Publisher's Synopsis
A diplomatic historian examines six major international wars involving the United States and concludes that American involvement was unjustified in each case. America′s national security was not in fact sufficiently threatened to merit a call to arms. The author analyzes the events leading up to each war and the justification of wars in general. His book combines lively history with lucid and relevant general argument.
`...the book is provocative and unquestionably will serve once more to bring the important question Was War Necessary before the public.′ -- Journal of the Early Republic, April 1982
`Small′s book is successful. It undoubtedly will provoke readers to think about the irrationality of most wars and to develop a clearer rationale for those circumstances under which they would support American belligerency.′ -- The Journal of American History, December 1981
`This is one of those rare books in which the author does exactly what he set out to do and does it well. Given his definition of national security in terms of territorial integrity, economic well-being, and honour, Professor Small raises many pointed questions about US war involvements. His lucid narration, unfettered by excess detail and sprinkled with a dry and often cynical humour, provides excellent and balanced accounts of the events and politics preceding US entry into the Wars of 1812, the Mexican-American and Spanish-American Wars, the two World Wars, and the Korean War...I recommend this book most highly as a superb general introduction to US war involvement for the lay public and for college courses. It does cause one to think and to question.′ -- Political Studies, Vol 29 No 3, Sept 1981
