Have Used Torture?” Nieman Watchdog, May 18, 2009. At http://www.niemanwatchdog.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=background.view&backgroundid=00350.
“American Torture: No Knowledge of History, No Sense of Tragedy.” History News Network, May 11, 2009. At http://hnn.us/articles/83554.html.
“Mary McCarthy in Vietnam, Barack Obama in Afghanistan: Seven Lessons and Many Questions for the President.” TomDispatch.com, Nation Institute, April 16, 2009. At http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/175060.
“Aboard the Imperial Star Ship Ameriprise: Heading for the Final Frontier.” TomDispatch.com, Nation Institute, March 26, 2009. At http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/175051.
Review of Gillespie and Weller, eds., Harnessing the Heavens (U.S. military space policy), Michigan War Studies Review, posted 3/16/09, http://www.michiganwarstudiesreview.com/2009/20090302.asp.
“Why We Need a ‘Truth Commission’ to Investigate Torture.” History News Network, March 9, 2009. At http://hnn.us/articles/63969.html.
“An American Foreign Legion: Is the U.S. Military Now an Imperial Police Force?” TomDispatch.com, Nation Institute, February 15, 2009. At http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/175034.
Review of David Stafford, Endgame, 1945: The Missing Final Chapter of World War II. Michigan War Studies Review, February 3, 2009. At http://www.miwsr.com/2009/20090203.asp.
“Cheney Says He Approved Waterboarding. Is that the End of the Story?” Nieman Watchdog, December 20, 2008. At http://www.niemanwatchdog.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=ask_this.view&askthisid=00386
“Networks Should Replace Pentagon Cheerleaders with Independent Military Analysts.” Nieman Watchdog, December 4, 2008. At http://www.niemanwatchdog.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=background.view&backgroundid=00310.
“Our Iraqi Revolution.” History News Network, November 24, 2008. At http://hnn.us/articles/57137.html. Reprinted in Music & Literature Review, Vol.1, No.8 (Dec. 2008), 22-25.
“Hey, Government! How About Calling on Us? Reviving National Service in a Big Way.” TomDispatch.com, Nation Institute, September 23, 2008. At http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/174980.
“Having the ‘Best Military’ Is Not Always a Good Thing: Reclaiming Our Citizen-Soldier Heritage.” TomDispatch.com, Nation Institute, July 20, 2008. At http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/174957.
Review of Max Hastings, “Retribution: The Battle for Japan, 1944-45,” Michigan War Studies Review, posted 7/5/08, http://www.michiganwarstudiesreview.com/2008/20080705.asp.
“Attention Geeks and Hackers: Uncle Sam’s Cyber Force Wants You!” TomDispatch.com, Nation Institute, June 5, 2008. At http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/174940.
Review of Hugo Slim, “Killing Civilians,” Michigan War Studies Review, posted 5/17/08, http://www.michiganwarstudiesreview.com/2008/20080504.asp.
“The Air Force Above All: Dominating the Air, Space, and Cyberspace.” TomDispatch.com, Nation Institute, May 6, 2008. At http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/174928.
“Leaving Cheyenne Mountain: How I Learned to Start Worrying and Loathe the Bomb.” TomDispatch.com, Nation Institute, April 17, 2008. At http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/174920.
“Resisting the Militarization of Science,” Review of Kelly Moore, Disrupting Science: Social Movements, American Scientists, and the Politics of the Military, 1945-1975 (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2008), http://www.h-net.msu.edu/reviews/showrev.cgi?path=153871207929347, H-Net, March 2008.
“Our March of Folly in Iraq.” History News Network, March 31, 2008. At http://hnn.us/articles/48807.html.
“The Tenacity of American Militarism: What Progressives and Other Critics Don’t Get About the U.S. Military.” TomDispatch.com, Nation Institute, February 3, 2008. At www.tomdispatch.com/post/174889.
“The Enemy Within: Finding American Backs to Stab.” TomDispatch.com, Nation Institute, November 6, 2007. At www.tomdispatch.com/post/174859.
“Saving the Military from Itself: Why Medals and Metrics Mislead.” TomDispatch.com, Nation Institute, October 4, 2007. At www.tomdispatch.com/post/174845.
On teaching a course about the atomic bomb: https://vdocuments.mx/the-origins-production-and-use-of-the-atomic-bomb-an-interdisciplinary-undergraduate.html.
