War in Peaceful Times -- Bush, Clinton, and Their Generals

Author: (American) David Halberstam, translated by Wang Zhenling, Jia Lingyi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-08-01
Features: This book is another significant work by Halberstam following his bestseller The Best and the Brightest. We have long awaited its publication. In the book, Halberstam meticulously details how the shadow of the Cold War lingers in U.S. foreign policy, explaining how domestic politics shapes the role of this superpower in global affairs. Twenty-five years ago, Halberstam told us the story of the leaders who orchestrated and initiated the Vietnam War. Today, this Pulitzer Prize-winning author once again chronicles another unforgettable chapter in Washington politics, exploring the complex factors that influenced foreign policy in the post-Cold War era. With vivid prose, Halberstam brings to life the inner struggles and power plays among key figures in the White House, State Department, and Pentagon. He shows us how two distinct groups of people have influenced and determined U.S. politics and decision-making: one group, such as Powell, President Holbrooke, and Lake, who had participated in the Vietnam War; the other, younger individuals who had not. Halberstam, known for his extraordinary ability to uncover the truth behind the headlines, explains how the situations in the Balkans, Somalia, and Haiti reflect U.S. politics and foreign policy. He delves into the impact these events had on the decision-makers of two administrations in Washington, the U.S. military's caution against again falling into a quagmire like Vietnam, the frustration of civilian advisors who had not personally experienced war, and the influence of these conflicting forces on General Clark, the U.S. commander in Kosovo. War in a Time of Peace is comprehensive and analytically profound, vividly portraying the personalities of figures like Clark, George Bush, Reagan, Kissinger, Baker, Cheney, and Albright, and shedding light on the intricate realities within modern American politics.